If your rooms feel chilly near the glass, the right window coverings can make a real difference. In winter, you want two things: insulation (to slow heat loss) and control (to take advantage of solar gain in the day). Below, we compare the smartest energy-efficient window coverings for UK homes.
Why blinds and shutters can improve your home’s energy efficiency
Even good double glazing is still the weakest part of the wall when it comes to heat loss. The goal is to trap still air at the window and reduce draughts and discomfort when sitting near your windows. Products that create a barrier (like cellular fabrics or framed shutters) help most. You’ll get the best results when you also use them at the right times: open them when the sun can warm your room, and close at dusk before the heat has a chance to escape.
Cellular (honeycomb) blinds
These insulating blinds use air pockets inside the fabric to slow the escape of heat from your window. Because the fabric is light and slim, you get strong winter performance without bulky hardware.
Pros
- Noticeably warmer by the glass compared to a bare window.
- Good privacy and light control with sheer, translucent or even blackout options.
- Pairs brilliantly with motorisation for daily routines that require no extra effort on your part.
Cons
- A good fit is crucial. Side channels or a snug frame improves the seal and prevents warmth from leaking around the edges.
- The gently textured look is a style choice. Most people like it, but it’s different to a flat roller.
Cellular blinds are excellent in just about every room in your home. The only exception is your bathroom/kitchen (check whether your chosen fabrics are moisture resistant before you install any window coverings in these rooms).
S:Craft shutters
Shutters add a solid frame and louvred panels that create a pocket of air between your room and the glass. That helps to reduce draughts and the feeling of cold radiating from your windows.
Pros
- Sturdy, long-lasting, and low-maintenance
- Great for street-facing rooms; you can tilt the louvres for privacy while still enjoying daylight
- Helps to calm downdraughts over old glazing and in wonky openings, where a frame makes everything feel square again.
Cons
- While shutters are great insulators, the louvres are not 100% airtight.
- Similarly, it’s difficult to get shutters that can provide true blackout – they provide great levels of darkness, but small light lines at the louvres will likely remain.
If you live in a Victorian or Edwardian home, you likely have bay windows that love to leak heat in the colder months. Shutters are a perfect option for insulating your street-facing bay windows, and they provide excellent levels of privacy too. In addition, you can install shutters made from ABS even in rooms with high humidity like kitchens and bathrooms.
Wooden venetian blinds
Wood is a poor conductor of heat, so wooden blinds can help to insulate your home. Their big benefit is fine light control: you can tilt the slats to allow precise amounts of light into your home during bright winter hours.
Pros
- Precise control of daylight and privacy with a quick tilt
- Natural texture that warms the look of a room
Cons
- Moderate insulation when compared to cellular blinds or thermal-lined roman blinds
- Needs occasional dusting and cannot be installed in humid rooms
These blinds are a good-looking and practical option for living rooms, dining rooms, offices and multi-use family rooms where you want easy light control.
EaziPleat blinds
EaziPleat gives you the thermal benefits of a cellular fabric, packaged as a tidy system with three ways to operate: motorised, soft-rise (spring assisted) or chain with a built-in child-safe release.
Pros
- Slim headrail and neat stack keeps your windows looking tidy and uncluttered.
- Smart home friendly when paired with a hub
- Flexible fabric choices from light-filtering to blackout
- Designed for consistency and the same operating system across your whole home
Cons
- Performance drops if there are gaps, consider tight measuring and maybe side guides or channels
- Very wide windows may need two blinds side-by-side for smoother operation
Roman blinds with thermal lining
A thick thermal lining traps air and reduces heat loss, especially when the blind is fitted close to the frame and drops to the sill.
Pros
- A cosy, upholstered feel with huge amounts of fabric choice.
- Easy to layer; use a sheer or voile behind for daytime privacy
Cons
- Heavy; needs robust fixings and careful measuring
- When the blind is raised, you lose the insulating layer during the day (hence the value of a sheer or secondary layer)
Roman blinds are perfect for living rooms and bedrooms where you want both warmth and texture. They look especially good in period properties.
How to get the best results from your energy efficient window coverings
- Measure and fit properly. Gaps around the edge of your window coverings affect their performance. A snug, professional install reduces edge leaks and draughts – all of our window coverings are made to measure for this reason!
- Use the recommended daily routine. Open by day for light and free warmth, close at dusk to keep the room feeling comfortable.
- Pay attention to window orientation. It’s important to open the blinds on your south and east-facing windows in the morning, as they’ll receive the most sun.
- Choose the right fabric and finish. Cellular for maximum insulation in a slim form, thermal lining for Romans, and ABS shutters for humid rooms.
- Consider adding side channels and frames. Side channels (for cellular) and framed products (like shutters) cut down the amount of leaks around the edges; a small detail with a big comfort payoff.
- Keep your blinds clean. This is easily done by dusting or wiping them every once in a while. You can also use the soft brush attachment on a hoover.
Ready to warm up your windows?
Visit our showroom to see all these window coverings side-by-side, look at fabric samples, try the mechanisms, and test smart control in person. If you’re still exploring, you can also learn more about our range of blinds and shutters – then get in contact when you’re ready to choose.
