What Are the Benefits of Double Roller Blinds?
Double roller blind systems are a popular choice for homeowners who have different requirements for shading and light control throughout the day.
During the day, your main priority might be privacy and glare control, whereas at night you might be more concerned about blocking 100% of light pollution coming in for a good night’s sleep.
The Benefit of Double Rollers
The biggest benefit of a double roller blind system, and the main reason people choose to install one, is that you get the benefit of having two different fabrics in the window to do different jobs.
There are a lot of different fabrics to choose from depending on what your requirements are. To summarise:
- Voile fabrics, sometimes referred to as ‘sheers’, are very translucent and allow a clear view through the fabric. They let a lot of natural light through the fabric whilst diffusing glare, and giving privacy during the daytime.
- A dimout fabric is one that doesn’t allow a view through but shades or darkens a room, ideal for creating privacy.
- Screen fabrics are effective at reducing glare and harsh light, whilst still providing the user with a view out of the window and access to natural daylight.
- Blackout fabrics will block 100% of light coming through, great for night-time privacy and stopping daylight or light pollution from entering the room.
With a double roller system, you can combine two different fabrics to get the benefit of both at different times throughout the day. For example, a screen fabric for diffusing glare during the day and a blackout fabric to block all light pollution at night and total privacy.
How can it be done?
There are a few different ways of achieving a double roller blind system. The biggest determining factor for which one you choose will probably be the amount of space available.
The first option is to simply install two separate blinds in the same window opening. For this option, you will need the depth of the window recess to be at least the combined depth of both blinds.
For example, if you have two Sirios blinds that both have a roll-up diameter of 50mm, you will need at least a 100mm deep window recess to fit these. Realistically, you will also need a little extra space to be able to get your hands in there to fit them.
To make this look even neater, you could add a fascia profile to the front blind which would hide both fabric rollers away.
Another similar option is to fit a fully cassetted blackout blind and a free-hanging roller blind into the same opening. This is a popular choice for customers who want the benefit of complete blackout and glare control in the same window.
For this, you’d need enough space to fit the free-hanging blind and the blackout blind headbox in the same opening. For example, if you were fitting a KuroLok 100 and a Sirios with a 50mm roll-up, you’d need at least 143mm of depth.
Another option is to use a specially designed double bracket. These brackets are designed to hold two roller blinds, instead of each blind having its own pair of brackets.
The main reason these are used is that it makes the installation a lot quicker. With only two brackets to install instead of four, you can complete the job twice as quickly. This might be a determining factor for a large-scale project with lots of windows.
The main downside of double brackets is the aesthetics. With a double bracket the blinds are staggered, with one hanging lower than the other. This means they take up less depth in the recess, but more height in the window. If you’re looking to get a minimalist look with your blinds, this might be a negative for you.
If space within the recess is limited, you could also mount one of the blinds to the outside of the opening by face-fixing it and fitting the other blind in the recess. This might not look as discreet, but you would still get the benefit of having two different fabrics at the window.
The best option for you is going to depend on what your priorities are and what you’re trying to achieve. A double roller system will benefit most people if done correctly.
If you’re not sure which option is best for you, why not get in touch with our team? W
e work with all major fabric suppliers and have been designing our own blinds for years, so we can offer you expert advice and help you make the right choices.