Qualitative differences for interior blinds

Hello,
we want to install white interior blinds on (almost) all windows in our new house. Since it is a rather modern building, we are unfortunately exclusively dependent on special sizes. There are quite a few online shops on the internet that offer exactly that. However, both the online research and the inquiry with the local interior decorator revealed huge price differences (we always requested the same dimensions, color, and functions - e.g. open/close and swivel via chain pull; installation on the glass side,...).
The price difference for our 19 windows amounts to around 2,000 EUR!!! The interior decorator was not even the most expensive.
Where do the differences come from?
And much more importantly: How can I recognize high-quality blinds?
Thank you in advance
Stefan

First, a counter-question: Is an exterior sunshade out of the question for you due to financial reasons, or is it (visually or technically) not possible?

Because exterior sunshades are definitely more effective as sun protection (in summer), as heat protection (in winter), and as noise protection. For example in the form of a rolling shutter.

Interior blinds are primarily for glare and privacy protection.
They do cool the room somewhat in summer, but nowhere near as effectively as exterior shading, since the window glass is exposed to the sun.

Advantages of interior blinds are, of course, the lower purchase price, the possibility of room design (with regard to color), and that they are not exposed to the weather and therefore easier to clean.

Since I myself live in a rental apartment where no sun protection was installed, and for various reasons I could not have an exterior shading installed, only interior blinds were an option for me.

For 3 windows, I bought the blinds from a nearby dealer, manufacturer: KOSMOS.
There is a huge selection of colors, the price was, I think, about 80 euros per blind (though I had a surcharge color), and I paid 15 euros for installation.
I am satisfied with the product; the installation was so-so...

I did not want to shade further windows for the time being, but by chance I came across an offer that was so good in terms of price that I took it.
Same window size, blind construction identical, just fewer color choices, no dealer network, no installers. Typical internet offer, after all...
I paid about 20 euros each (standard color), delivery time was sensational (1 week), and I installed them myself.
It's really nothing exciting; I just took 3 times as long as the installer from the first company (because it was my first time), but they hold up just as well, and because I could take more time than the installer, I was able to do it more precisely.
These cheap blinds are just as good for me as the much more expensive ones from the specialist dealer.
Unfortunately, I cannot give you any information about this cheap company anymore, as it no longer exists.

For the Velux skylights I was forced to buy the Velux blinds as well.
They were the most expensive by far (even though everything is standardized there and I did not want a special color), and the first to break.
The slats run in their own guide rails (instead of with cable suspensions) because the window is slanted, and the bottom rail (which is reinforced and heavier) is attached to a plastic part that moves up and down the rail.
Although that was the blind that was used the least, it was the first to break – more precisely, this plastic part became porous and destroyed itself; now the slats hang halfway out, and the whole thing can only be operated if you actively assist.

That means, from my own experience, I cannot say that cheap equals bad, because the construction and mechanics of such a part really are not complicated.

Maybe the advice for you is to buy some blinds first, and if you are satisfied, shade the other windows with them.
And if not, choose alternative suppliers...

Hello and thank you very much for your reply!

The blinds are primarily intended as privacy screens and only secondarily as glare protection. The house has external roller shutters on every window (which is a pity, as I personally prefer the look of external blinds - well, whatever).
I also think it makes sense to first place a "trial order" for one room and test how satisfied I am with the delivered goods. I just thought there might be criteria that would exclude certain providers or their products from the start. It would be a shame if I had to install different manufacturers in every room...

Best regards
Stefan

Hello Stefan!

If you already have blinds on all the windows anyway (which are by the way more clever than exterior shutters), then interior blinds only have the purpose of looking nice and preventing the neighbor from looking in.

Therefore, I would advise you to go to a specialist dealer who has a corresponding selection of colors (which is probably important in your case) and maybe borrow the color chart so you can look at it in your rooms.

Decide for which windows that is important; I don’t think you need such privacy protection in all rooms.

But keep in mind that interior blinds are definitely about 10 cm high when fully raised and protrude into the glass.

Therefore, it would be advisable to choose slats that are, for example, 25 mm wide (instead of 16), because the fewer slats there are, the less they protrude into the glass.

Most providers are on a similar qualitative level.
This is nothing robust that has to withstand the weather in the exterior area of the house, but rather a delicate and simple matter.

me too

I also need a solution for my bedroom, despite having blinds I have a lot of light coming in.

Which type of light protection darkens the best?