With the proper window furnishings, you can not only spruce up your space, but you can also help to insulate your windows and keep your home warm. Here's how the right set of window blinds can be an energy efficient way to keep the heat in and the cold out.

Can blinds keep your home warm in winter?

A considerable amount of the heat in your home - whether built up with sunlight, or through heat pumps and space heaters - can be lost through your windows. In fact, windows account for as much as 40 per cent heat loss, according to the Australian Window Association.

While a thick set of drapes may appear to be the main option when it comes to winter-proofing your windows, blinds are another fantastic way to keep your home warm in winter and also cool in summer.

The right type of blinds, professionally installed, can trap a layer of air between the fabric and the glass, helping to seal off your windows. During the day, you should open up your blinds and let the warmth from the sunlight fill the room. By lowering your blinds as soon as dusk falls, you can help to keep this natural heat inside, meaning you use less energy heating up your home at night.

What sort of blinds can provide insulation in Australian homes?

Honeycomb blinds can provide great insulation and light control.

While blinds with slats, such as venetian blinds can be great for heat control during summer, in wintertime they are less effective at preventing heat loss. Instead, look for roller blinds or roman blinds which can provide a much solid cover over your windows.

Your choice of fabric is also important, as some options are more insulating than others. Thermal fabric can be suitable for particularly chilly regions such as Tasmania, but for other homes across Australia, they may not prove to be the best choice when the summer comes back around.

An alternate is to consider blackout blinds, which not only help to provide privacy and block out light at nighttime, but are also thick enough to create a barrier between the window and your room.

For greater energy efficiency, ask about installing cellular blinds in your home - with their long cells running the length of your window, honeycomb blinds are effective at trapping cold air from the window and preventing it from leaking into your home, while also offering good light control.

How can professional blind installation help with energy efficiency?

Even the most insulating fabric is little use when your blinds aren't designed to fit your windows properly.

A snug fitting blind will create the necessary seal between your window and the room, meaning that it's harder for cool air from the window to drop down and escape from the bottom of the blind. In addition, a professionally installed blind will prevent the warm air from your room from being drawn into the gap at the top of your window.

If you're tired of coming home to a chilly house, or having to crank the heaters up to full every night, it might be time to look into some more energy efficient blinds. You can check out our range of blinds online, but for more information on what we can do, as well as our custom-made blinds, you can get in touch with the Carpet Call team.