Gillian's Blinds
The Best Blinds for Garden Rooms, Garden Offices and Outdoor Buildings
Garden rooms have become one of the most popular home improvements in recent years. Whether used as a home office, gym, games room, hobby room, garden bar or simply a peaceful place to relax, they offer valuable additional living space without the disruption and expense of a traditional extension.
As we move into summer, many homeowners are spending more time enjoying their gardens and making the most of these versatile outdoor buildings. However, while large windows and glazed doors create bright, welcoming spaces, they can also introduce challenges. Strong sunlight can cause glare on screens and televisions, rooms can become uncomfortably warm during hot weather, and privacy can be limited once the lights are switched on in the evening.
The right blinds can help overcome these issues while enhancing the appearance and practicality of your garden room throughout the year.
At Gillian’s Blinds, we have been helping homeowners across Northamptonshire transform their homes since 1983. Our made-to-measure blinds, free measuring service and professional fitting ensure every installation is tailored to the space and the way it is used.
Why Garden Rooms Need Different Window Treatments
Unlike many rooms within the home, garden rooms often feature extensive glazing. This is one of their greatest attractions, allowing natural light to flood the space and creating a stronger connection with the garden.
However, more glass also means greater exposure to sunlight, heat and visibility from neighbouring properties. A blind that works perfectly in a bedroom or lounge may not always be the best solution for a garden office, games room or outdoor entertaining space.
When choosing blinds for a garden room, it is important to consider how the room is used, how much sunlight it receives and the level of privacy required. The position of the building, the direction it faces and even how often the room is occupied can all influence the best choice of blind.
Managing Sunlight and Screen Glare
One of the most common complaints from garden room owners is excessive glare.
Many garden rooms now serve as home offices, gaming spaces, gyms or entertainment rooms. Bright sunlight reflecting on computer monitors, televisions or tablet screens can quickly make the room uncomfortable to use.
Even if your garden room is primarily used for relaxing or entertaining, direct sunlight can make activities such as reading, watching television or spending time with family and friends less enjoyable.
Well-chosen blinds allow you to control natural light throughout the day. Rather than completely blocking out daylight, they can reduce glare while still allowing the room to feel bright and welcoming.
For homeowners who work from home, this can make a significant difference to comfort and productivity, particularly during the summer months when sunlight can be at its strongest.
Creating Privacy Without Losing Natural Light
Garden rooms are designed to feel open and connected to the outdoors, but this can sometimes come at the expense of privacy.
Depending on the position of your garden room, neighbours may have a direct view into the space. This can become particularly noticeable during the evening when interior lights are switched on.
Blinds provide an effective way to create privacy while maintaining a comfortable and inviting environment. Modern blind fabrics are available in a variety of colours, textures and opacity levels, allowing homeowners to find a solution that balances privacy with natural light.
This flexibility means you can enjoy the benefits of a bright and airy garden room without feeling overlooked.
Keeping Your Garden Room Comfortable During Summer
With summer approaching, many garden room owners are beginning to experience the effects of increased solar gain.
While garden rooms are wonderful spaces to enjoy on warm days, extensive glazing can sometimes lead to rooms becoming uncomfortably bright or hot during prolonged periods of sunshine.
Blinds can help reduce the intensity of direct sunlight entering the room, creating a more comfortable environment for work, relaxation or entertaining. Combined with good ventilation, they can help make the space more enjoyable throughout the warmer months.
This is particularly important for south-facing garden rooms, which often receive strong sunlight for much of the day.
Choosing the Right Fabric for a Garden Room
The type of fabric you choose can have a significant impact on how your blinds perform.
Blackout Fabrics
Blackout fabrics are ideal for garden rooms used as:
- Gaming rooms
- TV rooms
- Cinema rooms
- Spaces with projector screens
- Rooms where maximum light control is required
These fabrics help block incoming light and can significantly reduce glare.
Dim-Out Fabrics
Dim-out fabrics allow some natural light to filter through while still reducing brightness.
They are often a popular choice for:
- Garden offices
- Hobby rooms
- Reading rooms
- General relaxation spaces
They provide a balance between privacy, comfort and natural light.
Which Blinds Work Best in a Garden Room?
There is no single solution that suits every garden room. The best option depends on the size of the windows, the style of the building and how the space is used.
Roller Blinds
Roller blinds remain one of the most popular choices for garden rooms.
Their clean, contemporary appearance works well with modern garden room designs, while their simple operation makes them practical for everyday use.
Benefits include:
- Excellent light control
- Wide choice of fabrics and colours
- Suitable for both windows and doors
- Clean, uncluttered appearance
- Easy operation and maintenance
Vertical Blinds
Vertical blinds are particularly effective for larger glazed areas and wide openings.
They offer excellent flexibility, allowing homeowners to adjust light levels throughout the day without completely blocking their view of the garden.
Benefits include:
- Ideal for larger windows
- Excellent light management
- Suitable for doors and wide glazed openings
- Practical and durable
Venetian Blinds
Venetian blinds offer precise control over both privacy and light.
By adjusting the slats, homeowners can fine-tune the amount of sunlight entering the room while maintaining views outside.
Benefits include:
- Precise light control
- Contemporary styling
- Suitable for workspaces and offices
- Excellent privacy options
Motorised Blinds
For larger garden rooms or hard-to-reach windows, motorised blinds can provide additional convenience.
With the touch of a button, homeowners can adjust multiple blinds simultaneously, making them particularly useful in larger spaces with extensive glazing.
Can You Install Blinds in a Garden Room?
Absolutely.
Modern blinds can be fitted to most garden room windows and glazed doors, making them an effective way to improve privacy, control light and create a more comfortable environment.
Because garden rooms vary significantly in design, professionally measuring each window helps ensure the blinds fit correctly and operate smoothly. This is particularly important where there are large glazed areas, bi-fold doors or unusual window sizes.
Recent Garden Room Blind Installation in Northampton
Recently, the Gillian’s Blinds team supplied and installed roller blinds within a beautiful timber garden room in Northampton.
The building featured multiple windows and glazed doors designed to maximise natural light and create a bright, welcoming space for relaxation and entertaining. While the owners loved the amount of daylight entering the room, they wanted greater control over glare and additional privacy without compromising the contemporary feel of the building.
Following a free home survey and measuring appointment, roller blinds were selected as the ideal solution. Their clean lines complemented the modern design of the garden room while providing practical control over sunlight throughout the day.
A darker fabric was chosen to help reduce glare and create a more comfortable environment, particularly during periods of strong sunshine. The finished installation allows the room to remain bright and welcoming while giving the homeowners far greater flexibility in how they use the space.
As with all Gillian’s Blinds installations, the project included professional measuring, expert fitting and a fully made-to-measure finish.
What Should You Consider Before Choosing Garden Room Blinds?
Before selecting blinds for your garden room, ask yourself the following questions:
- How is the room primarily used?
- Which direction does the building face?
- How much sunlight enters the room during the day?
- Is privacy important?
- Are televisions or computer screens used regularly?
- Do you require blackout, dim-out or light-filtering fabrics?
- Will the blinds be used daily?
Answering these questions can help narrow down the most suitable options and ensure you achieve the best possible result.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best blinds for a garden room?
Roller blinds are one of the most popular options because they provide excellent light control, privacy and a clean modern appearance. However, the best solution will depend on how the room is used and the size of the windows.
Do garden rooms need blackout blinds?
Not always. Blackout fabrics can be useful for gaming rooms, TV rooms and garden offices where glare is a concern. However, many homeowners prefer dim-out fabrics that still allow some natural light into the room.
Can blinds help reduce glare in a garden office?
Yes. Properly selected blinds can help reduce glare on computer screens while maintaining a bright and pleasant working environment.
Can blinds be fitted to garden room doors?
Yes. Many blind types can be fitted to glazed doors as well as windows, helping to create a consistent appearance throughout the space.
Are made-to-measure blinds better than off-the-shelf blinds?
Made-to-measure blinds are designed specifically for your windows and doors, providing a neater appearance, better operation and a more professional finish than many off-the-shelf alternatives.
Expert Advice from Gillian’s Blinds
Every garden room is different, which is why professional advice and measuring can make such a difference.
Gillian’s Blinds has been supplying and fitting made-to-measure blinds since 1983 and covers Northampton, Wellingborough, Rushden, Kettering, Daventry, Towcester, Market Harborough, Milton Keynes and the surrounding areas.
Our free measuring and fitting service ensures your new blinds are perfectly suited to your garden room, whether you are creating a home office, entertainment space, hobby room or somewhere to simply relax and enjoy your garden.
If you are looking for blinds for a garden room, garden office or outdoor building, contact Gillian’s Blinds today to arrange your free measure and quotation.
our team is ready
To help
Get in touch
Showroom
- 12 Low Farm Place, Northampton, NN3 6HY
Events
- Phone: +33 1 55 25 56 02