Roller blinds
A roller blind is cloth on a tube between two brackets, with a chain at one end.
Blinds
Roller, sunscreen, aluminium venetian and vertical blinds, shown on real windows. See what each one is and where it suits.
Roller blind
Sunscreen blind
Sunscreen blinds
A sunscreen is a roller blind in an open-weave cloth.
By day you see out and people outside cannot see in.
Aluminium venetian
Aluminium venetian blinds
Thin metal slats, 25 mm wide, that overlap by 5 mm when closed.
Vertical blind
Vertical blinds
Vertical blinds have upright louvres that turn to let light in or keep it out, and draw to one side to clear the door.
A sliding door
A wide roller is fitted as two separate blinds on a sliding door.
Rollers stop at 2 to 3 m wide in South Africa.
Makers also name vertical blinds for a busy door.
Other blinds
Other blinds, such as Roman, are not on this site yet. Ask your installer about them.
Sources
Written by Sill from makers' fitting guides and published safety guidance, and last read on 18 October 2026. Sources are listed below.
- LEHA: Venetian blinds for professionals
- Luxaflex: venetian blinds brochure
- Select Blinds: Solar shade openness
- Sill's notes from fitters' and makers' guides