Roman blinds: sleek and space–savvy

Roman blinds are ideal if you want a streamlined, modern look that still feels soft and tailored. They stack neatly when raised, making them perfect for smaller rooms, tight recesses, or spaces where bulky curtains would overwhelm the window.

From an energy-efficiency and comfort point of view, lined and interlined Roman blinds provide excellent thermal insulation and light control, especially in blackout or thermal fabrics. They suit bedrooms, home offices and street-facing living rooms where precise control over glare, privacy and heat gain is important.

Curtains: soft, layered and luxurious

Curtains are the go-to choice when you want softness, movement and a luxurious, decorator finish. Full-length, floor-to-ceiling curtains can visually stretch a wall, help a space feel taller and more cohesive, and are especially effective over wide windows or doors.

With the right fabric and lining, curtains also offer strong insulation, acoustic benefits and flexible light control, especially when you combine sheer curtains for daytime privacy with a separate blackout layer for night. This layered look is particularly popular in New Zealand living rooms and main bedrooms, where homeowners want both softness and performance from their window treatments.

When to choose which

Choose Roman blinds when space is tight, you want a clean, contemporary profile, or need highly efficient insulation and blackout in bedrooms, nurseries and home offices.
Choose curtains when you want to frame a view, soften a large room, dress sliding doors, or create a luxe, hotel-style feel with sheers and blockout layers.
Consider combining Roman blinds with curtains in feature rooms for maximum flexibility, style and resale appeal, a strategy increasingly used in design-led homes.