Blinds Archives - PJ Shutter & Blinds

Is it worth it? That is the honest question most people are actually asking when they look into motorised blinds, and it deserves an honest answer rather than a sales pitch. Motorised window coverings have moved well past the novelty stage, but they are still a bigger upfront decision than a manual chain or wand, so it is worth understanding exactly what you are paying for and where the value genuinely shows up before you decide.

What You’re Actually Paying For

A motorised blind quote is really three things bundled together: the motor itself, the control system, and the installation. In Australia, motorised blinds typically cost anywhere from around $300 to $1,500 or more per window, and where you land in that range depends heavily on the power source you choose.

Power option	Typical cost	Best suited to
Battery powered	Roughly $300 to $600 per window	Existing homes, no electrician required, recharge every few months
Solar powered	Roughly $350 to $650 per window	Windows with good sun access, no cabling or recharging needed
Hardwired	Roughly $500 to $1,200+ per window	New builds or renovations where an electrician is already on site

Hardwired systems generally cost more up front because they need a licensed electrician for the cabling, but they avoid any recharging altogether and suit a whole home automation setup. Battery and solar options skip the electrical work entirely, which keeps installation simpler and is often the more practical route for an existing home rather than a new build.

Where the Value Actually Shows Up

The most obvious win is convenience on windows you cannot easily reach, think skylights, high stairwell windows, or anything above a kitchen sink or benchtop. But the value goes further than reach.

Scheduling is where motorisation starts paying for itself day to day. The Australian Government’s energy.gov.au notes that windows are responsible for almost 90 percent of the heat a home gains, so a blind that closes itself automatically before the afternoon sun hits a west facing window is doing real, measurable work rather than just looking clever. Set once, it happens every single day without anyone needing to remember.

It also suits the way a lot of households actually live. If you are away at work when the sun is at its worst, or you simply forget to close blinds before you head out, automation removes the human error from the equation entirely.

The Safety Argument Most People Miss

Australia has a mandatory national safety standard for corded internal window coverings, overseen by the ACCC, because looped cords have been linked to child strangulation incidents in the home. The standard requires safety devices such as cord guides and cleats on any corded product, and installers must comply with strict cord length and labelling rules.

Motorised blinds sidestep this issue entirely by removing the cord altogether. For households with young children or grandchildren visiting regularly, that is not a minor convenience, it is one less safety device to install, maintain, and remember to use correctly. We have covered this in more depth in our child safe window coverings guide, which is worth reading if safety is your main reason for considering automation.

Motorisation is not limited to blinds either. If you are furnishing a whole room, our motorised curtains range uses the same underlying motor technology and can be run from the same app or remote.

Common Myths About Motorised Blinds

Myth: They are unreliable and break down often. Quality motors from established brands are built for tens of thousands of open and close cycles and typically carry a warranty of three to five years, with some running well past that with normal use.

Myth: You are stuck if the power goes out. Most battery and solar motors include a manual override, and even many hardwired systems can be operated by hand in an emergency. It is worth confirming this specific feature with your installer before you buy.

Myth: It is only worth doing in a brand new build. Battery powered motors were built specifically for retrofitting into existing homes without any rewiring, which makes motorisation realistic for almost any renovation or upgrade project.

Myth: It costs far more than people expect. Entry level battery motors start at a similar price to a good quality manual blind once you account for the fabric and fitting, and the price gap has narrowed noticeably over the last few years as the technology has matured.

So, Is It Worth It?

Motorised blinds tend to be genuinely worth it if you have hard to reach windows, want to automate temperature control through the day, have young children in the house, or you are already planning an electrician visit for a renovation. They are a less obvious priority if your budget is tight and your windows are all easily reachable with a wand or chain, in which case a well chosen manual blind will do the job just as well for less money.

The right answer really depends on your specific windows and household, and that is exactly what a free measure and quote is for. Bring your questions and we will walk you through what would suit your home best.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Can I motorise blinds I already own?

In some cases, yes, particularly if the blind is a standard roller style. It is worth having a consultant look at your existing blinds before assuming a full replacement is needed.

Q. Are motorised blinds noisy?

Quality motors from established brands run quietly, with noise levels comparable to a quiet electric fan at most. Cheaper, unbranded motors are usually where noise complaints come from.

Q. Do motorised blinds work with Google Home or Alexa?

Most current motor ranges support voice control through major smart home platforms, either directly or through a small bridge device. Confirm compatibility with your specific ecosystem before you buy.

Q. How much does it cost to run motorised blinds day to day?

Running costs are minimal. Battery and solar motors draw very little power, and hardwired motors only use electricity briefly while actually moving, so the ongoing cost is negligible compared to the energy savings from good scheduling.

Choosing window furnishings sounds simple until you start shopping. Blinds, shutters and curtains all cover a window, yet they behave very differently when it comes to light control, privacy, insulation, cost and the overall feel of a room. Pick the wrong option and you can end up with a bedroom that never gets dark enough, a north facing living room that bakes every summer afternoon, or a beautiful fabric that looks tired within a couple of years.

This guide breaks down the three main categories side by side so you can match each one to the way you actually live. Everything here is written with Melbourne homes in mind, from heritage terraces in the inner suburbs to new builds out in the growth corridors, and every product we mention is Australian made and custom fitted by our team.

The quick answer

If you want a single sentence to start with, here it is. Shutters are the premium, permanent, low maintenance choice that adds value to your home. Blinds are the versatile, budget friendly all rounder that suits almost any room. Curtains bring softness, warmth and a sense of luxury, and they insulate beautifully. Most well designed homes use a combination rather than committing to one across the board.

Now let us look at each option in detail, then compare them directly.

Shutters: timeless, durable and built to stay

Plantation shutters are rigid panels fitted with adjustable louvres, mounted in a frame around the window. They are the most permanent of the three options and behave almost like a piece of architecture rather than a soft furnishing. You tilt the louvres to control light and privacy, and you can fold or swing the panels open to clear the glass entirely.

What they do well

A quality shutter can last for decades and rarely dates, which is why buyers often see them as a fixture that adds resale appeal.
Light control. Angled louvres let you direct light up to the ceiling or down to the floor, giving fine control over glare and privacy at the same time.
Easy maintenance. There is no fabric to wash. A wipe with a damp cloth keeps them looking new, which makes them ideal for kitchens, bathrooms and homes with allergies.
A closed shutter adds a solid barrier across the window, helping to slow heat moving in or out of the room.

Things to weigh up

Shutters are the largest upfront investment of the three, and because they are custom built they take longer to produce, typically six to eight weeks. They are worth the wait for the rooms that matter most. PJ offers plantation, PVC and timber shutters, with PVC suited to wet areas and timber prized for its natural warmth.

Blinds: versatile, practical and easy on the budget

Blinds are the workhorse of the window furnishing world. The category covers a wide spread of styles, including roller, roman, venetian, panel glide, slimline and motorised options, so there is almost always a blind to suit a given window and budget. Browse the full blinds range to see how broad the choice really is.

What they do well

Blinds usually offer the lowest entry price while still looking clean and contemporary.
Blockout rollers give you total darkness for bedrooms, while sunscreen rollers cut glare and heat yet keep your view and natural light.
Space saving. Blinds sit flush to the window, so they suit narrow rooms, kitchens and windows above benches where curtains would get in the way.
Fast turnaround. Blinds are generally quicker to produce than shutters, often within two to four weeks.

Things to weigh up

A single layer of blinds offers either privacy or view, rarely both at once, which is why many homeowners pair a sunscreen roller with a blockout roller on the same window. Fabric blinds also collect a little more dust than shutters and benefit from an occasional vacuum with a brush attachment.

Curtains: warmth, softness and serious insulation

Curtains add the element that hard furnishings cannot: softness. Floor to ceiling fabric frames a room, absorbs sound, and brings a sense of height and luxury. The range runs from light, airy sheers through to heavy blockout drapes, plus elegant S fold and pinch pleat headings. You can explore the full curtains collection for the different looks.

What they do well

A close fitting curtain capped with a pelmet creates a pocket of still air against the glass, which is one of the most effective and affordable ways to slow heat loss in winter.
Fabric softens hard surfaces, dampens echo and makes large rooms feel warmer and more intimate.
Sheers by day and blockouts by night give you light, privacy and total darkness from the one window dressing.

Things to weigh up

Curtains need floor space and wall space either side to hang and stack well, so they suit larger rooms more than tight ones. Fabric also needs gentle care over time, and very sunny windows can fade certain materials, which is something we help you plan for during your consultation.

Side by side comparison

The table below sums up how the three options stack up across the factors most Melbourne homeowners care about. Treat it as a starting point rather than a rule, because the right answer always depends on the specific room.

Factor	Shutters	Blinds	Curtains
Upfront cost	Highest	Most affordable	Mid to high
Lifespan	Very long	Moderate	Moderate
Light control	Excellent and precise	Good to excellent	Good
Insulation	Strong	Moderate to strong	Strong with a pelmet
Maintenance	Very low, wipe clean	Low	Higher, fabric care
Privacy plus view	Both via louvres	Needs two layers	Both via layering
Adds resale appeal	Yes, seen as a fixture	Less so	Depends on quality
Best suited to	Long term, low fuss rooms	Almost any room	Living and bedrooms

How to choose room by room

Rather than picking one product for the whole house, match the furnishing to what each room needs.

Bedrooms

Darkness and privacy come first. Blockout roller blinds or blockout curtains give you the deep dark that helps with sleep, and many homeowners layer sheers over the top for a soft daytime feel. Shutters with solid or close fitting louvres also work well where you want a clean, permanent look.

Living and dining rooms

These are the rooms guests see, so style carries more weight. Sheer curtains paired with blockouts create a designer layered look, while plantation shutters deliver a crisp, classic finish. Large windows and sliding doors often suit panel glides or S fold curtains that stack neatly aside.

Kitchens and bathrooms

Moisture and heat rule out heavy fabric. PVC shutters and water resistant roller blinds handle steam and splashes, wipe clean easily and hold up far better than curtains in these spaces.

Home offices and media rooms

Glare control matters most. Sunscreen blinds tame screen glare without blacking out the room, and blockouts turn a media room into a proper cinema when you want it dark.

The Melbourne climate factor

Melbourne asks a lot of a window, with hot dry summers and cold damp winters in the same year. Window coverings do real work here. According to Sustainability Victoria, a single pane of bare glass can gain or lose up to ten times more heat than the same area of insulated wall, so the right covering directly affects both comfort and running costs.

In practice that means closing blinds and curtains on hot afternoons to keep heat out, and closing them again on cold nights to hold warmth in. Close fitting curtains with a pelmet, snug shutters and well fitted blockout blinds all reduce the load on your heating and cooling. For west and north facing windows that cop the worst of the summer sun, pairing internal coverings with outdoor blinds or awnings is the most effective approach of all.

Why not have the best of all three

The homes that look and perform best rarely commit to a single product. They layer. Sheers and blockouts on the living room windows, plantation shutters in the kitchen, blockout rollers in the bedrooms, and outdoor blinds or awnings to protect the alfresco. Because every product is Australian made and custom fitted, you can mix styles across the home and still keep a cohesive, considered finish.

The simplest way to get it right is to start with a free measure and quote. One of our consultants will walk through your home, talk through how you use each room, and recommend the right mix. You can get in touch here to book a visit.

Frequently asked questions

Q. Which is cheaper, blinds, shutters or curtains?

Blinds are generally the most affordable option, especially basic roller blinds. Curtains sit in the middle to higher range depending on the fabric and heading style, and plantation shutters are usually the largest upfront investment. Shutters often work out well over the long term because they last for many years and add appeal for buyers.

Q. Are shutters or curtains better for insulation?

Both insulate well when fitted correctly. A closed shutter forms a solid barrier across the window, while a close fitting curtain capped with a pelmet traps a layer of still air against the glass. For the strongest result in a cold room, heavy blockout curtains with a pelmet are hard to beat, and many homeowners combine fabric with a hard furnishing for extra benefit.

Q. Can I mix blinds, shutters and curtains in the same house?

Yes, and most well designed homes do exactly that. Matching each product to what a room needs gives better results than using one type everywhere. Keeping a consistent colour palette and a similar level of quality across the home ties the different products together visually.

Q. What is the best window furnishing for a bedroom?

For sleep you want darkness and privacy, so blockout roller blinds or blockout curtains are the most popular choice. Layering sheers over blockout curtains gives you a soft, filtered light during the day and full darkness at night.

Q. How long does it take to get window furnishings made and installed?

As a guide, blinds and curtains generally take around two to four weeks from quote to installation, while custom shutters take longer, usually six to eight weeks, because they are built to measure. You will get a clear timeline during your quote so you can plan around it.

Q. Do these products meet child safety rules?

All corded internal window coverings sold and installed in Australia must comply with mandatory safety standards, and cordless and motorised options remove the cord risk entirely. We can recommend child safe choices for any room where young children spend time.

Ready to work out the right mix for your home? Explore the full range at PJ Shutters and Blinds or book a free, no obligation measure and quote.