Category: Window Blinds

When you are comparing quotes for blinds, curtains or shutters, the cheapest option is often an imported, mass produced product. It can be tempting. But window furnishings are not a throwaway purchase. They live in your home for years, they affect how every room feels, and they need to fit your windows precisely. That is where Australian made products pull ahead, and the gap is wider than the price tag suggests.

This article walks through the practical reasons to choose locally made blinds, curtains and shutters, from quality and fit to lead times, compliance and after sales support, so you can make a confident decision.

1. Quality and craftsmanship you can rely on

Australian manufacturers build to a standard rather than to a price point. Locally made blinds, curtains and shutters tend to use better hardware, more durable fabrics and tighter construction tolerances, which means they hang straight, operate smoothly and keep looking good for far longer.

Imported products are often produced in large runs with cost as the priority. They can look fine on day one, but cheaper components, mechanisms and fabrics frequently show their age sooner, with fading, warping or operating parts that wear out. Over the life of the product, the locally made option often proves the better value even when it costs a little more upfront.

2. A genuine custom fit for your windows

No two homes have identical windows, and Melbourne has everything from heritage terraces to modern builds. Australian made furnishings are produced to order, measured and built specifically for your openings. The result is a precise fit with clean lines and no awkward gaps. Whether you need shutters, blinds or curtains, every piece is tailored to your space.

Imported products are frequently made to standard sizes, which can mean compromises: a blind that is slightly too wide, a shutter frame that does not sit flush, or coverings cut down on site that never look quite right. A made to measure fit also performs better, sealing the window more effectively for light control and insulation.

3. Faster, more reliable lead times

When a product is made locally, it does not have to cross an ocean. That shortens the wait, makes timelines more predictable, and means that if something needs adjusting, it can be sorted quickly. Australian manufacturing also avoids the shipping delays, customs holdups and stock shortages that can leave imported orders in limbo for months.

For anyone building or renovating to a schedule, that reliability is worth a great deal. You get a clear timeline you can actually plan around.

4. Built to meet Australian standards

Products made and supplied here are built to comply with Australian regulations, including the mandatory safety standards for corded internal window coverings administered by the ACCC. That covers child safety requirements such as warning labels, cord securing devices and safe installation. With imported or grey market products, compliance can be inconsistent, and the responsibility for any gap can land on you.

Buying locally made furnishings from a business that handles installation gives you confidence that both the product and the way it is fitted meet the rules designed to keep your family safe.

5. Designed for the Australian climate

Local makers understand local conditions. Melbourne swings from hot, glaring summers to cold, damp winters, and Australian made products are specified with that in mind, from fade resistant fabrics for harsh sun to materials suited to our humidity. Well fitted, close sealing coverings also help with energy efficiency. As Sustainability Victoria notes, a single pane of bare glass can gain or lose up to ten times more heat than the same area of insulated wall, so a quality, properly fitted covering directly affects your comfort and running costs.

6. Real warranty and after sales support

A locally made product backed by a local business means that if anything goes wrong, there is someone nearby to make it right. Warranties are easier to honour, replacement parts are accessible, and adjustments or repairs can be handled without shipping components overseas or discovering the supplier no longer exists.

With imported products bought purely on price, after sales support can be thin. A warranty is only as good as the ability to act on it, and that is far simpler when the maker and installer are local.

7. Supporting local jobs and skills

Choosing Australian made keeps work and skills in the country. It supports local manufacturers, tradespeople and the wider economy, and it sustains the craftsmanship that makes a quality custom fit possible in the first place. For many homeowners, knowing their purchase backs local industry is a meaningful part of the decision.

Australian made vs imported at a glance

The bottom line

An imported product might win on the initial price, but window furnishings are a long term part of your home. A better fit, longer life, faster turnaround, assured compliance and real support after the sale all add up. That is why every blind, curtain, shutter and awning from PJ Shutters and Blinds is proudly Australian made and professionally installed by our own team.

The easiest way to see the difference is in person. Book a free, no obligation measure and quote and one of our consultants will talk you through the options for your home. You can get in touch here.

Frequently asked questions

Q. Are Australian made blinds and shutters more expensive than imported ones?

They can carry a higher upfront price, but they are often better value over time. Locally made products use more durable materials and hardware, fit precisely, and are backed by accessible warranties, so they tend to last longer and perform better than cheaper imported alternatives that may need replacing sooner.

Q. How can I tell if window furnishings are actually Australian made?

Ask the supplier directly where the products are manufactured and whether they handle installation in house. A reputable local business will be transparent about this. At PJ Shutters and Blinds, all of our blinds, curtains, shutters and awnings are Australian made and installed by our own team.

Q. Do Australian made products have shorter wait times?

Generally yes. Because they are made here rather than shipped from overseas, lead times are shorter and more predictable, and they avoid the customs and shipping delays that can hold up imported orders. As a guide, blinds and curtains usually take around two to four weeks, and custom shutters around six to eight weeks.

Q. Why does a custom fit matter so much?

A made to measure product fits your specific windows precisely, which means clean lines, no awkward gaps, and better performance for light control and insulation. Standard sized imported products often need compromises that affect both the look and how well the covering seals the window.

Q. Are imported window coverings safe?

Some are, but compliance with Australian mandatory safety standards can be inconsistent with imported or grey market products, particularly around child safety requirements for cords. Buying locally made products from a business that also installs them gives you assurance that both the product and the installation meet Australian rules.

Q. Do you handle installation as well as supply?

Yes. All of our products are professionally installed by our in house team, so you deal with one local business from measure and quote through to the finished install, and you have a single point of contact for any support or adjustments afterwards.

Looking for quality window furnishings made right here in Australia? Explore the full range at PJ Shutters and Blinds or book your free measure and quote today.

Window coverings are one of the most overlooked safety hazards in the family home. The cords and chains that operate older blinds and curtains can form loops, and a loose loop within a young child’s reach is a strangulation risk. It is a confronting subject, but the good news is that the danger is almost entirely preventable with the right products and correct installation.

This guide explains the risk, the Australian rules that exist to manage it, and the cordless and motorised options that remove the hazard altogether. If you have young children or grandchildren in the home, or you manage a rental property, this is worth reading in full.

Why window covering cords are a serious risk

The danger is real and well documented. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission reports that around one to two children die in Australian homes each year as a result of non compliant blinds and curtains. The risk comes from loose or looped cords and chains, which can wrap around a small child’s neck. You can read the regulator’s safety guidance on the ACCC Product Safety website.

Children are naturally curious, they climb, and they can reach cords from a cot, a bed, a couch or a chair pushed near a window. Because window coverings often stay in place for twenty years or more, many older homes still have cords that were installed before the current rules and may not be secured safely.

What Australian law requires

Australia has two mandatory safety standards covering corded internal window coverings, both administered by the ACCC. The supply standard, the Trade Practices (Consumer Product Safety Standard, Corded Internal Window Coverings) Regulations 2010, sets out requirements for how these products are made, labelled and packaged. The installation standard, the Competition and Consumer (Corded Internal Window Coverings) Safety Standard 2014, sets out how they must be installed.

The key installation rule

In plain terms, a corded internal window covering must be installed so that a loose cord cannot form a loop 220 millimetres or longer at less than 1,600 millimetres above floor level. To achieve this, cords are secured using a cleat or a cord guide, and those securing devices must be positioned at least 1,600 millimetres above the floor, which is roughly head height for an adult and out of a child’s reach.

Installers must also fit the required safety components, attach their name and contact details, and leave all warning labels in place. This is why professional installation matters. A survey by the ACCC of corded blinds and curtains in 131 display homes once found that only about ten per cent complied fully with the standard, which shows how easily this gets missed when it is not done carefully.

The simplest solution: remove the cord entirely

Securing cords correctly works, but the most reliable way to protect young children is to choose window coverings that have no operating cord at all. Modern cordless and motorised systems do exactly that, and they look cleaner too. Here are the main options.

Cordless and child safe options

Cordless roller and roman blinds

Spring assisted and cordless lift systems let you raise and lower a blind by hand, with no chain or cord hanging down. They are a straightforward, affordable upgrade for bedrooms and living areas. Explore the blinds range for cordless friendly styles.

Plantation shutters

Shutters are inherently child safe because they have no cords or chains at all. You tilt the louvres and fold the panels by hand. That makes plantation shutters one of the safest choices for a nursery or child’s room, with the bonus of being hard wearing and easy to clean.

Panel glide and certain curtain styles

Panel glides operate with a wand rather than a cord, and many curtain heading styles can be drawn by hand or with a wand, avoiding loops entirely. These suit large windows and sliding doors where safety and a clean look both matter.

Motorised blinds and curtains

Motorisation removes the cord completely and replaces it with a remote, a wall switch or your phone. There is nothing for a child to reach, and operation is effortless for everyone in the household. PJ offers motorised blinds and motorised curtains, which can also be set to open and close on a schedule.

Cordless vs motorised: how to choose

Both remove the cord risk. The difference comes down to budget, convenience and the window itself.

Some motorised systems are plug and play, while others may need hardwiring, in which case an electrician is involved. We will explain what your particular setup needs during the quote and can coordinate the wiring if required.

A room by room safety checklist

• Nurseries and bedrooms. Choose cordless, motorised or shutters. Never place a cot, bed or change table near a window with a corded covering.
• Living and play areas. Keep couches, shelves and anything climbable away from corded windows, or switch to cordless and motorised options.
• Whole of home. Walk through every room and check for loose or looped cords within reach at floor level or near furniture a child could climb.
• Existing cords. If you are keeping corded coverings for now, make sure cleats or cord guides secure every cord at least 1,600 millimetres above the floor.

A note for landlords and property managers

If you own or manage a rental, child safety around window cords is not just good practice, it is tied to your duty of care to provide a safe property. Corded coverings should be inspected, hazards identified, and safety devices fitted where needed. Switching to cordless or motorised coverings during a refresh removes the issue permanently and is increasingly expected by tenants with young families.

Frequently asked questions

Q. Are corded blinds illegal in Australia?

Corded internal window coverings are not banned, but they are tightly regulated. They must comply with mandatory supply and installation standards, which require warning labels, safety components, and cords secured so that no loop 220 millimetres or longer can form below 1,600 millimetres above the floor. Choosing cordless or motorised products avoids the cord risk entirely.

Q. What is the safest window covering for a nursery?

Cordless blinds, motorised blinds or curtains, and plantation shutters are the safest choices because none of them have an accessible operating cord. Shutters are especially popular in nurseries as they are also durable and easy to keep clean. Whatever you choose, keep cots and furniture away from windows.

Q. What is the 1,600 millimetre rule for blind cords?

Under the Australian installation standard, a corded internal window covering must be installed so that a loose cord cannot form a loop 220 millimetres or longer at less than 1,600 millimetres above floor level. Cleats and cord guides used to secure cords must sit at least 1,600 millimetres above the floor, which puts them out of a young child’s reach.

Q. Do motorised blinds need an electrician?

It depends on the system. Some motorised blinds and curtains are battery powered or plug and play and need no electrical work. Others are hardwired and require an electrician. During your quote we will assess your setup, explain what is needed, and can coordinate an electrician where required.

Q. Can I make my existing corded blinds child safe?

Often yes. Fitting cleats or cord guides to secure every cord at least 1,600 millimetres above the floor brings existing corded coverings into line with the safety rule. That said, the most reliable protection is to replace corded coverings with cordless or motorised alternatives, which remove the hazard completely.

Q. Are all of your products child safe?

All of our products meet Australian child safety regulations, and we offer cordless and motorised options across the range for added peace of mind. We are happy to recommend the safest choices for any room where young children spend time.

Want to make every window in your home safe for young children? The team at PJ Shutters and Blinds can recommend the right cordless and motorised options during a free measure and quote.

Child safety around window cords is a sensitive subject. If you would like authoritative guidance, the ACCC Product Safety website has detailed information for families.