Your Guide to the Best Blinds for Caravans & Motorhomes | 247 Blog
Practical
Posted 15/07/2024
Welcome to our comprehensive guide on caravan blinds! Whether you're looking to enhance privacy, control light, or improve the overall look of your caravan, this guide will walk you through everything you need to know about caravan blinds. We will cover how to measure your windows, the different types of blinds available, how to fit them, and tips on maintaining and cleaning your blinds.
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Why Good Caravan Blinds are Essential
Privacy and Security
Whether you have a static caravan on a site in close proximity to other residents, or you’re parking your motorhome up on busy campsites, you’ll want to ensure your privacy. Good caravan blinds not only add privacy, but also provide an extra layer of security. Campsites and caravans can unfortunately be a target for theft due to the frequent comings and goings, and the fact that caravans can be left vacant for long periods. Leaving your caravan blinds closed when you’re not using your motorhome can help to prevent potential thieves from peering in to scope out your belongings.
Light Control
Natural light is great, but during the summer months in particular, you may want more control over how much light comes in. Caravan blinds give you the freedom to choose how light or dark you’d like your caravan to be. Opt for a blackout caravan blind to keep your space dark, enabling you to get a better night’s rest. Alternatively, go for a light-filtering blind to add extra privacy without making your caravan feel gloomy.
Temperature Regulation
If you live in a static caravan or use your motorhome year-round, you’ll know things can get chilly in the winter and hot in the summertime. Thermal caravan blinds can help combat this by adding extra insulation to your caravan windows, helping to keep the heat in during winter and out during summer.
Durable to Withstand Travel
When choosing a caravan blind, you need something durable enough to withstand any bumps in the road, so to speak!! We’re committed to quality and guarantee all of our blinds for five years, making them a great choice for your adventures
Aesthetic Appeal
Beyond the practical, making your caravan feel like a home away from home involves adding those personal touches. There’s something for every taste and decor scheme in our range of caravan blinds allowing you to add a stylish touch to your motorhome.
Types of Caravan Blinds
As the walls of a caravan are much thinner than that of a house, drilling into your caravan walls isn’t recommended. At 247 Blinds, we have a range of blinds available with no-drill installation which means you can achieve all the functionality and style of a traditional blind without damaging your caravan walls. Here are a few suggestions and the window types they’re suitable for to help you out!
No Drill Caravan Blinds
Stick Fit Blinds for Caravans
Our number one recommendation due to their easy no-drill installation and compatibility with most window types is Stick Fit blinds. Your windows just need to be flat, and square or rectangular - that’s the only requirement!
Stick Fit blinds cover the window glass itself, rather than the entire frame, perfect for saving space and preventing your caravan from feeling cramped. Available in Venetian styles to filter in the light, or pleated styles with light-filtering, thermal, and blackout fabrics to choose from. Cordless by design, these blinds use tensioned operation to open and close, with a clear tilt rod on Venetian styles making them child safe and ideal for caravan holidays with furry friends!
No drilling or tools are needed to install our stick fit caravan blinds, making these a quick and easy fix if you’re in need of caravan or motorhome blinds in a pinch! Despite their speedy installation, these blinds are definitely in it for the long-haul. Tested against heat and condensation, Stick Fit blinds also come with a five year guarantee so you can be sure they’ll stick by you come rain or shine.
Perfect Fit and Clip Fit Blinds
Another great no-drill option if your caravan features uPVC windows are Perfect Fit and Clip Fit blinds. These attach using brackets inserted under the window beading - so you’ll just need to check your windows have suitable beading before ordering.
Available in wooden and aluminium Venetian, pleated, and even shutter styles, these blinds allow you to really customise your caravan’s look. The pleated range includes blackout and thermal fabrics to add an extra touch of functionality to your window’s edge! The functionality doesn’t stop there though! Perfect Fit pleated blinds come with ‘multizone’ controls as standard, meaning you can open the blind from either the bottom or the top to let light in, or block it out, as needed. This is also an option on pleated Clip Fit blinds at no extra cost!
Just like Stick Fit, these styles are also tension-controlled and cordless giving you extra peace of mind when travelling with children or pets.
Traditional Caravan Blinds
Venetian Blinds for Caravans
If you have a static caravan, or any type of motorhome that allows for drilling into the wall, Venetians can be a great option. These blinds provide privacy whilst also allowing flexible control of how much light gets in thanks to the tiltable slats. Choose from wooden or aluminium styles available in a variety of slat widths. Our 16mm slat aluminium blinds make a particularly good choice for caravans since they provide the privacy and light control you need without taking up much room!
Roller Blinds for Caravans
Another option if drilling is viable in your caravan are roller blinds. Rollers come in a kaleidoscope of colours, prints, and patterns, really allowing you to personalise your home on the road! Available in blackout, light-filtering, and voile fabrics, these window coverings let you decide how much light you’d like to block out. Also available in energy-saving fabrics to reflect the heat of the sun away in summer and keep warmth inside during winter!
These are just a few suggestions! If you have your heart set on a certain type of blind for your caravan and it isn’t listed here, feel free to get in touch with us and we’d be happy to help you figure out if it’s the right choice for your caravan.
Caravan Door Blinds
If your caravan features doors with glass panes, you might want to add some privacy to those too! Our Stick Fit blinds are a good choice for doors, since they’re compatible with all frame types and go down to small widths and drops, perfect for short or narrow panes. They also open with the door, meaning you won’t have to worry about blinds getting in the way if space is minimal.
How to Measure for Caravan Blinds
Measuring for blinds can vary slightly depending on the style of blind you go for, and the method of fitting you choose. But in general all you need is a tape measure and somewhere to jot your measurements
How to Measure for No-Drill Caravan Blinds
If you’re opting to skip the tools and go for a Stick Fit, Clip Fit or Perfect Fit blind for your caravan - you’ll just need the measurements of the visible glass to order. Measure to the nearest millimetre for the best fit and don’t include the window beading (rubber seal) in your measurements:
- Firstly, measure the width of the visible glass in three places along your window - at the top, middle, and bottom.
- Then measure the drop of the visible glass in three places along your window - at the left, centre, and right.
- Make sure each set of three measurements does not vary by more than 4mm, then use the smallest width and drop to place your order. If you do find that your measurements vary by mroe than 4mm, get in touch so we can advise how to proceed for the best results.
Things to consider for Perfect Fit and Clip Fit Blinds
- If you’ve chosen Perfect Fit or Clip Fit blinds, you’ll need to check your windows have suitable malleable beading to support the brackets. Instructions on how to do this can be found in our Perfect Fit Blinds measuring guide, Perfect Fit Shutters measuring guide, and Clip Fit Blinds measuring guide!
- Unlike Clip Fit and Stick Fit, Perfect Fit blinds and shutters come with a full-frame which overlaps onto your window frame slightly, it’s therefore important to check you have adequate clearance before ordering - the exact clearance you’ll need can be found in the measuring guide for the blind you’re looking to buy!
- If you’ve opted for Perfect Fit Shutters and have a handle on your window, you’ll also need to measure your handles position so a rebate can be made in the shutter, allowing you to open and close the window. Instructions on how to do this can also be found in the guide!
How to Measure for Traditional Caravan Blinds
If you’re opting for a roller or Venetian style blind, measuring is simple. Windows in caravans tend to sit more or less flush against the wall, so these instructions are under the presumption that you will be fitting your blinds ‘exact’ or ‘outside the recess’. If you do have a recess and would like to fit your blinds inside it, consult our measuring for recess fitting blinds guide.
- Measure the width you'd like the blinds to be, starting and ending where you'd like the blinds to start and stop.
- Measure the drop you'd like your blind to be, starting and ending where you'd like the top and bottom of the blind to sit.
It's up to you how much overlap you'd like, but we recommend adding at least 35mm to each side to ensure good coverage.
How to Fit Caravan Blinds
All of our blinds are designed to be easy and straightforward to fit yourself, with step-by-step fitting guides to walk you through the process. Installation will vary depending on the type you go for, but here’s a quick overview of how to fit the blind types we’ve suggested in this blog so you can get an idea of what’s involved!
How to Fit Stick Fit Caravan Blinds
- Your Stick Fit blinds will come with two adhesive side channels, the first step is sticking these to either side of the visible glass.
- Once the side channels are attached, the headrail and bottom rail of the blinds simply clips on to the brackets on the side channels, and that's it!
For detailed step-by-step instructions, take a look at our fitting guide for Stick Fit Blinds.
How to Fit Perfect Fit and Clip Fit Caravan Blinds
- These blind types will arrive with a number of brackets which you insert under the window beading. Clip Fit blinds come with adhesive side channels which are then stuck to either side of the glass to minimise light leakage.
- The blinds then clip onto the brackets and you're done!
You can view step-by-step fitting guides for these blind types here:
How to Fit Venetian and Roller Blinds
To fit these blind types, you'll need a tape measure, a drill, and suitable rawl plugs and screws for the surface you're fitting to.
- Both of these blind types will arrive with brackets which you'll need to mount to the wall. First use a tape measure to mark out where the brackets need to go, marking an X where you'll need to drill.
- Drill the required holes and use wall plugs and screws to secure the brackets in place, then place the blind into the brackets to complete!
You can see step-by-step fitting instructions here:
How to Clean and Maintain Caravan Blinds
The first step in cleaning and maintaining caravan blinds is opting for a low-maintenance blind initially to reduce the time you’ll need to spend looking after it! If you’re fitting a blind to an area in your caravan or motorhome that is prone to splashes and stains, make sure to opt for something water-resistant like a waterproof roller blind, faux wood Venetian, or aluminium blind. That way you can simply wipe the blind down with a damp cloth when it’s in need of a clean!
For general upkeep, a light dusting is usually all that’s required to keep blinds looking fresh. Take a look at our How to Clean Blinds Blog for more details!
To wrap things up, good caravan blinds are essential for privacy, light control, temperature regulation, and adding a stylish touch to your motorhome. From no-drill options like Stick Fit and Perfect Fit blinds, to traditional Venetians and rollers, there’s a solution for every caravan window and door.
Remember, choosing the right blinds and maintaining them properly will make your home away from home more comfortable and enjoyable. Happy travels, and don’t forget to check out our range of Caravan Blinds to find your perfect fit!