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Blinds can drastically change the look of an office or commercial space, yet they are often the most undervalued part of the fit-out. Neglected as they may be, those decorators who do carefully select the right blinds for their office space are richly rewarded with an interior that reflects the mood and culture of the business.

So how do you make the right choices when it comes to commercial blinds? It might sound overwhelming but fear not! Read on to discover our top tips for selecting blinds for your commercial, retail or office space.

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1. Functionality First

Each type of blind, from venetian blinds to roller blinds to vertical blinds, has it’s own functionality and advantages. First, we need to choose the type of blinds that suit our doors or window openings. For example, roller blinds are easy to operate and stylish to boot, whereas venetian blinds and vertical blinds allow more control over light and privacy with their tilting blades.

Fabric blinds such as roller blinds, roman blinds, panel glides and vertical blinds also have the added functionality that comes from fabric choice. For example, a solar screen or sunscreen fabric will cut glare without sacrificing your view to the outside world. This is obviously great for offices with nice views but even an average view that includes a blue sky can boost the mood and productivity of your employees.

Note: For more details on each type of blind and their functional advantages, check out our product pages.

2. Consider the Culture

It is vital that all employees are on the same page when it comes to the corporate culture or personality of a business. What better way to do this than to represent the culture of your business visually with the design of your office interior? This allows your team to be immersed in a vibrant, culture-rich environment every day.

You can create a mood or feeling with interior elements such as paint, furniture and window dressings. Choose roman blinds in a breezy, light-coloured fabric for a coastal chill vibe or go with an elegant pattern for a more sophisticated feel. Or if vertical blinds are your functional match, choose sheer, patterned fabrics for a softer, prettier look or a solid fabric in a bold hue for a striking, edgy mood.

3. Get the Details Right

As with any interior design project, getting the details right can make or break your look. We suggest creating a mood board for your project that includes colours, textures and images that evoke the emotions or mood you want to capture in your interior design. This will help you ensure that every detail ties in perfectly. When choosing the finishing touches of your blinds compare the fabric, chain and componentry samples provided by your consultant to your mood board for best results.

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4. Be Brave With Colour

Our final tip is don’t be afraid to play with colour when it comes to your blinds! Understandably in a domestic setting, people choose muted colours for maximum versatility. When it comes to a commercial, retail or office space, your interior design isn’t likely to change on a whim because it is a visual representation of your business. So, with that in mind, be bold! Don’t be afraid to colour block, play with patterns and mix and match both blinds and colours.

Remember to ask an expert if you have any questions about the right blinds for you.

Happy decorating!

We thought simple Sam was cute but YouTube comments suggest some people don’t agree! What do you think?

Remember, if you have any questions about how to measure and install your custom blinds yourself please feel free to Ask an Expert.

Isn’t it Great to Leave 2011 Behind us?

After a wet start to last year with the Brisbane floods, boy are we glad to see the back of 2011! It was a traumatic time for the entire Barrierscreens team, but we have now moved on and up… to higher ground!

Our new office and manufacturing facility in Darra is a truly excellent space. It has provided us with more room to expand into new product lines.

Over the past 12 months, we have worked hard to rebuild our manufacturing operation and we’ve used the devastation as an opportunity to develop and evolve our production facilities. We are excited to be able to add roller blinds, panel glides and roman blinds to our collection of locally made blinds. We can now offer our customers a full range of interior blinds, including venetian blinds, vertical blinds and shutters!

Say “Hello” to a Stylish New Year!

We’re starting the year in style with our gorgeous new range of Artessa fabrics. Artessa is a stylish new brand of home apparel fabrics bursting into the Australian market.

We are proud to be one of the first retailers to dress Aussie homes to impress with this trendy and versatile range. Our extensive new range of over 155 trendy fabrics will enhance our ability to provide quality, stylish interior blinds to our customers across southeast Queensland.

The downtime our operations experienced has also allowed us to focus on team development and training. This has resulted in us being able to offer an even more dedicated and knowledgeable consultation team, who can answer your questions and help design the perfect customised home improvement solution for our customers.

We’re looking forward to a year that can only be better than the last, and we hoping to making a difference to as many Queensland homes as possible.

Why not start with yours?!

We’ll have our top experts on hand to answer any burning questions you may have about any of our products or service. Plus we have a special entry offer available to our customers. Simply click the link below to download your invitation to visit us at the HIA Home Show and receive discounted entry.

The HIA Home Show runs from 29 – 31 July 2011. We hope to see you there!

Barrier Screens Special Invitation

You may have heard the terms Inside Mount or Outside Mount. These refer to where the blind is attached to the window.

Inside mounted blinds are fitted snugly inside the window reveal. Outside Mount, on the other hand, refers to fitting the blinds to the outside face of the window opening. For this reason, Outside Mount is sometimes called face fit.

Why the Mount Matters?

There are three key things to consider when deciding on the mounting option for your blinds:

1. Obstructions

There may be physical obstructions that will prevent the blind from working in one position. For example, there may be mullions, handles or locks that prevent a blind from working correctly when mounted inside the window frame.

In this case we would advise you to outside mount your blind.

2. Fabric Allowance

Some blinds, such as roman blinds and panel glides, can experience a relaxing of the fabric over time.

While an allowance is already provided when the blinds are made, some fabrics will relax more than others in certain conditions. When this does occur and the blind is inside mounted, the fabric tends to gather at the bottom of the window sill.

It is for this reason that we always recommend outside mounting for both roman blinds and panel glides. When outside mounted, the blind will simply hang slightly longer past the window opening and will still look great.

3. Light Block

Although the window size is the same, a blind made for Inside Mount will be smaller than the window opening and one made for outside mount will be larger to cover the whole opening. Makes sense, right? Well consider this.

Generally speaking an inside mounted blind will have a small gap between the blind itself and the window frame. This gap is caused by the space required for the mounting brackets and also gives the blind enough space to operate effectively without catching on the window frame. This gap will let a small amount of light through.

If you do require a full light block solution, there are various options available to you. Contact us to talk it over with one of our expert product consultants.

While there are no hard and fast rules when it comes to mounting options, it’s important to understand the look and functionality you can achieve with each. That way you can be sure you’re making the right decision in purchasing blinds you’ll love for years to come.

It was late last week and I’d had a long day moving to our new commercial space, but I was home now and just starting to unwind. As I sat down to dinner with my family, I received a phone call from our security alarm provider. The alarm sensors at our new premises had been set off.

I was looking forward to my dinner so I was already less than impressed, but the reality was that we had yet to install SecureView screens on the building and my 20-minute travel time would give the intruders a substantial head start.

When I arrived to check out the situation, I was relieved to find no signs of forced entry. No robbery, thankfully, but plenty of geckos!

I can’t complain, right? The alarm was working and no one broke in. But I couldn’t help but think, what if there had been an intruder intent on breaking in? We weren’t properly protected yet.

Here lies the fundamental difference between an alarm and a security screen. Alarms are great for letting you know if something is happening but they won’t necessarily stop a determined intruder and it just may be too late by the time you get home.

Well made security screens, on the other hand, are physical barriers that not only deter would-be thieves, but will keep out even determined intruders. Geckos included!

Now, don’t get me wrong. I have no intention of cancelling my contract with our alarm company. They do a great job and have always provided me with extra peace of mind. What I am advocating, however, is that alarms are not the only form of home security protection you should consider.

Please remember only companies that can show you their own Australian Standards test results are worthy of your business. Barrierscreens is serious about security and we can show you why we are best suited to be your screen supplier. Learn more about our product testing here.

Feel free to use our Ask an Expert form if you have any questions about how our security screens can protect your home.

All the best,

Jon Cuskelly
Managing Director – Barrierscreens

Like so many others, we have suffered a set back and this is why we need your business!

Our Product Consultants are now back on the road and ready to share their expertise so please give us a call or complete a contact form.

If you too have had your home affected by flooding in Brisbane, please speak to us about how we can assist you in your rebuild as we will be happy to offer special pricing to fellow flood victims.

To all our customers and friends, please keep safe. Our thoughts are with all who have experienced hardship and loss during this difficult time.