2044 days ago

How to Do: Curtains AND Blinds

Robert Anderson from Curtain Clean Hamilton

Ever thought about combining blinds and curtains to make your windows even more stunning and energy smart? If done correctly, combining blinds with curtains can bring magic to your windows providing flexibility for styling and design aesthetics. Combining roller shades or other types of blinds with curtains allows more blocking of light and privacy control while also improving heat loss through your windows.
If you want your windows to perform at their best, we’ve put together a few tips on what you should consider.

1. Begin with the blinds
Consider whether you want Rollershades, Venetian Blinds, Roman Blinds, Timber Shutters, or another type of blind. Shades that move up and down at the window are especially convenient, especially if you’re looking for blinds that move out of the way easily. Curtains and draperies are much more flexible to work with, so getting the blinds right is an important first step.

2. Don’t feel limited by your window size
A simple way to make your windows feel larger is to fit your blinds for your window and then extend the size of your curtains beyond your window frame. We can fit your curtains to the ceiling and have them extend past the frame and down to the floor. This creates the illusion of a larger window, especially when the curtains are closed, but also helps you to maximise on heat retention at the window.

3. Mix not match
Contrasting colors can look great. For example, a dark-coloured Rollershade can look excellent with a lighter colour drape. If you have curtains with prints, a blind in a solid shade that matches one of the colors on the curtains can look dramatic or elegant.

Image
More messages from your neighbours
1 day ago

Share your favourite main crop potato recipe and win a copy of our mag!

William Hansby Reporter from NZ Gardener & Get Growing

Love potatoes? We will give away free copies of the May 2026 issue to readers whose potato recipes are used in our magazine. To be in the running, make sure you email your family's favourite way to enjoy potatoes: mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz, by March 1, 2026.

Image
21 hours ago

Poll: Would you help your kids out with buying a home?

Libby Totton Reporter from Waikato Times

OPINION: Over the past year, I’ve had the same conversation with many Waikato families again and again.

A child has found a house. The market feels like it’s moving. There’s pressure to act quickly. And before anyone has really had time to think it through, parents are being asked to step in with cash, guarantees, or equity from their own home.

Would you help your kids out with buying a home? Tell us more in the comments (adding NFP if you don't want your words used in print).

Image
Would you help your kids out with buying a home?
  • 14.3% I already have.
    14.3% Complete
  • 71.4% Yes.
    71.4% Complete
  • 14.3% No
    14.3% Complete
7 votes
4 hours ago

Poll: What do you think of the new police move-on powers?

Libby Totton Reporter from Waikato Times

Central Hamilton businesses are welcoming police being given new powers to move on vagrants, with a city retail advocate saying the previous hands-off approach wasn’t working.

On Sunday the Government announced it would grant police powers to order any individual rough sleeping, begging, or displaying disorderly behaviour to move on.

What do you think of the new police move-on powers? Tell us more in the comments (adding NFP if you don't want your words used in print).

Image
What do you think of the new police move-on powers?
  • 100% They're needed
    100% Complete
  • 0% They won't change much
    0% Complete
  • 0% I'll wait and see
    0% Complete
4 votes