This article is a paid partnership with Swift Direct Blinds.
Did you know that according to IBISWorld, there are just over 4,000 businesses in the carpet, rug & curtain retailing industry in the United Kingdom? That’s a lot of choice to simply decide where and what window treatment you should be getting for your home.
If you’re a non-DIY-er, it can be quite overwhelming to do research, make measuring mistakes or question whether the choice you made was the right one. You might know exactly how you want your room to look. But how you get to that point can be complicated.
We provide you with a retailer that has the solution to many of the problems you may face as you undertake this exciting project. Swift Direct Blinds believe that window coverings have the power to transform a space. Their quality of craftsmanship is backed by their impressive 50 years of quality service and their 5 out of 5 ratings by their customers on TrustPilot. With over 3,000 different window dressing options, you’re sure to find exactly what you need!
1. “I know what I want the room to feel like, but I don't know what window covering I need."
Chances are that there is a problem that you’re trying to solve. Why else would you be reading this article? Do you live in an apartment or semi-detached house that’s street-facing? Or, do you love your sleep-ins during the summer but not so much the bright morning sunlight?
Taking the time to narrow down your problem can make the solution simple. Living in a street facing home may mean that you don’t want people peeking in as they walk by outside. Lazy summer mornings can be even more relaxing when you fully block out the sun. Or, the cold wintery months may have you prioritise keeping your home as warm as possible.
Swift Direct Blinds is one of the UK’s leading specialists for home window treatments. They have a vast product range that lets you explore window treatments from blinds and curtains to shutters. Their made-to-measure products have features such as blackout, privacy, thermal and light filtering options also available on their website.
2. “What if I measure it wrong?”
One of the biggest problems consumers face is making the wrong measurements. Fear of this happening is a significant barrier when placing an order with a retailer, particularly if you’re ordering online.
Unlike buying a cushion or a lamp, made-to-measure window treatments are produced for one particular window. A minor measuring error could leave the finished product too wide, too narrow or completely unsuited for the space. This makes measuring your own windows feel like a bigger commitment than it needs to be.
Swift Direct Blinds provide expert step-by-step measuring guides and videos to help you through this process on all their products. For additional assurance, eligible blind orders can also be protected with SizeSure cover at checkout. If you accidentally provided the wrong measurements, SizeSure allows you to submit revised measurements within 15 days of receiving the product and have a replacement made. SizeSure doesn’t cover shutters, curtains or orders over £1,000.
This additional protection can remove some of the anxiety that you may have when ordering made-to-measure blinds online.
3. “What if it doesn't look the way I imagined?”
Pinterest, social media and the uFurnish.com Home Awards are great places to get inspired for home interior designs. But creating that same feeling in your own home, as you may know, is much harder. Perhaps you aspire to have a calm and spa-inspired bedroom or a living room built around earthy greens and warm clay tones. These sound great. But the challenge lies in the window treatment working with the furniture, flooring, walls and natural light available.
Importantly, colours and designs can look different when compared on a screen versus inside your home. Free fabric samples are a great way to test a particular window treatment, helping you recreate saved designs. Swift Direct Blinds offers all its customers up to 10 free blind, curtain and shutter samples with free first-class delivery. Ensuring that you get things done quickly and efficiently.
They recommend ordering samples when accurate colour matching is important to your design scheme. Test them all over the space you are looking to install your window treatment.
4. “Will it do what I need it to do?”
This is the point on your journey where the performance features of the window treatment are significant. You’ve found the curtain treatment that you need: curtains, blinds or shutters. You’ve got the correct measurements (and are protected if you don’t with SizeSure). And you’ve ordered samples to test in person. Now the question is dependent on your home needs.
Take light control. Blackout options reduce incoming light, making them effective in both bedrooms and nurseries. On the other hand, light-filtering fabrics are known for reducing glare while simultaneously adding privacy to your room. Swift Direct Blinds offer dimout curtain linings for those who want something between the two. Over the winter months, thermal blackout linings are a great window solution that adds an extra layer of insulation to your home.
Moreover, kitchens and bathrooms are more likely to expose window coverings to moisture and humidity. Waterproof and easy wipe materials such as PVC, aluminium and fauxwood are much more suited to the space. Lastly, curtains & blinds can be operated in different ways. Manual controls may be all you need, but considering electric blinds that open and close at the touch of a button may add a modern touch to your home interior. If you're dressing a child's bedroom or nursery, make child-safe operation part of the decision too. The retailer’s blinds are manufactured to meet the relevant child-safety requirements.
5. “I've made my choice. I don't want to wait weeks to finish the room."
At this stage, you’ve made your decision on what your needs are and found your perfect window treatment. The furniture is in place. Home accessories have been added. You just need your window to complete the room. In most cases, made-to-measure furnishings can take weeks to arrive. This isn’t ideal if you are under a time constraint.
With thousands of their products made locally in Yorkshire, Swift Direct Blinds has the ability to offer consumers faster delivery options across their selected products. Eligible made-to-measure express blinds ordered before 12pm Monday to Friday can be upgraded for next-working-day delivery to UK mainland addresses. Express shutters can also be upgraded for delivery within seven working days when ordered before 3pm Monday to Friday for UK mainland delivery.
So if you’re refreshing a room on a tight timescale, those fast options can help bridge the gap from the moment you choose your design to seeing the completed space.
From a Difficult Decision to a Finished Room
The difficult part of furnishing a window is rarely about finding something attractive. It’s finding something that looks right, performs as expected and fits properly. Starting with your frustration is much more helpful than starting with product names or simply performance features. That makes it much easier to work out what needs to be changed or included.
Swift Direct Blinds bring all the different stages together through their vast made-to-measure product range, free samples, performance collection, SizeSure cover and fast delivery options. The result is a clearer route from an unfinished window to a space that looks and works the way you intended.
