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Blinds & Shutters

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Blinds, shutters and curtains do more work in an Australian house than in most climates. They are the first line of defence against summer sun on glass, they control glare in rooms with long daylight hours, they give privacy on narrow blocks, and in the case of external shutters and awnings they stop heat before it reaches the window at all.

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They are also one of the very few household products covered by a mandatory safety standard that binds the installer, not just the manufacturer. ACCC Product Safety administers two separate mandatory standards for blinds, curtains and window fittings. Supply is governed by the Trade Practices (Consumer Product Safety Standard - Corded Internal Window Coverings) Regulations 2010, which prescribe the warning wording on retail packaging and on the cord label or swing tag. Installation is governed by the Competition and Consumer (Corded Internal Window Coverings) Safety Standard 2014, which requires that a corded internal window covering be installed so that a loose cord cannot form a loop 220 millimetres or longer at less than 1600 millimetres above floor level.

The installation standard carries obligations most homeowners never hear about. The installer must attach a label with their name and contact details, must not remove the manufacturer's warning labels or swing tags, and may not fix a cleat below 1600 millimetres unless cord guides meeting a specified tension requirement are used. The standards apply in domestic dwellings but not in caravans, mobile homes or boats.

The corded blind rules that bind whoever installs them

  • A corded internal window covering must be installed so that a loose cord cannot form a loop 220 millimetres or longer at less than 1600 millimetres above the floor.
  • The installer must attach a label showing their name and contact details, which is how a non-compliant installation is traced back.
  • The installer must not remove the warning labels or swing tags supplied with the product.
  • A cleat used to secure a cord may not be installed below 1600 millimetres unless cord guides meeting the specified tension requirement are used.
  • Retail packaging must carry the prescribed warning that curtain and blind cords have caused the death of young children and must be installed so they are not a strangulation hazard.
  • The cord label or swing tag must carry its own warning to secure cords or chains with cord guides or keep them out of reach by winding them around a cleat.
  • The standards cover window coverings used inside a home, including fittings such as a traverse rod or track, and exclude caravans, mobile homes and boats.

Internal and external options used in Australian homes

  • Roller blinds, the default in new housing, available in sunscreen, translucent and blockout fabrics that behave very differently on a west-facing window.
  • Venetian blinds in aluminium, timber or composite, which give the finest control over glare and the most surfaces to clean.
  • Vertical blinds, still common on wide openings and sliding doors, where the chain and the weights are the safety concern.
  • Roman blinds and curtains, which add softness and some insulation and depend on how well the top is sealed against the ceiling.
  • Plantation shutters, internal hinged or sliding louvred panels, which have no cords at all and are easy to operate in a child's room.
  • External roller shutters, which stop solar heat outside the glass and also do security and acoustic work.
  • External awnings, blinds and screens, which are the most effective shading of all because the heat never reaches the window.
  • Motorised and cordless systems, which remove the cord hazard entirely and are worth considering wherever children sleep or play.

Shading outside the glass against shading inside it

Physics is unkind to internal blinds in an Australian summer. Once sunlight has passed through the glass, most of its energy is already inside the room, and an internal blind can only absorb and re-radiate it. An external shutter, awning or screen intercepts that energy before it reaches the glass, which is why external shading is consistently the more effective option for keeping a room cool.

Internal coverings still earn their place. They control glare precisely, they give privacy, they do useful work at night when heat is leaving through the glass rather than entering, and they are far cheaper to change when a room's use changes. The sensible arrangement in most Australian houses is external shading on the west and north elevations that carry the summer load, with internal coverings everywhere for glare, privacy and night-time heat retention.

The National Construction Code treats shading as part of the building envelope rather than as decoration, which is a useful reminder that a decision made on appearance has an energy consequence attached to it.

What a proper measure and install involves

  • A site measure of each opening, since reveal depth decides whether a blind can be recessed and whether a shutter frame will fit.
  • A decision on inside or outside mount for each window, which changes both the light gap and the amount of fabric needed.
  • Checking what the fixing is going into, because a heavy shutter or shading system into plasterboard alone will eventually pull out.
  • Confirming the control side for each window, so that cords and chains do not end up over a bed, a cot or a bench.
  • Installing to the corded window covering safety standard, including cord guides or a cleat at the required height.
  • Fitting the installer's name and contact label, which the standard requires and which is a useful check that the installer knows the rules.
  • A handover that leaves the manufacturer's warning labels in place and shows the household how the cord safety device is meant to be used.

Looking after window coverings in a harsh light climate

  • Expect fabric on the western and northern elevations to fade and weaken first, because Australian ultraviolet levels are the limiting factor rather than use.
  • Vacuum or brush blinds rather than washing them, since most roller fabrics lose their finish when wet.
  • Clean venetian slats regularly in coastal areas, where salt film holds dust and dulls the finish.
  • Check cord guides, cleats and chain tensioners periodically, because a safety device that has been unscrewed or left loose is no longer doing anything.
  • Service external roller shutter guides and motors, which collect grit and are the usual cause of a shutter jamming part way.
  • Re-tension or replace spring mechanisms in roller blinds when they stop holding position, rather than pulling harder.
  • Wipe plantation shutter louvres and check hinge screws, which loosen over time on a panel that is opened daily.

Common complaints and what causes them

The most frequent disappointment is a blockout blind that lets light around its edges. Blockout describes the fabric, not the installation, and an inside-mounted blind will always leave a gap at the sides. If genuine darkness matters, the answer is an outside mount with generous overlap, side channels, or a pelmet, decided before the blind is ordered rather than after.

The second is a west-facing room that is still hot with the blinds down. That is the internal shading limitation rather than a faulty product, and the fix is external: a shutter, an awning or an external screen that stops the sun before the glass.

The third is a cord safety device that has been removed. Cleats get unscrewed during painting and never go back, cord guides get taken off because they were inconvenient, and the installation that complied on the day quietly stops complying. The standard is written around that risk, which is why it puts the installer's name on the wall and requires the warning labels to stay attached.

Blinds & Shutters: frequently asked questions

Are there legal rules about how blinds are installed in Australia?

Yes, and they are unusual in that they bind the installer. The Competition and Consumer (Corded Internal Window Coverings) Safety Standard 2014 requires a corded internal window covering to be installed so that a loose cord cannot form a loop 220 millimetres or longer at less than 1600 millimetres above floor level. The installer must attach a label with their name and contact details, must not remove the manufacturer's warning labels or swing tags, and may not fit a cleat below 1600 millimetres unless cord guides meeting a specified tension requirement are used. Supply is separately regulated under the Trade Practices (Consumer Product Safety Standard - Corded Internal Window Coverings) Regulations 2010.

Why are blind cords considered so dangerous?

Because a loose cord or chain can form a loop that a young child can get their neck into, and the ACCC's prescribed packaging warning states directly that curtain and blind cords have caused the death of young children. The cord label warning tells owners to secure cords or chains with cord guides or to keep them out of reach by winding them around a cleat, and to move cots and furniture away from window covering cords or chains. The 220 millimetre loop and 1600 millimetre height figures in the installation standard are the technical expression of that hazard.

Do the corded blind rules apply everywhere?

The mandatory standards are national, made under Commonwealth consumer law and administered by the ACCC, so unlike building and licensing rules they do not change at a state border. They cover window coverings used inside a home, including fittings such as a traverse rod or track. They do not apply to the installation of corded internal window coverings in caravans, mobile homes or boats. A cordless or motorised covering avoids the hazard the standards address altogether.

Are external shutters really better than internal blinds for heat?

For keeping a room cool, yes, and the reason is where the energy is stopped. Sunlight that has already passed through the glass is inside the room, and an internal blind can only absorb it and re-radiate it. External shutters, awnings and screens intercept the sun before it reaches the glass. Internal coverings remain the better answer for glare control, privacy, appearance and for slowing heat loss at night, which is why most houses end up with both, external shading on the elevations that take the summer sun and internal coverings throughout.

Why does my blockout blind still let light in at the edges?

Because blockout describes the fabric rather than the installation. An inside-mounted blind sits within the reveal and will always leave a gap down each side, and light will find it. If real darkness matters, specify an outside mount with generous overlap beyond the opening, side channels that capture the blind's edges, or a pelmet across the top, and decide that before ordering. Retrofitting a solution to an already-made blind usually means buying a second one.

Sources

  1. ACCC Product Safety: Blinds, curtains and window fittings mandatory standard

Written by the LokalMatch editorial team. Last reviewed 22 September 2026. How we write and check our guides

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What affects the cost of blinds and shutters

Prices depend on the details of your project. We only publish price ranges when they’re backed by real LokalMatch quote data or reliable sources. Until then, here’s what usually changes the price:

  • Number, size and style of windows or doors
  • Frame material and glass options
  • Full-frame replacement or insert
  • Repairs to rotted framing or sills
  • Interior and exterior trim and capping
  • Access, including upper floors

How to compare window covering installers before you hire

  • Look for an installer who measures on site and explains how the new window or door will be sealed and flashed.
  • Ask whether the quote is for a full-frame replacement or an insert, and why they recommend it.
  • Compare quotes on the same product type, glass options, installation method and interior and exterior trim.
  • Ask who handles warranty issues: the installer, the manufacturer or both.
  • For garage doors, choose a technician trained on springs and openers, since that work can be dangerous.

Questions to ask window covering installers before you hire

  • Will you replace the full frame or install an insert, and what's the difference for my home?
  • How will you insulate and seal around the new units?
  • Is interior and exterior trim included in the price?
  • What does the manufacturer's warranty cover, and what does your installation warranty cover?
  • How long will it take for the products to arrive once I order?
  • Will your own crew do the installation?

When to call a pro for blinds and shutters

  • Drafts, condensation or fog between the panes
  • Windows or doors that stick, won't lock or let water in
  • A garage door that's off track or has a broken spring: don't try to force it, and call a garage door technician.

Blinds and shutters permits and local rules

Some blinds and shutters work needs a permit or has to meet local bylaws. Rules vary by municipality, so ask your pro whether a permit is needed and who will apply for it — and check with your city or town if you’re unsure.

Permits and licensing

Seasonal maintenance

This job is part of our home maintenance checklists for:

Guides about blinds and shutters

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