In this time of climate crisis and sharply rising energy costs, finding effective ways to save energy in our homes has become more important than ever. Luxaflex Duette® blinds have been helping homeowners save on their energy bills for over 40 years. Originally developed for the harsh conditions in conservatories, these blinds have evolved into a versatile solution for any window in your home. Duette® blinds can help reduce the high costs of heating your home, so you can avoid those eye-watering bills. They can fit windows of any shape and can be made up to 4 metres wide.
Duette® fabric
At the heart of Luxaflex Duette® blinds is their fabric, which boasts several unique qualities. It is an extremely stable fabric made from 100% polyester. On a scorching summer day in a conservatory, Duette® blinds maintain their performance and appearance. The honeycomb design of the fabric prevents curling (a common issue with roller blinds) and ensures a sleek, polished look. Moreover, the fabric offers a variety of options for controlling light: translucent, transparent, and room darkening.
Insulating properties
Luxaflex Duette® blinds stand out from the rest due to their exceptional insulating qualities. The unique honeycomb structure of these blinds traps air, creating an insulating layer on your windows. Up to half of your home’s heat is lost through your doors and windows. Thermally efficient Duette® blinds prevent this heat loss, significantly reducing energy. In fact, the latest round of some Duette® fabrics boasts an excellent A++ energy rating – so you can effortlessly save money on your bills.
Duette® blinds are not just useful for protecting your home from warm summers and cold winters – they also provide insulation from noise. The honeycomb cells provide a thicker barrier than regular roller blinds, reducing external sounds and improving the acoustics of your rooms. This is particularly beneficial for modern, open-plan homes with lots of hard floors and glass surfaces. Duette® blinds also have a contemporary and stylish look that is right at home in modern buildings.
UV protection and day-to-night designs
Duette® blind fabric provides valuable UV protection, safeguarding your soft furnishings and upholstery from being bleached by the sun’s rays. When it comes to room darkening, Duette® blinds are miles ahead of many other blinds. Because they are designed with operating cords placed inside the cells, there are no visible holes in the blinds. Each made to measure blind is also engineered precisely to ensure that very little light escapes around the edges of the fabric (another common problem with roller blinds). As a result, Duette® blinds are an excellent choice for bedrooms – especially for shift workers or others who need to sleep during the day.
Duette® blinds are characterised by their many customisation options, and each one is completely bespoke – so you can choose what works best for your home. By stacking two different fabrics, you can achieve ideal day and night functionality with just one blind. Choose a sheer fabric to softly filter light throughout the day, then slide up your opaque fabric to block light when you want to go to sleep. The slim, stackable design of Duette® blinds means that the other fabric will fold up and virtually disappear when not in use.
Top-down, bottom-up designs
If you love the feeling of warm daylight streaming into your home, but you still want to maintain your privacy, top-down bottom-up Duette® blinds might be perfect for you. Instead of simply pulling your blinds down from the top of your window, you can pull from the bottom up to the top – or find a position that is somewhere in between.
Top-down, bottom-up blinds can be installed with the Luxaflex Trufit system. Trufit blinds don’t require drilling or the installation of brackets. This feature is particularly advantageous for tilt-and-turn windows, glazed doors, conservatories – or any other situation in which installing a regular blind would not be optimal.
A solution for any window
Speaking of situations that do not suit regular blinds, Luxaflex Duette® blinds are an ideal choice for specially shaped windows. Skylights, sloping windows, windows that are hard to reach, large windows, round windows, trapezoid shaped windows – Duette® blinds can be seamlessly fitted to all of them. They work just as well in your attic as they do in your living room bay windows – and of course, they can be fitted to any panel of glass in your conservatory.
Child safety and customisation
There are no long cords on Luxaflex Duette® blinds. Not only does this give your blinds a sleek and streamlined appearance, it also eliminates potential hazards. Enjoy unparalleled peace of mind if you have young children or pets in your home. Luxaflex also provides motorised options, making it convenient and effortless to operate your Duette® blinds.
Some other things to consider…
While these blinds have a huge array of benefits, it’s important to look at the full picture so you can make an informed choice about what is right for your home.
Keeping your Duette® blinds clean
Due to the honeycomb structure, dust can accumulate in the long grooves of these blinds. However, keeping them clean is relatively simple. You can use a feather duster or a dry microfibre cloth. Alternatively, put your hoover on a gentle setting and use long, horizontal strokes to keep your blinds clean.
Flexibility
Unless you opt for the top-down, bottom-up designs, you are limited to only a few options when it comes to light control. Unlike shutters or blinds with slats, which can be opened and closed, regular Duette® shades can only be up or down. This makes it worth investing in one of the more involved options, such as top-down bottom-up, or using more than one fabric on your shades to give you greater control over light and privacy in your home.
Price point
Duette® blinds are capable of doing a lot – so of course, they’re not the cheapest option on the market. However, because they are so versatile and can solve virtually any window-related problem in your home, they are well worth the investment.
These blinds have a huge range of customisation options. Some homeowners choose to layer two less-than-optimal window treatments to get the effect they want – for instance, blinds and curtains on the same window. Why bother with that when you can just invest in blinds that are perfect for you and your requirements in every way? Every aspect of your blind is customisable – from fabric selection to size and design – allowing you to achieve the desired effect in your living spaces. Each Duette® blind is made to measure, so you’re also guaranteed a perfect fit for your windows.
Conclusion
Luxaflex Duette® blinds are an ideal choice for energy-conscious homeworkers who seek efficiency, but don’t want to compromise on style. Their insulating properties, UV protection, room darkening capabilities, and child-safe design make them an attractive solution for any window in your home. While they require a small amount of maintenance and offer a limited range of control compared to some alternatives, Duette® blinds compensate with their excellent performance and tailor-made customisation options.
By investing in these blinds, you not only save energy and reduce your carbon footprint but also create a comfortable and visually appealing environment within your living spaces. Want to see for yourself? Visit us at our showroom for a demonstration or contact us for further information.
