Perfect for providing full privacy and light blocking at night, blockout roller blinds are great in bedrooms, helping you get a great night’s sleep, or in media rooms, preventing screen glare on TVs or monitors. Made from materials that are fully opaque, our blockout roller blinds will block almost all light, especially when fitted correctly. Available in a range of colours and patterns, there is something to suit any home décor. There’s even the option to motorise them for cordless operation, ideal for keeping pets or small children safe.
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Our blockout roller blinds are the easy way to darken rooms. They also pair perfectly with sheer curtains. See samples of all our options at your place with a free in-home consultation.
Find your blockout roller blinds style
Browse our abundance of fabric choices and be inspired by these looks
Features & benefits
Pair with sheer curtains
Use a blockout roller blind for darkness at night with sheer curtains drawn during the day to filter light and retain privacy. This allows you the practicality of blinds with the softness and style of curtains.
Inside or outside mount
Fitting your blinds inside the window frame offers the cleanest look, but your window recess needs to be deep enough. Fitting the blind outside and just above the frame is practical and flexible, suiting just about any window.
Front or back roll
This refers to the direction the blind comes off the roll – either from the front or the back. For better energy efficiency and light blocking choose back roll so it creates a tighter seal against the wall. Front roll hides the componentry better but leaves a bigger gap, so it best for an inside mount.
Why choose custom-made roller blinds
Although some windows are a ‘standard’ size, there is still plenty of variation between sizes and many windows don’t fit the regular range of sizes available with readymade blinds. Getting your roller blinds custom made, means they’ll be cut and made to the exact measurements of your actual windows, meaning you’ll get the right fit every time.
Expert advice
Our consultants come to you anywhere in New Zealand to help you find the perfect style for your home. They’ll guide you through which rooms require blockout roller blinds or other window furnishing options and make sure you end up with blinds you’ll love.
Crafted with care in New Zealand
Almost all of our blockout roller blinds are made right here in New Zealand at our workshop in Nelson. Our blind makers take care with even the smallest details and are proud to get it right every time.
Professional installation
Once your new blockout roller blinds are made, our professional team will install them to ensure they fit and hang just right. They will also show you best practice for using your new blinds and make sure you’re happy with the end result.
It's always right when it's backed by the Russells Promise
Our quality promise
Our product range is either manufactured right here in New Zealand or sourced from our long-standing, trusted suppliers—plus every product is backed by extensive warranties.
Our price promise
If you find a better price from a competitor on the same or similar products, including accessories and installation, within 7 days of purchase, we’ll match it.
Our experience promise
We go the extra mile to provide a true end to end experience that is the best in the country. It all starts with our expert style consultants that will come to you anywhere in New Zealand and ends with our professional installation service.
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Frequently asked questions
Blockout roller blinds are very effective at blocking out light. This makes them very popular for bedrooms as they help create a high-quality sleep environment. However, it’s important to remember that blockout roller blinds still have gaps around the sides that can let in light and therefore aren’t 100% darkening. If you’re looking for added insulation as well, consider a thermal roller instead. These are blockout blinds but with the additional benefit of a thermal backing, holding in more heat when you need it.
Blockout and blackout are the same and the fabric will block 100% of light, while dimout blinds block between 60 and 99% of light.
Yes! Sleeping in a dark environment helps your body produce melatonin, also known as the sleep hormone. Conversely, light tends to trigger cortisol production which keeps you awake. A dark room is a good thing!
No, you can’t see through blockout or thermal blinds from outside, meaning they are very private even at night!
Blackout blinds are perfect for blocking out light, but they can make a room feel a bit gloomy during the day if you need privacy as they’ll block out any natural light. If you want something that can filter light and provide some privacy, you may want to consider a light-filter roller blind instead or a dual track so you can have the best of both worlds!
Absolutely! Complete darkness is an important part of creating a good sleep environment and blockout roller blinds do just that. They are especially helpful if you have a streetlight outside your bedroom window or you work shift work that means you need to sleep during the day. Blackout blinds can also be worth it for home theatres or gaming rooms where you want to ensure there’s no glare on any screens.
Yes, it is! Sleeping with blackout blinds can help improve your sleep quality by blocking out all external light. This can be especially beneficial if you live in an area with a lot of streetlights or if you work night shifts and sleep during the day.
Yes, it is! Sleeping with blackout blinds can help improve your sleep quality by blocking out all external light. This can be especially beneficial if you live in an area with a lot of streetlights or if you work night shifts and sleep during the day.
No, you can’t see through blackout blinds at night (or during the day). They’re designed to block out light and provide complete privacy.
Cleaning blockout roller blinds is simple. Just use a soft cloth or a vacuum with a brush attachment to remove dust. For other marks or stains, a damp cloth with a bit of mild detergent should do the trick. Avoid using harsh chemicals, as they can damage the fabric.
Blockout roller blinds are best for bedrooms, nurseries, and home theatres—any room where you need to block out as much light as possible. They’re also great for offices if you need to reduce glare on screens.
Yes, blockout blinds provide excellent light control, improve privacy, and can even help with energy efficiency by keeping your rooms cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter.
Blackout roller blinds are among the best for blocking light completely. Honeycomb blinds and Roman blinds with blackout lining are also excellent choices.
Yes, roller blinds can definitely be blackout. You just need to choose a blackout material, which is designed to block out all light.
Yes, adding a block-out lining is a great way to upgrade your existing blinds if you need better light control. Just make sure the lining is properly fitted to ensure it blocks out all light.