made to measure blackout blinds

typhoon

The bright nights are upsetting my kids bedtime routine! I already have blackout linings sewn into the curtains, but there are the inevitable chunks of daylight coming through the top and the sides (one room has tabtop curtains, the other eyelets).
I know you can buy blackout roller blinds in Dunelm Mill etc cheaply, but I also know from experience that the light can still shine through the sides.
I was quoted £55 from Cityblinds I think it was for a made to measure blackout roller blind. Does anyone know if these are worth the money compared to a diy blind, ie do they cover the entire window and (combined with blackout curtains) keep the room in darkness?

*miaomiao*

We recently had the same problem until we put in roller blinds with the blackout backing on them. They were both from Ikea and were very reasonable in price, and it is possible to cut them to size with a small saw (for the aluminium roller) and a pair of scissors (for the blind fabric). You could try to minimise the outside light coming in by making sure that the blind sits just outside the frame rather than in the frame of the window. Maybe that would help? This solution was much less expensive custom made blinds which we didn't want because we are in a rented flat.

Good luck!

wifeforlife

Which area are you in?

We recently got our whole house measured and fitted with blackout roller blinds, the other half is a bit like yourself, likes the bedroom to be completely dark when he's sleeping. Cost £340 for 12 windows ranging in sizes, we love them and infact don't have any curtains in our bedroom as the blind is more than enough.

I've never had the diy ones so can't tell you which is better though

typhoon

thanks for your replies. We live in Newtownabbey. I think in all honesty we would be better to go for made to measure ones as we have a diy one in our room and I remember finding it quite hard to cut to the right size etc (very incompetent at anything diy!) and I want to get as close a fit as possible. Don't mind spending a bit extra as they will be up for years too. Cathy the price you paid sounds great, have just been on the phone again and been quoted between £120 and £170 for the two windows. Can I ask who you used?.

wifeforlife

Hi Typhoon

Yeah I used Avalon Blinds although based in Armagh but I have to say I'd highly recommend them. I found them in yellow pages, had called 5 different local companies, they where the farthest away but definately the nicest to talk to and cheapest too.

Hope you get something sorted

Cate