What are the best blinds for a kitchen?
PVC shutters, fauxwood and aluminium venetians suit kitchens best, with roller blinds for windows out of the splash zone. Here is how to choose, fit and clean them.
The best blinds for a kitchen are PVC plantation shutters, fauxwood venetians and aluminium venetians, because all three are waterproof and wipe clean. Roller blinds also work in a kitchen as long as they are not going to get drenched. Which one suits your window depends mostly on how close it is to the sink and the cooktop.
In short
- PVC plantation shutters, fauxwood venetians and aluminium venetians suit the splash zone at the sink and cooktop.
- SunScreen and Light Filter roller blinds suit windows a little further from the sink.
- Skip cassette systems, curtains, vertical blinds and panel glide blinds in a kitchen.
- Check taps, window handles and appliances before you choose a fit or roll direction.
- Order free samples and hold them against your splashback and benchtop.
What a kitchen window has to put up with
A kitchen window works harder than most. It sits near steam, splashes, cooking heat and grease, it is opened and closed many times a day, and it is often the brightest window in the house.
Two questions decide most of the choice. First, how close is the window to the sink and cooktop? A window directly behind the tap needs a hard, wipeable material. A window at the far end of the room, over a dining nook, does not. Second, what do you want from the window: a view of the garden, privacy from a neighbour, or shade from the afternoon sun?
Different windows in the same kitchen can use different products, and mixing them is common.
The best blinds for kitchen windows, compared
| Option | Best for | Views and privacy | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| PVC plantation shutters | The window over the sink | Tilt the blades for light and view, or open the panels fully | Interior use only, not continual direct soaking. Keep hinges and metal parts dry and clear of cooking heat |
| Fauxwood venetians | A timber look near the bench | Tilt the slats for light, lift the blind for the view | Sample the slat colour beside your benchtop and floor |
| Aluminium venetians | A clean, modern look near the splash zone | Tilt or lift, as with any venetian | Wipe splashes off before they dry |
| SunScreen roller blind | A sunny window away from the sink | Cuts glare and keeps the view | Daytime privacy only |
| Light Filter roller blind | A window facing the street or a neighbour | Diffuses daylight and obscures the view | Silhouettes can show at night when the light is on |
| Blockout roller blind | A kitchen that doubles as a TV area | Stops light through the cloth and gives night privacy | Keep it clear of direct splashes |
PVC plantation shutters
PVC plantation shutters are made from aluminium-reinforced polymer with a painted finish and a concealed tilt mechanism, and the material is waterproof. They come in Glacial White, Shell and Antique. Every panel has a D-mould, an overlap lip that blocks the view between panels, at no extra charge.
They are for interior use, and they are not designed to be soaked continually. Keep the hinges and other metal parts dry, and keep the shutter clear of direct cooking heat.
Fauxwood and aluminium venetians
Fauxwood venetians give the timber look in a faux wood slat. Choose them where you like the warmth of timber beside a timber benchtop or floor. Real timber needs its care requirements checked in humid rooms, while fauxwood is the option that suits kitchens.
Aluminium venetians suit a cleaner, more modern kitchen. Sample colours are Cool White, Brilliant White, Warm Pure Silk, Ebony and Sterling. With either type, tilt the slats to control glare and lift the blind to open the view.
Roller blinds in a kitchen
A roller blind is the lightest option for a window that catches strong sun but is not in the splash line. SunScreen roller blinds are woven, cut glare and keep the view, which suits a kitchen looking onto a garden. Screen colours are Ice, White Linen, White Grey, Mist, Dolphin, Charcoal Grey and Charcoal. (White Linen is a colour name only.)
Light Filter roller blinds diffuse daylight and obscure the view, so they suit a window facing a street, path or neighbour. Roller fabric is not waterproof, so do not fit a roller blind where it will take direct splashes from the tap.
Blinds for a kitchen window over the sink
The window over the sink is the hardest one to cover, because taps, handles and reach all interfere. Work through this in order before you choose a product.
- Find out what opens. Check the window handle, winder or latch, and measure how far it projects into the room.
- Check the tap. Note how high the tap is above the sill and whether it can be swung out of the way.
- Choose the fit. A recess fit sits inside the opening and looks neat. A face fit covers more of the window and clears obstructions.
- Choose the roll direction if you use a roller blind. A front roll hides the tube, clears handles and winders, and sits further from the glass. A standard (under) roll drops closer to the glass.
- Check the depth. A single roller blind in a recess needs 70 mm depth with the roll over, or 45 mm with the roll under. Shutters need clear depth for the blades: 60 mm for an inside Z-frame or 70 mm for an inside L-frame.
- Think about reach. Leaning over a sink to pull a chain is no fun. Put a chain on the side furthest from the tap, or choose a battery motor and remote so you never lean over the basin.
Tip: Check clearance with the window fully open and the handle in its open position. A window that closes cleanly against a blind may catch it as soon as you open it.
What to avoid in a kitchen
Skip cassette systems, curtains, vertical blinds and panel glide blinds in a kitchen. The reasons are practical.
- Curtains. Fabric next to a cooktop holds on to smells and grease. Sheer curtains are hand wash only and blockout curtains cannot go in a washing machine, so they are more work to keep fresh than a wipeable shutter or venetian.
- Vertical and panel glide blinds. Both hang large areas of fabric low in the room, close to splashes and hands.
- Cassette systems. The enclosed headbox and side channels tend to be harder to keep clear of steam and grease.
If you are drawn to a curtain for softness, use it in the room next door or on a window well away from the cooking. The window treatment ideas by room guide shows where curtains do work.
Kitchen blinds ideas: colour, finish and mixing products
- White PVC shutters in Glacial White match white window frames and cabinetry, and disappear into the wall. Shell and Antique are the other two PVC colours, so order samples to see which suits your walls.
- Ebony aluminium venetians echo black tapware and cabinet handles and give a crisp line against white walls.
- Fauxwood venetians add timber warmth beside a timber benchtop or floor without the care worries of real wood in a humid room.
- A light SunScreen roller in Ice or White Grey keeps a bright kitchen airy, while Charcoal gives contrast against pale walls.
- Two products, one colour family. Shutters over the sink and a roller blind at the dining end look consistent if the colours match. It is a common approach in open-plan kitchens.
Sample everything. Kitchen light, tiles and benchtops change how a colour reads, so compare a physical sample against the splashback and cabinets in the morning and again at night.
Keeping kitchen blinds clean
Roller blind fabric can be dusted with a soft cloth or wiped with a damp sponge and dried. Do not use abrasive or solvent cleaners, and do not roll the fabric away while it is damp. Wipe shutters and venetians with a damp cloth, follow the care instructions for the material, and keep the hinges and metal parts of PVC shutters dry.
Wipe splashes as they happen, and give the whole blind a wipe every few weeks, because kitchen grease builds up slowly and is harder to remove once it sets. The how to clean blinds guide covers every type step by step.
Measuring and ordering
- Measure with our roller blind measuring guide for roller blinds, our plantation shutter measuring guide for shutters, or the measure guides for any other blind.
- Shutter orders go through a quote and Expert Review, where our team checks your window photos and measurements for fit, clearances and panel layout before production.
- Order free samples before you commit, and check them in your own light.
For a room where privacy matters as much as moisture, read the best blinds for bathrooms. To price a window, go straight to our kitchen blinds page.
Questions
What blinds are best for a kitchen window over the sink?
PVC plantation shutters, fauxwood venetians and aluminium venetians suit a window over the sink, because all three are waterproof and wipe clean. A roller blind only suits the window if the fabric will not be drenched.
Can you use roller blinds in a kitchen?
Yes, as long as they do not get drenched. Choose SunScreen or Light Filter for a window away from the sink and keep the splash zone for shutters or venetians.
Are fauxwood or aluminium venetians better for a kitchen?
Both suit a kitchen. Choose fauxwood for the timber look and aluminium for a cleaner, more modern line, then order samples to see the colour beside your benchtop and splashback.
Can I use curtains in a kitchen?
Curtains are not a good fit for kitchens. Fabric near a cooktop and sink holds on to smells and grease and is harder to clean than a shutter or venetian, and blockout curtains cannot go in the washing machine.
How do I stop a blind catching on the tap or window handle?
Check how far the tap and handle project before you order, and measure with our roller blind measuring guide. A front-roll blind sits further from the glass and can clear a handle, and a face fit can cover an obstruction that a recess fit cannot.
Choose your kitchen blind or shutter
See the options that suit a kitchen and price them for your exact window.
Keep reading
Room ideasThe best blinds and shutters for bathroomsPVC shutters, fauxwood venetians and aluminium venetians suit bathrooms best, with roller blinds for windows out of the spray. Privacy, moisture and fit explained.
BlindsWooden blinds: timber, fauxwood or aluminium venetiansReal timber, fauxwood or aluminium? Compare slat sizes, wet-room suitability and care so you can choose the right venetian blind for each room.
Care & cleaningHow to clean blinds: every type, step by stepFabric blinds, slatted blinds and shutters each need a different method. Here is how to clean blinds of every type, without damaging them.
