Blackout blinds · Thermal & energy

Thermal blinds that keep your home warmer in winter and cooler in summer

Cut your heating and cooling bills with blockout thermal blinds you measure and install yourself. Foam-backed fabric, sealed side channels, no installer required.

Design your blind →Order free samples

Need a hand? Call 1800 482 777

Thermal blackout blind fitted in a lounge room

The science of insulation

How a thermal blackout blind actually insulates

The single biggest energy leak in most Australian homes is the window. Glass conducts heat in both directions: warmth escapes through it overnight in winter, and solar heat pours through it on summer afternoons.

A Coverlight thermal blackout blind seals the window opening completely. The 100% blockout fabric is foam-backed, which means it does not just shade the glass. It traps a layer of still air between the blind and the window. That trapped air is what insulates.

The trick is the seal. Standard roller blinds leak air around the sides, top, and bottom. Coverlight blinds run inside side channels with brush seals at the top and bottom. Side channels and seals stop air movement at the edges.

That is how a sealed roller matches the insulating effect of a honeycomb cellular blind, without the cost or the cellular look.

Winter performance

Winter: keep the warmth in

Uncovered windows can lose up to 40% of your home’s heat overnight. That heat is paid for by your gas bill, your reverse-cycle bill, or your wood you split on the weekend. Either way, every degree that escapes through a bare window is wasted.

Closed Coverlight thermal blinds give that heat somewhere to stop. Warm air from the room hits the blind and stays. The trapped air between blind and glass slows the transfer outward. Your heater runs less. Your living rooms hold their temperature longer after you switch off at night.

Effective insulation reduces household heating and cooling costs by up to 45%. Your roof, walls, and floor do most of that work, but bare windows undo a chunk of it overnight. A sealed thermal blind closes the gap.

Summer performance

Summer: keep the heat out

The same blind that traps warmth in winter blocks solar gain in summer. The fabric reflects radiant heat back through the glass before it enters the room. The white universal back of the Evolution fabric we use is engineered for this. It bounces light and heat outward instead of absorbing it.

If you have north or west-facing windows in your living areas, you already know the 4 pm problem. The room turns into a greenhouse, the aircon kicks into overdrive, and the bill arrives in February. Closed thermal blinds on those windows stop the heat at the glass.

Roller vs honeycomb

Why a sealed roller insulates as well as a honeycomb

Honeycomb cellular blinds get the press for thermal performance. They trap air inside their cells, which slows heat transfer. The principle works.

A Coverlight blind achieves the same outcome through a different geometry. Instead of cells, it traps a single sealed layer of air between the foam-backed fabric and the glass. The brush-sealed top and bottom plus side channels stop that air moving. Same physics, different format.

Where Coverlight wins:

No cellular pattern. A clean roller fabric in 12 colours, including White, Mist, Pepper, Dark Grey, and Sepia.
Blockout. closes the gaps around the edges. Honeycombs let pinpoints of light through the cell walls.
Soft foam-backed Evolution fabric. PVC and lead-free, independently tested, with a 5 year fabric guarantee.
DIY install at honeycomb-rivalling prices because there are no installer fees and no markup chain.

If you want the look of a roller and the insulation of a cellular, this is how you get both.

Choose your drive

Shop thermal blackout blinds

Two formats, same Evolution fabric, same insulation performance.

Coverlight Blind Manual

Cord-free Soft-Touch Spring. Choose your frame in Monument, White Gloss, or Satin Black. Configure and price in under two minutes.

Coverlight Blind Motorised

Tuya and Zigbee compatible. Schedule them to drop at sunset and rise at sunrise so the insulation works while you are not thinking about it.

Both options use the same 100% blockout Evolution fabric in 12 colours, all with the same soft foam backing and universal white back.

Measure, order, install

Measure, order, install, no trades needed

You measure it. You install it. You save.

1. Measure your window. Our DIY measuring guide walks you through inside and outside mount in under five minutes.
2. Order online. Pick your fabric colour, frame finish, and manual or motorised drive. Configure on the product page, see the price, hit checkout.
3. Install it yourself. Two screws each side, the blind clicks into the brackets, the side channels seal it shut. Our installation guide shows the full process. Most rooms take 15 to 20 minutes.

No installer means no booking three weeks out. No installer means no $400 to $600 install fee per opening. No installer means you do it on a Saturday and feel the warmth that night.

Common questions

FAQs

Do thermal blinds actually work?

Yes. Well-fitted thermal blinds reduce heat loss through windows by 25 to 50%. Coverlight’s foam-backed Evolution fabric and sealed side channels create a still-air pocket between blind and glass, which slows heat transfer in both directions. They keep warmth in during winter and block solar heat in summer.

What blinds are best for thermal insulation?

Any blind that creates a sealed air pocket between fabric and glass will insulate. Honeycomb cellular blinds do it through internal cells. Coverlight blackout blinds do it through foam-backed fabric, side channels, and brush seals. Same physics, cleaner look, full blockout. Standard roller blinds without seals do not insulate effectively because air leaks around the edges.

Do blackout blinds keep heat in?

Yes, when they are properly sealed. A blackout blind that just hangs in front of the glass will block light but lose heat around the gaps. A Coverlight blackout blind runs inside side channels with brush seals at the head and base, which stops air movement at the edges and traps a still-air layer that holds heat in.

How much can thermal blinds reduce my energy bill?

It depends on your home, your windows, and your habits. Effective insulation across a household, including window coverings, can reduce heating and cooling costs by up to 45% (energy.gov.au). Thermal blinds are one piece of that picture. They have the biggest impact on rooms with large or west-facing glazing, single-pane windows, and overnight heating.

What is the difference between blockout and blackout?

In Australian English they are used almost interchangeably. We use “blockout” when describing the fabric (Evolution is a 100% blockout fabric) and “blackout” when describing the result (the room goes properly dark). The Coverlight product is both: a blockout fabric in a blind that delivers a true blackout when sealed.

Are these PVC and lead-free?

Yes. Evolution fabric is independently tested for harmful substances, contains no PVC and no lead, and carries a 5 year fabric warranty. Safe for bedrooms, nurseries, and living areas.

Can I install them myself?

Yes. The whole product is built around DIY install. Each blind ships with the brackets, side channels, screws, and step-by-step instructions. Most windows take 15 to 20 minutes from start to finish. No power tools beyond a drill, no specialist trades, no installer booking.

Ready when you are

Start cutting your energy bill this winter

Configure your thermal blackout blind, see your price, and have it delivered ready to install.

Design your blind →Order free samples

Or call 1800 482 777