Roller, zebra, vertical sheer or curtains? A plain-English guide to choosing blinds in Malta: the sun, the glare, the fabrics, the price, and how not to overpay.
Malta is a beautiful place to live and a tricky place to dress a window. The sun is strong for most of the year, a lot of us live with big balcony doors or sea-view glazing, and older houses have tall timber windows set into deep limestone walls. The blind that works in a London flat won't necessarily work in Sliema, Żejtun or Victoria.
This guide walks through the choices the way we do at a free measurement: start with the room, then the light, then the fabric, and only then the price.
1. Start with what the room needs
Before you look at a single sample, ask three questions about each room:
- Do you need it dark? Bedrooms, nurseries and media rooms usually do.
- Is glare the problem? Living rooms with TVs, home offices and anywhere with screens.
- Do you want to keep the view? Sea views, gardens and balconies are worth protecting.
Your answers point straight to the right type of blind.
2. The main types of blinds, in plain English
Roller blinds
One panel of fabric that rolls up into a slim cassette. Clean, simple and the most flexible choice because the fabric does the work: a screen fabric filters glare and heat while you still see outside, and a blackout fabric makes a bedroom properly dark.
Zebra (day and night) blinds
Two layers of fabric with alternating solid and sheer bands. Slide the layers so the sheer bands line up and daylight comes through the stripes; slide them again and the solid bands cover the gaps for privacy. Our customers have fitted them in living rooms, offices and even a childcare centre.
Vertical sheer blinds
Soft sheer vanes that turn for privacy and draw to one side. They suit wide patio and balcony doors, where a roller would be very large, and they look softer than a traditional office vertical.
Curtains and sheers
Still the warmest look in a bedroom or dining room. A voile or sheer softens the light during the day; a heavier curtain adds privacy and insulation at night. Many homes combine a sheer with a blind.
Venetian and roman blinds
Venetians give precise control with tilting slats and are practical in kitchens and bathrooms. Roman blinds fold into soft pleats and suit houses of character, where you want fabric without full curtains.
3. Choosing the fabric for Maltese light
Fabric matters more than most people expect. A good screen fabric, like the Farbelife JKF series, is woven with a set "openness" (JKF is 9%), which is how much light and view comes through. Lower openness means more privacy and less glare; higher openness means more view.
| Room | What usually works |
|---|---|
| Living room with sea or garden view | Screen roller or zebra |
| Bedroom | Blackout roller, or curtains with a sheer |
| Home office | Screen roller to kill monitor glare |
| Balcony or patio doors | Vertical sheer or zebra |
| Kitchen and bathroom | Venetian or a wipe-clean roller |
You can try colours and styles on a window in our 3D blind studio before you book a visit, then see the real samples in person.
4. Measuring: do it yourself or let us?
If you measure yourself, take the width and height in centimetres at three points and send us the smallest figures, along with a photo of each window. Say whether the blind goes inside the reveal or on the wall above it.
Honestly, the easiest option is a free measurement. Maltese walls are rarely perfectly square, and when we measure, the fit is our responsibility, not yours.
5. How to avoid overpaying
Blind prices in Malta vary a lot for what is often the same quality. Before you sign anything, get at least one written quote and compare it like for like: same type of blind, same kind of fabric, installation included.
That's exactly why we run a price-beat guarantee. Send us any written quote for the same type of blind and we'll beat it, using branded fabrics from Farbelife, Guzzi or Davilo. Why pay more for the same quality, or lower?
Quick checklist
- Decide what each room needs: dark, glare control or view.
- Pick the blind type, then the fabric.
- See real samples in daylight before you choose a colour.
- Get a professional measurement (ours is free).
- Compare written quotes like for like, then send us the best one to beat.
Ready to start? Book a free measurement or message us on WhatsApp and we'll help you choose.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best blinds for the Maltese sun?
Screen roller blinds are the best all-rounder. They cut glare and solar heat but let you keep the view. For bedrooms, pair them with a blackout fabric or choose a blackout roller.
Are zebra blinds worth it?
Yes, if you want light control without raising the blind. The two banded layers let you go from soft daylight to privacy in a second, which is why they're popular in living rooms, offices and childcare centres.
Should I measure my own windows?
You can, but a free professional measurement removes the risk. When we measure, we take responsibility for the fit.