One Small Window. One Big Mistake (That We Helped Avoid)
Most people choose blinds by standing in the room they’re buying for.
They look at the walls.
The furniture.
The new colour scheme they’ve spent time and money getting just right.
And that makes sense.
Up to a point.
But here’s the thing most people don’t consider:
Blinds don’t just live inside your home.
They live outside it, too.
Especially on the front of the house where every window is part of the story your home tells from the street.
Let me show you what I mean.
The Job: A Small Front Bedroom. A Fresh Look.
We were asked to quote for a small box bedroom at the front of a house.
The customer had recently redecorated soft greys replacing older off-whites. It looked great.
Naturally, she was leaning towards grey vertical blinds to match.
From inside the room, it made total sense.
But before we pulled out any sample books, we did what we always do.
We stepped outside.
The Part Most People Don’t Think About
From the street, this house had a clear layout:
- A large lounge window downstairs white vertical blinds
- A big master bedroom window upstairs also white blinds
- And in the middle, this small box room
Three windows all front-facing.
Now, imagine if that one small window had gone dark grey.
Suddenly, the front of the house would look… off.
Unbalanced.
Like something didn’t quite belong.
We gently pointed it out.
The customer paused, then laughed:
“I’d have noticed that every single time I pulled into the drive. I couldn’t live with it.”
That moment mattered.
Because once you see the whole picture you can’t unsee it.
Why Blinds Are a Whole-House Decision
This comes up more often than you’d think especially with front-facing rooms.
Blinds aren’t just about matching your walls.
They’re about keeping the whole house feeling right from every angle.
A few things to think about before you choose:
- Which windows face the front (and how many can be seen at once)
- Which ones draw the eye first (usually the biggest ones)
- Whether a single colour change might stick out for the wrong reasons
Even small windows can throw things off. Especially when they sit between two larger ones.
Here’s the Good News: You Don’t Have to Choose Between Inside and Out
A lot of people don’t realise this but many modern blind fabrics solve this exact problem.
There are ranges of:
- Blackout roller blinds
- Blackout vertical blinds
- Cellular (honeycomb) blinds
...that come with a white backing.
So what does that mean?
- From outside, the blind looks clean and white keeping your home’s front consistent
- From inside, you still get to choose a colour that works beautifully with your room
It’s a small detail. But it makes a huge difference once the blinds are in.
The Right Call Wasn’t White vs Grey. It Was Something Smarter.
In the end, we didn’t have to choose between “blending in” or “matching the walls.”
We found a fabric that did both:
- A soft white base with subtle grey woven through it
- Clean from the street
- Thoughtful and tonal from inside the room
That’s what smart specifying looks like.
No compromise. Just clarity.
Final Thought: Step Outside Before You Decide
This wasn’t about saying no to grey.
It was about making sure grey still felt right...
- When the curtains are open
- When you're parked on the drive
- When you glance back at your home in five years' time
The best blind choice often isn’t the one that shouts the loudest from a sample book.
It’s the one that quietly works from every angle.
What We Believe at Barlow Blinds
Our job isn’t to match fabric to paint colours.
It’s to help you avoid those “I didn’t think about that” moments before they happen.
Sometimes, that means standing in the room.
Then stepping outside the front door.
And looking back together.
Because the best blinds don’t just fit your room.
They fit your home.
Should all front-facing blinds match?
Ideally, yes especially if the windows are close together or visible from the street.
When front-facing blinds don’t match (in colour or style), the result can look disjointed even if each room looks great on its own. Consistency creates a calmer, more intentional look.
Can blinds be one colour inside and another outside?
Yes. Many modern blinds are designed this way.
Look for blackout roller blinds, vertical blinds, or cellular (honeycomb) blinds with a white backing. This allows:
- A clean, white exterior that blends with window frames
- A coloured interior that suits your décor
It’s the best of both worlds.
Do grey blinds look darker from the outside?
They often do especially when closed or viewed in low light.
Even light greys can appear much darker from the street, depending on:
- Lighting conditions
- Glass type
- Surrounding contrast
This is why it’s smart to check how the blind looks from the outside before making a final choice.
Why does only one window being different matter so much?
Because the human eye is drawn to contrast.
One different-coloured blind especially on a front-facing window can make the whole elevation feel mismatched, even if the window is small. People notice when something looks “off.”
Are vertical blinds suitable for bedrooms?
They can be especially for:
- Larger bedroom windows
- Privacy needs
- Rooms where blackout fabrics are used
Vertical blinds can look smart and sleek when well-specified, and come in blackout options too.
Are cellular blinds better for front-facing rooms?
They’re a strong option especially when:
- You want a softer finish
- You care about insulation
- You need a white street-facing backing
Cellular blinds are neat, energy-efficient, and come in a wide range of colours inside.
Will a white-backed blind reduce blackout performance?
Not at all.
The white side reflects light and heat back outward, without affecting the blackout function inside. In fact, it can improve energy performance during the day.
Why don’t most people consider the outside look of blinds?
Because it’s rarely pointed out during a home visit.
Most people are focused on the room they’re in the colours, walls, and furniture. Without help, they don’t always think to step outside and see the full picture.
That’s why we always take a look from the front of the house before you choose.
About Phil Coleman
Phil Coleman is the fifth generation of his family to run Barlow Blinds, a Leicester business that has been making blinds since 1887. With over 30 years of hands-on experience, Phil has played a leading role in shaping industry standards including being part of the team that wrote the only NVQ qualification for blind and shutter installers. He also serves on the Management Committee of the British Blind & Shutter Association (BBSA), helping to set best practice across the trade. Under his leadership, Barlow Blinds has remained true to its founding principle: “It’s not our job to find customers for our blinds, it’s our job to find the right blinds for our customers.”
