Panel blinds

What a panel blind is

For a wide glazed opening or a room divider, panel blinds can give you a lovely clean look. Rather than having lots of narrow slats, they move as broad fabric panels, and we'll happily show you how they work in different spaces.

A panel blind is a set of tall, flat fabric panels hung from a headrail with several parallel channels. Each panel sits in its own channel, so when you slide them they overlap like a stack of cards instead of folding. Closed, they line up edge to edge and cover the glass. Open, they stack in front of one another at one end or both, depending on how the track is set up.

Think of it as a modern cousin of a curtain, with the crisp, structured look of a blind. There are no folds, no slats and no pleats, just clean rectangles of fabric.

Where they make the most sense

• Patio and sliding doors. Panels move sideways like the door itself, which suits wide glazing better than one heavy blind. Our patio door blinds page compares the main options.
• Large or floor-to-ceiling windows. A single roller across a very wide opening can look and feel unwieldy. Panels share the width between several narrower pieces.
• Room dividers. Hung away from the window, a track of panels can separate a dining area from a lounge, or hide a utility corner, and slide away when you want the space open.
• Wardrobe and alcove fronts. Some people use them as a simple, lightweight alternative to doors.

Choosing the fabric

Panel fabrics generally run from light-filtering to more opaque. A lighter weave softens daylight and keeps the room bright. A denser one gives more privacy and helps reduce glare, though how much depends on the fabric and the range. Because the panels sit flat, patterns and textures show off well, but a bold design across a big opening is a lot of pattern, so we suggest looking at a full-size sample against your wall colour rather than a small swatch.

Panels are a lovely light-filtering choice rather than a blackout solution. Light will show at the gaps between panels and at the edges, so if you want a really dark bedroom, our blackout blinds are the better route.

How many panels, and how wide

The number of panels depends on the width of the opening and the number of tracks in the headrail. A rough principle is that panels need to overlap slightly when closed, and they need space to stack when open. The stack takes up room at the side of the window, so it helps to have a clear wall or a bit of space beyond the frame. We work out the panel count and the stack position at the measure, and we will talk it through with you if the numbers do not suit your room.

Fitting and clearance

Panel tracks are usually fixed to the ceiling or to the wall above the window, set a little proud of the glass so the panels can slide past door handles and sills. It helps to look at what is near the track: radiators, deep window boards, curtains already in place or a low ceiling can all change where we can fix it. A track sitting well wider than the opening helps the panels clear the glass when open, so you get the whole view back.

Controls and safety

Panels are normally moved by hand with a wand or by pushing the leading edge. A wand is a better choice than a cord for homes with small children, because it removes the loop. Where any cord or chain is part of the control, tuck it out of reach and use the safety device supplied. BS EN 13120 is the UK standard covering internal blind safety. For more on this, see our child safety page.

Looking after them

Dust panels with a soft brush or a vacuum on a low setting. Spot clean with a lightly damp cloth where the fabric allows, and test a hidden corner first. Check what the care label says for your chosen range, because fabrics vary.

Panels or something else?

If you want the simplest, narrowest solution for a standard window, a roller blind is hard to beat. If you want a slatted look for a patio door, vertical blinds do a similar job in a different style. Panels earn their place on wide, modern glazing where you want a clean look. They also suit workplaces and store compactly. See also Allusion blinds.

Want a second opinion at your own window? Book a free measure and we will talk it through with samples in hand, with a quotation before you commit to anything.