Pleated blinds: roof windows, top-down/bottom-up and prices

Pleated blinds are a compact window dressing for homes and offices alike. They fold like a concertina, so they take up little room and suit windows of unusual shape: triangular, trapezoid and attic windows. Our prices: standard from €50 per m², blackout from €65 per m², top-down/bottom-up from €80 per m², and fitting €15 per blind.

They suit modern flats and offices alike, for the compact profile, the fabrics (natural ones included) and the precise control of light.

Pleated blinds or roller blinds: which are better?

At first sight pleated blinds and roller blinds do the same job: they adjust light and privacy. But the construction, the way they operate and the look differ greatly. A roller blind winds onto a roll and the fabric moves in one direction only. A pleated blind folds into parallel concertina pleats and can be worked from both ends at once: you can raise the bottom and lower the top together, getting privacy while keeping natural daylight.

Pleated blinds win where you want flexible light control, a blind for an awkward window or the texture of a natural fabric. They are often offered as a double system: one fabric to filter the daylight and another for full darkening. Both fabrics fit in the same headrail and are worked independently.

What is a top-down/bottom-up mechanism, and who is it for?

Pleated blinds with a top-down/bottom-up mechanism let you move the fabric from both ends at once. Neither roller blinds nor traditional horizontal blinds can do it. The top part can come down and the bottom part go up, and the two movements are independent of each other. The mechanism is built on two separate cords, each with its own operating cord or chain.

Top-down/bottom-up is especially useful in a bedroom, where in the morning light can come in at the top with no loss of privacy below. It is useful in a bathroom, where the bottom stays closed and the top is set to suit the light. In an office, reflections on screens can be controlled precisely without darkening the whole window.

What decides the price of pleated blinds?

The price of pleated blinds is worked out by area: standard blinds from €50 per m², blackout from €65 per m², top-down/bottom-up from €80 per m². Fitting is €15 per blind. For a window 1 × 1.5 m, for example, a standard blind costs from €75, or from €90 with fitting.

The shape and size of the window: awkward windows, triangular, trapezoid and attic ones, are measured and made to order. The type of fabric: the level of transparency (from fully see-through to blackout) and the composition affect the price directly, and natural fabrics usually cost more than synthetic ones. The control system: a manual cord is the most economical, and electric or smart control the dearest.

The exact price follows the measuring visit. The designer brings fabric samples to your home, so you see how the material looks in the room and get an exact quote.

What the designer's visit covers

Experience: 500+ projects since 2019, from unusual measurements to complicated interiors. A consultation at home: the designer brings fabric samples, so the colour and texture are judged in the room's own light. Measuring is free in Vilnius. In Kaunas and Klaipėda it is free on orders of €200 or more. Elsewhere in Lithuania the visit is paid, and the price is agreed beforehand. Measuring and fitting: windows are measured exactly and the blinds fitted firmly. Our warranty covers sewing and tracks for 12 months, and mechanisms and motors, electric ones included, for 24 months.

Frequently asked questions

How do you clean pleated blinds?

The easiest way to clean pleated blinds is with a dry or slightly damp soft cloth, a gentle brush or a vacuum cleaner on its lowest power. Remove dust regularly, before it settles into the pleats, and a quick clean is then enough. Avoid abrasive cleaners and soaking, because they can damage the structure of the fabric and the shape of the pleats.

How do you look after pleated blinds?

Remove dust regularly with a soft brush or a damp cloth, and check the operating mechanism a few times a year to make sure it moves smoothly. Keep the blinds away from direct damp and from harsh cleaning chemicals, which can damage the fabric.

How do you fit pleated blinds correctly?

Pleated blinds are usually fixed to the window frame, so they hang close to the glass. To keep the glass from misting, the fabric must not touch it, and opening the blind by day lets the air reach the glass. They are fitted either in the window frame (inside the recess) or on the wall above the window (outside the recess). Measure the width and height of the window exactly before fitting, because pleated blinds are made to measure.

What is the difference between pleated blinds and roller blinds?

A pleated blind is fabric folded like a concertina, and it can be set at the top, in the middle or at the bottom, which gives more flexible control of light and privacy than a traditional roller blind. A roller blind winds onto a roll and covers the window only from top to bottom, while a pleated blind can move in both directions. Pleated blinds also suit awkward windows, such as triangular, oval and sloping ones, where roller blinds usually do not.

Do pleated blinds suit roof windows?

Yes. Pleated blinds are one of the few window dressings made for roof windows. The pleats can be cut at an angle, and special brackets hold them firmly at unusual reveals. What matters most is that the blind is fixed at the top and the bottom or runs in side guides: a curtain hangs vertically, so it would fall away from sloping glass.

How much do pleated blinds cost in Lithuania?

Our pleated blinds cost from €50 per m² (standard), from €65 per m² (blackout) and from €80 per m² (top-down/bottom-up); fitting is €15 per blind. For a window 1 × 1.5 m, for example, a standard blind costs from €75. The final price depends on the size, the type of fabric (standard or blackout) and the way you choose to operate them.

What are honeycomb pleated blinds?

Honeycomb pleated blinds have a double pleat structure with pockets of air inside, which act as heat insulation. So they suit colder rooms and large windows, especially where you feel the cold by the window in winter. Honeycomb models usually cost more than standard ones, because their structure is more complex.

How much do day and night pleated blinds cost?

Day and night pleated blinds combine a sheer and an opaque fabric in one blind, so they cost more than a single-fabric model. As a guide, standard pleated blinds cost from €50 per m², blackout from €65 per m², and fitting is €15 per blind. We work out the exact price from the window's own measurements, because every blind is made to order.