Safety guide

Child safe blinds, and why cordless is our default

Looped cords and chains are a strangulation risk to small children, and the standard that governs blind safety in the UK exists because of tragedies that were entirely preventable. Every blind we supply meets it, without exception and without an upgrade fee.

The rules are the floor, not the target. Where a blind sits near a cot, a bed, a sofa or anything climbable, we specify a system with no accessible cord at all.

Safety guide: Child safe blinds, and why cordless is our default in an East Kent home, fitted by Homestyle Blinds & Shutters

What compliance actually means

A compliant blind either has no loose cord, or has the cord kept permanently out of reach by a tensioned device or breakaway connector that is fitted at installation rather than left in the bag for the customer.

That last point is where most self installed blinds fail. The safety device is supplied, but it is never screwed to the wall, so the chain hangs free. Our fitters install every device as part of the job and will not sign off a room otherwise.

Cordless spring rollers: pull the bar, it stays. Nothing to reach.
Motorised blinds: remote or app control, no chain in the room at all.
Wand operated verticals and Venetians: rigid wand rather than a looped cord.
Tensioners and breakaways: fitted and screwed down on every corded blind we hang.

Shutters are inherently cord free

One of the quieter arguments for plantation shutters in a child's room is that there is nothing to pull. Louvres tilt on a rod or a hidden mechanism, panels swing on hinges, and there is no cord anywhere in the assembly.

For a nursery that will become a bedroom and then a teenager's room, that combination of zero cords and a lifetime product guarantee on selected shutter ranges is very hard to beat.

Making existing blinds safer this afternoon

Move the cot away from the window, screw the supplied cleat or tensioner into the wall at the correct height rather than leaving the cord looped over it, and cut any continuous loop that has no breakaway. If you are unsure, we will look at existing blinds during a home visit even if you are only quoting for one new room.

Safety guide - your questions

Yes. Every blind is supplied to the current UK child safety standard, with the safety device fitted by our installer rather than left loose for you to attach.

A little, on some systems, and we still recommend it near cots and beds. On several roller ranges the cordless spring option is close to price neutral.

No. There is no cord or chain in a shutter, which is why they are so often chosen for children's bedrooms and landings.

In many cases yes, and we will do it while we are in the house. Where a blind is beyond safe retrofit we will tell you straight rather than bodge it.

Have the children's rooms checked, free

Book a home consultation and we will assess every blind in the house for cord safety, not just the ones you are replacing.