Buying guide · Indoor roller blinds

How to choose your made-to-measure roller blind

Reading time: 10 minutes

You choose an indoor roller blind by answering a few questions: how much light and privacy you need, what look you want for your window and how you want to operate the blind. This guide takes them one at a time for Kyma and Recta blinds. Once you know what you want, all that's left is to measure up.

QUESTIONS TO ASK YOURSELF

What to ask yourself before you choose

Before you look at fabrics and colours, think about what the blind needs to do in that room. Each answer takes you to a section of this guide.

Do you want to control light and privacy, or keep the heat out? This decides whether you need an indoor or an outdoor blind.
How much light do you want in the room, by day and in the evening? This decides the fabric type: blackout, light-filtering or sheer.
What look do you want for your window? This decides the model, Kyma or Recta, plus the width and colour of the bracket.
How high off the floor will you fit the blind? Do you also want to control it with Alexa or Google Home? This decides the operation: chain or motor.

Indoor or outdoor blind?

Kyma and Recta are indoor roller blinds: they're fitted inside your home, on the wall or ceiling, and control the light and privacy in the room.

If your main aim is to keep the heat out, consider exterior roller shades. They're fitted outside the window and block the sun before it hits the glass, so the room stays cooler in summer.

Discover our exterior roller shades

FABRICS

Three fabric types: blackout, light-filtering or sheer

The fabric decides how much light comes into the room and how much can be seen from outside. To choose, start with how you use the room: a bedroom usually needs darkness, a home office needs light that doesn't reflect on the screen, a kitchen needs as much light as possible.

The types differ in how much light they let in and how much you can see through the fabric. Privacy matters most in the evening, when the lights are on indoors and more can be seen from outside.

Tv: the percentage of light that passes through the fabric

To compare fabrics there's one figure to look at, Tv (light transmittance): the percentage of light that passes through the fabric. With Tv 0% no light gets in, and the higher the value, the brighter the room stays.

Blackout

The fabric doesn't let light through

Two collections: Blend Blackout and Canvas Blackout with Tv 0%
In the evening no one can see in from outside
The white back reflects the sun's rays to reduce heat
For bedrooms, children's rooms, home cinemas and anyone who sleeps during the day

A sliver of light can get in at the edges

Blackout fabric blocks all light, but a roller blind doesn't seal the window completely: a few rays can get through the gap between the fabric and the window. To reduce this, fit the blind as close to the window as possible.

Collections and colours

Blend Blackout

A soft surface with an irregular texture, similar to a natural fabric. It's the heaviest blackout fabric in the range (385 g/m²) and fully darkens the room (Tv 0%).

Blend Blackout fabric, Seashell Ivory colour — Seashell Ivory

Blend Blackout fabric, Desert Beige colour — Desert Beige

Blend Blackout fabric, Silver Grey colour — Silver Grey

Blend Blackout fabric, Granite Grey colour — Granite Grey

Canvas Blackout

A regular weave reminiscent of painter's canvas. Lighter and thinner than Blend, with the same blackout performance (Tv 0%).

Canvas Blackout fabric, Cloud Grey colour — Cloud Grey

Canvas Blackout fabric, Silver Grey colour — Silver Grey

Tv does NOT change with colour

All our blackout fabrics have Tv 0%, whatever the colour.

Light-filtering

Daylight comes in diffused, without glare

Three collections: Earth, Horizon and Fine Line
Privacy varies from collection to collection: you can't see through Earth, while Fine Line is the most see-through of the three
For offices, workstations with screens and west-facing living rooms
Tv 6-44%

Collections and colours

Earth Collection

The only collection with natural fibre: 90% polyester, 10% cotton. A tactile texture and strong filtering: the room stays softly lit even in full daylight.

Earth Collection fabric, Dune Taupe colour — Dune Taupe

Earth Collection fabric, Granite Grey colour — Granite Grey

Horizon Collection

Fine horizontal stripes with a technical-fabric look. It's the thinnest light-filtering fabric (0.32 mm); darker colours filter more.

Horizon Collection fabric, Seashell Ivory colour — Seashell Ivory

Horizon Collection fabric, Silver Grey colour — Silver Grey

Horizon Collection fabric, Granite Grey colour — Granite Grey

Fine Line Collection

Fine stripes and a dense weave: it creates a discreet veil that screens direct views without blocking the light.

Fine Line Collection fabric, Dune Taupe colour — Dune Taupe

Fine Line Collection fabric, Silver Grey colour — Silver Grey

Fine Line Collection fabric, Granite Grey colour — Granite Grey

Tv changes with colour

Darker colours filter more, lighter colours let more light through.

Sheer

A fine veil between inside and outside

Three collections: Diamond, Brush and Satin
Open weaves: by day they act as a filter between the room and the outside; in the evening, with the lights on, people can see in from outside
For kitchens and living areas that need to stay bright, where privacy isn't needed
Tv 20-49%

Collections and colours

Brush Collection

An irregular brushstroke texture, visible even from a distance. It's the lightest fabric in the range and diffuses light unevenly, with variations in tone.

Brush Collection fabric, Dune Taupe colour — Dune Taupe

Brush Collection fabric, Granite Grey colour — Granite Grey

Diamond Collection

A geometric diamond texture, visible against the light and discreet when the blind is down. It's the heaviest of the sheer fabrics (220 g/m²).

Diamond Collection fabric, Midnight Black colour — Midnight Black

Satin Collection

A smooth surface with a satin finish. It lets more light through than any other fabric: the blind almost disappears and the room stays bright.

Satin Collection fabric, Seashell Ivory colour — Seashell Ivory

Satin Collection fabric, Silver Grey colour — Silver Grey

Satin Collection fabric, Dune Taupe colour — Dune Taupe

Tv changes with colour

Darker colours filter more, lighter colours let more light through.

The eight collections compared

All fabrics are classified according to EN 14501. Where a value is shown as a range, it varies by colour.

	Blackout		Light-filtering			Sheer
	Blend Blackout	Canvas Blackout	Earth	Horizon	Fine Line	Diamond	Brush	Satin
Tv (light transmittance)	0%	0%	6-16%	19-44%	15-30%	20-32%	22-46%	45-49%
Weight (g/m²)	385	340	195	170	195	220	160	140
Thickness (mm)	0.56	0.44	0.49	0.32	0.69	0.70	0.43	0.48
Composition	100% polyester	100% polyester	90% polyester 10% cotton	100% polyester	100% polyester	100% polyester	100% polyester	100% polyester
Colour fastness	min. 4-5	min. 4-5	min. 4-5	min. 5-6	min. 4-5	min. 4-5	min. 4-5	min. 4-5
Solar reflectance	75%	74%	37-49%	23-50%	34-40%	27-38%	23-52%	34-44%
UV transmittance	0%	0%	6-7%	9-19%	12-19%	21-27%	22-29%	26-31%
Available colours	5	3	3	4	4	2	3	4

Don't choose the fabric by on-screen colour alone

The same colour comes in different families: a Blend Blackout Seashell Ivory and a Satin Collection Seashell Ivory look similar in photos, but the first darkens the room and the second keeps it bright. If you can't decide between two fabrics, order samples and try them at your window.

BRACKET AND BOTTOM BAR

Kyma and Recta

Kyma and Recta differ in the design of the bracket, the side profile that covers the mechanism. Fabrics, sizes and operation options are the same for both models.

Each bracket comes in two widths, Standard and Slim, with the same aluminium and the same structure: the only change is how much of the bracket you see when you look at the window. The difference is aesthetic.

Kyma

Bracket with a concave wave, for rooms with softly curved furniture.

Recta

Bracket with straight lines and 90° corners, for rooms with clean geometry.

The Standard width isn't sturdier

Both widths have the same structure and the same strength: only their visual presence at the window changes.

One bracket for wall or ceiling fitting

With the same bracket you can fit the blind to the wall or the ceiling. The bracket has two fixing points: on the back for wall fitting, on top for ceiling fitting.

wall fitting

ceiling fitting

The screws stay hidden

On both models the bracket closes with a magnetic system that hides the technical parts, with no visible screws, for a clean, minimal look.

The six bracket and bottom bar colours

The six colours are the same for Kyma and Recta and for both bracket widths. None of them is a flat colour: each has small variations in tone that give the bracket movement. The bottom bar, which is the bar at the base of the fabric, matches the bracket colour.

Soft Ivory

An ivory with a rough surface and lighter and darker flecks. It pairs with light fabrics, such as Blend Blackout Natural Ivory and Satin Seashell Ivory.

Textured White

An off-white with darker flecks that stop the bracket looking flat. It goes with whites and light greys, such as Horizon Cotton White and Silver Grey.

Shimmer Beige

From a distance it's a beige leaning towards brown; up close you can see specks of different colours, like grains of sand, and glints that sparkle when the light catches them. It pairs with light tones, such as Satin Dune Taupe and Brush Cotton White.

Natural Taupe

A matt taupe, rough like Soft Ivory, with lighter and darker shades. It's the colour with the most pairings: it goes with the beiges and taupes of almost every collection, from Earth Mineral Beige to Fine Line Dune Taupe.

Grey

A solid grey, slightly rough and not glossy, with glints that sparkle when the light catches them. It goes with grey fabrics, from the Silver Grey of Blend and Satin to the Granite Grey of Horizon.

Espresso Brown

A very dark, matt tone with lighter flecks and brown hints that set it apart from a solid black. It pairs with the darkest fabrics in the range, from the Granite Grey of Earth and Brush to the Midnight Black of Diamond.

RECOMMENDED PAIRINGS

Find the right fabric and bracket pairing

The Centro Stile Maanta, our in-house style office in Italy, chose the bracket colours starting from the fabrics, so that they work together. For each fabric it already suggests the recommended brackets: in the configurator they're marked with a heart. Below you can see them all, starting from the fabric or from the bracket.

OPERATION

Manual or motorised blind?

You can choose between manual operation, with a chain, and a battery motor. If you choose the chain, you can motorise the blind later on.

Chain-operated blind

Manual chain operation

Chain in silver-coloured steel
No power needed and no maintenance required
You can fit the chain winder (the mechanism that moves the chain) on the right or left and swap sides at any time.
The configurator automatically calculates the chain length based on the installation height.
It's the lowest-cost option.
You can motorise the blind later on: the motor, remote control and Wi-Fi Bridge are sold separately in the Accessories category.

Safety rules apply

The chain is only available if you fit the blind at least 200 cm off the floor: it's a child safety rule. Any lower, choose the motor.

Motorised blind with remote control

Motorised operation with battery motor

12 V motor, fits inside the roller tube in a few minutes, with no electrician and no building work.
One charge gives you hundreds of openings and closings; it charges via USB-C.
It's quiet, under 35 dB, and has three lowering speeds.
You can save your favourite position: the blind slows gently to a stop there.
You can fit it on the right or left side of the roller tube.

Power adapter not included

The motor comes with a USB-C cable, not a plug adapter. Any standard 5 V USB-C adapter will do.

How will you control the motor?

The motor can't be operated on its own: to control it you need the remote control, the Wi-Fi Bridge or both.

Remote control

The multi-channel remote comes already paired with the motor and controls up to 15 blinds. It works by radio, with no Wi-Fi and no app.

Right for you if you operate the blind from inside the room.

See the remote control

WiFi Bridge

It connects to your home router and lets you control the blind from the smartphone app and by voice with Alexa and Google Home.

Right for you if you already have a voice assistant or want to manage your blinds from your phone.

See the WiFi Bridge

Remote control and WiFi Bridge

Use the remote when you're in the room, and the app or your voice when you're elsewhere in the house or have your hands full.

Right for you if several people in your household use the blind, with different habits.

If you configure a motorised blind, you choose whether to add the remote control, the WiFi Bridge or both; if you already have them for other Maanta blinds, you can leave them out.

PRICING

The price depends on size and operation

The price of Kyma and Recta depends on two choices: the size of the blind and the operation.

The price of your blind includes the assembled blind, the bracket in the colour and width you choose with a matching bottom bar, your chosen operation and the fitting kit.
A motorised blind costs around £139 more than a manual one.
Below you'll find three examples for the most common windows. You'll see the exact price of your blind in the configurator as you build it.

Fabric, colours and bracket don't change the price

For the same size and operation, the blind costs the same with any fabric, any colour and with the Standard or Slim bracket.

Window	Size (W × H)	With chain	With motor
Double casement window	120 × 140 cm	£340	£479
Single French door	90 × 220 cm	£367	£506
Sliding patio door	250 × 240 cm	£474	£613

Prices include VAT. The “With motor” column includes the motor and remote control. You'll see the exact price of your blind in the configurator.

MEASURING

Made your choice? Now measure up

If Kyma or Recta is right for you, before configuring you'll need your window measurements. The blinds are made to measure from 60 to 280 cm finished width, brackets included, and from 30 to 300 cm in height.

In the configurator you can enter either the fabric width or the finished width, brackets included. How to measure them is explained step by step in the measuring guide.

FAQs

TOPIC (ADD ONE FOR EACH SECTION OF THE GUIDE)

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FAQs

FAQ

No, they're indoor blinds: they control light and privacy inside your home. If you want to stop the sun before it hits the glass, consider outdoor roller shades.

Yes. Blackout fabric blocks all light, whatever the colour.

Almost. The fabric blocks all light, but a few rays can slip through the gap between the fabric and the window. To reduce this, fit the blind as close to the window as possible.

It depends on the fabric family. With a blackout fabric, no; with a sheer, yes, when the lights are on inside. With light-filtering fabrics, it varies by range: Earth doesn't let people see through, while Fine Line lets the most show through.

Yes. You can order fabric samples and try them at your window, so you can see the colour and the light in your own room.

Satin, with a Tv of 45% to 49%. It's the brightest fabric we offer.

Yes. Fabrics, sizes and operating options are the same: only the shape of the plate changes.

Yes. The plate has two attachment points, on the back and on top, and the same plate works for both wall and ceiling fitting.

No. Both widths have the same structure and the same strength: the only difference is how much of the plate shows.

Start with the fabric. Centro Stile Maanta – our in-house style office in Italy – recommends plates for each fabric, and you'll find them marked with a heart in the configurator.

Yes. If you choose the chain, you can buy the motor later in the Accessories category.

It's a child safety rule. If you fit the blind lower than 200 cm from the floor, choose the motor.

No. You get the USB-C cable, but not the plug adapter. Any standard 5V USB-C adapter will work.

No. The price depends on the blind's size and how it's operated: it costs more with the motor than with the chain.

It's up to you. In the configurator, you choose which of the two measurements you're entering, and you'll see the final width with the plates straight away.

It's visible light transmission: the percentage of light that passes through the fabric. At 0% Tv, no light gets in.

How to choose your made-to-measure roller blind

What to ask yourself before you choose

Indoor or outdoor blind?

Three fabric types: blackout, light-filtering or sheer

Blackout

Blend Blackout

Canvas Blackout

Light-filtering

Earth Collection

Horizon Collection

Fine Line Collection

Sheer

Brush Collection

Diamond Collection

Satin Collection

The eight collections compared

Kyma and Recta

Kyma

Recta

One bracket for wall or ceiling fitting

The six bracket and bottom bar colours

Soft Ivory

Textured White

Shimmer Beige

Natural Taupe

Grey

Espresso Brown

Find the right fabric and bracket pairing

Manual or motorised blind?

Manual chain operation

Motorised operation with battery motor

How will you control the motor?

Remote control

WiFi Bridge

Remote control and WiFi Bridge

The price depends on size and operation

Made your choice? Now measure up

FAQs

FAQs

FAQ

Can I fit Kyma or Recta outdoors?

Does a light-coloured blackout fabric darken as well as a dark one?

Will a blackout blind make the room completely dark?

Can people see in from outside at night?

Can I see the fabrics before I order?

Which fabric lets in the most light?

Do Kyma and Recta have the same fabrics?

Can I fit the blind to the ceiling?

Is the Standard plate sturdier than the Slim?

How do I choose the plate colour?

Can I motorise the blind later?

Why can't I get a manually operated roller blind below 200 cm?

Is the motor charger included?

Does the fabric or plate colour change the price?

Should I enter the fabric width or the width with the plates?

What does Tv mean?