Building a new home is the best possible opportunity to get your window treatments right — and most people miss it. They spend months choosing floor tiles, kitchen splashbacks, and tapware, then leave window furnishings as an afterthought. The result: they move in without blinds, or rush to buy something cheap that doesn’t suit the house.
At Shayona Blinds, we work directly with homeowners and builders at the design stage across Townsville, Geelong, Canberra, and all our service areas. This guide explains why timing matters, what to specify for a new build, and how to avoid the most common mistakes.
1. Why New Builds Are Different to Retrofits
Window treatment installation in a new build has unique advantages that don’t exist when retrofitting into an established home:
- Wiring can be concealed: If you want motorised blinds, the motor cables can be run through the wall cavity during construction. Retrofit motorisation requires surface-mounted cable runs or battery-powered alternatives. Planning at the build stage unlocks cleaner, neater hardwired motorisation.
- Pelmet boxes can be built in: Built-in pelmets provide a seamless look that’s impossible to achieve in retrofit. Builders can construct pelmet cavities to exact dimensions — the blinds disappear completely when retracted.
- External shutter pelmets are structural: Roller shutter boxes in new builds are integrated into the external wall, creating a flush, permanent look. Retrofit shutter pelmets are surface-mounted and more visible.
- You control the reveal depth: The depth of your window reveal (the distance from the glass to the wall face) determines which blind styles are possible. In a new build, you can specify the reveal depth to suit your preferred blind type.
2. New Build Considerations by City
Townsville (QLD): Queensland’s Building Code requirements and tropical climate mean window treatments need to address UV intensity, cyclone protection, and moisture. Motorised outdoor blinds with wind sensors are strongly recommended for new alfresco areas in Townsville. For indoors, roller blinds with UV-blocking fabrics are the priority — furniture fading is a major issue in North Queensland.
Geelong (VIC): Coastal wind exposure and Victoria’s variable climate mean thermal performance matters. New builds in Geelong should specify honeycomb or double roller systems for bedrooms, and Ziptrak outdoor blinds for any alfresco or deck area. The Building Code of Australia’s energy efficiency requirements (NatHERS 7-star rating) mean window treatment thermal performance is increasingly relevant to compliance.
Canberra (ACT): Canberra’s cold winters make thermal window treatments a priority from day one. New ACT builds must meet 6-star energy efficiency requirements, and high-performance window furnishings contribute to compliance. Specify double-cell honeycomb blinds for all bedrooms and living areas, and consider insulated roller shutters on south and west-facing windows.
Melbourne (VIC): New builds in Melbourne’s growth corridors (Werribee, Cranbourne, Sunbury) benefit from plantation shutters in living areas and motorised roller blinds in bedrooms for the daily automation convenience.
Brisbane (QLD): Queensland’s energy efficiency requirements and subtropical heat make external shading a priority. Specify folding arm awnings or Ziptrak outdoor blinds on all north and west-facing outdoor areas at the build stage.
3. The Builder Package Advantage
Shayona Blinds offers builder packages for new home completions — a whole-house window treatment specification at a single competitive price, delivered and installed to coincide with your handover date. Benefits include:
- One supplier for the entire home: No coordinating multiple trades, no delays waiting for different suppliers.
- Volume pricing: A whole-house package is always more cost-effective per window than individual orders.
- Design consistency: We ensure all window treatments throughout the home are cohesive in colour, style, and hardware finish.
- Handover-ready installation: We schedule installation to align with your builder’s completion timeline, so you can move straight in.
- Builder account terms: Available for registered builders and developers on qualifying projects.
4. What to Specify at the Build Stage
Bedrooms: Minimum — blockout roller blind. Recommended — double roller (sunscreen + blockout) or plantation shutters with blockout blind layer. Consider hardwired motorisation if budget allows.
Living and dining: Sunscreen roller blinds or plantation shutters. If large sliding doors are present, vertical blinds, panel glide blinds, or motorised roller blinds are the most practical options.
Kitchen: Waterproof roller blind or aluminium venetian. Avoid fabric curtains near cooking areas.
Bathrooms: Waterproof PVC roller blind or PVC venetian. Roller shutters on bathroom windows provide the additional privacy benefit that’s valuable in single-storey homes.
Alfresco / outdoor: Ziptrak or straight-drop outdoor blinds. Motorised is strongly recommended for large areas. Wind sensor integration is worth specifying in Townsville, Canberra, and coastal Geelong.
5. Timeline for New Build Window Treatments
- 3 months before handover: Contact Shayona Blinds for design consultation and quotation
- 6–8 weeks before handover: Confirm order, confirm installation date with builder
- 1–2 weeks before handover: Installation of all window treatments
- Handover day: Move in to a fully furnished home — blinds, shutters, and outdoor systems all operational
Building a new home? Shayona Blinds offers free builder consultations and whole-home packages across Melbourne, Canberra, Adelaide, Brisbane, Townsville, Shepparton, Albury, Wagga Wagga, Griffith, Geelong and Ballarat. Contact our team at least 3 months before handover for the best outcome. Call 1300 162 223 or visit shayonablinds.com.au.