Child-Safe Blinds Perth: What Families Should Know
When choosing window furnishings for a family home, style and functionality matter — but safety should always be part of the conversation.
Blind and curtain cords can pose a serious strangulation risk to young children if they are left unsecured or installed incorrectly. In Australia, mandatory safety standards apply to corded internal window coverings, including requirements around their supply and installation.
For Perth families, choosing the right operating system and having your window furnishings professionally installed can help create a safer home without compromising on style, privacy or light control.
Choose cordless window furnishings where possible
One of the simplest ways to remove the risks associated with operating cords is to choose a window furnishing that doesn’t require an exposed cord or chain.
Depending on the product, cordless options can include spring-operated blinds, wand-controlled systems, motorised blinds and shutters.
Cordless operation can also create a beautifully clean finish, making it an attractive option for contemporary Perth homes as well as households with young children.
Consider motorised blinds
Motorisation is becoming increasingly popular — and child safety is one of its biggest advantages.
By replacing a traditional operating cord or chain with a motorised system, blinds can be operated using options such as a remote, wall switch or compatible smart-home control system.
Motorisation can be particularly useful for large or hard-to-reach windows, and some systems can also be programmed to operate automatically at particular times of the day.
For families building or renovating, it’s worth discussing motorisation early so the most suitable power and control options can be considered.
What about blinds with cords or chains?
A corded blind isn’t something that should simply be installed and forgotten.
Australian mandatory standards include requirements designed to reduce the risk posed by loose or looped cords. Safety devices such as cord guides, tension devices and cleats need to be installed correctly so cords or chains are secured and kept out of children’s reach.
This is one of the reasons professional installation matters. The safety components aren’t decorative extras — they’re an important part of the finished installation.
Keep furniture and children’s beds away from blind cords
Even when a cord initially appears to be out of reach, children can climb.
The ACCC recommends keeping cots, beds, highchairs, playpens and furniture away from windows where children may be able to reach blind or curtain cords. Sofas, chairs, tables, shelves and bookcases can all potentially give a child access to a cord that would otherwise seem inaccessible.
It’s worth checking this again whenever furniture is rearranged or a child’s bedroom changes as they grow.
Check existing blinds and curtains too
Child safety isn’t only something to consider when purchasing new window furnishings.
If you already have blinds or curtains with cords or chains, regularly check that cords remain secured and that safety devices are still firmly attached.
Look for loose fittings, damaged components or cords that have become accessible, particularly in rooms used by young children.
If you’re unsure whether existing window furnishings have been installed safely, it’s worth having them assessed rather than assuming an older installation still meets current requirements.
Shutters can be an excellent family-friendly option
Plantation shutters are another option worth considering for family homes because their everyday operation doesn’t require the hanging cords or chains commonly associated with some blinds.
They provide excellent control over privacy and natural light while creating a clean, permanent-looking finish at the window.
Motorised shutter options can take this a step further, particularly for families interested in smart-home integration and automated operation.
Choosing window furnishings for a family home
There isn’t one window furnishing that’s right for every room.
A child’s bedroom may benefit from a completely different solution to a large living-area window, bathroom or sliding door.
When we’re helping Perth families choose window furnishings, we consider not only how a product looks, but how it will be operated, where it will be installed and how the space is actually used.
That might mean a cordless blind in one room, shutters in another and motorisation somewhere else.
Need help choosing child-safe blinds in Perth?
At Designer Blinds, we can help you explore practical window furnishing options that suit your home, your style and your family’s needs.
Whether you’re choosing blinds for a nursery, updating older window furnishings or considering motorisation throughout your home, we’ll help you understand the options available and choose a solution that works beautifully in your space.
Contact Designer Blinds to arrange a consultation and explore window furnishing options for your Perth home.