Zebra blinds or roller blinds — what's the difference?

Zebra blinds and roller blinds use the same roller mechanism, but they give you very different control over light and privacy. Zebra blinds are also known as day and night, vision, or twist blinds.

A roller blind is a single layer of fabric that you raise or lower. It is simple, neat, and available in hundreds of fabrics including blackout, dimout, and moisture-resistant options. It is either up, down, or somewhere in between, but it does not let you filter the light when closed.

A zebra blind has two layers of fabric with alternating sheer and solid stripes. By shifting the layers, you line up the sheer stripes for soft, filtered light, or overlap the solid stripes for privacy — all without fully lowering the blind. This makes them great for living rooms and front-facing windows where you want privacy and daylight at once.

Roller blinds are usually cheaper and the best choice for full blackout in bedrooms. Zebra blinds cost a little more but offer more flexibility. We supply both and can show you each at home, with free fitting.