Screen vs Blockout Blinds: What’s the Difference?

When choosing blinds for your home, one of the first decisions you’ll face is this:
Do I want to block the light—or let it in gently?

At Apollo Blinds, our two most popular fabrics—screen and blockout—serve very different purposes. Here’s how to tell which one is right for your space.

Blockout Blinds: Full Privacy & Darkness

Blockout blinds are made to completely block sunlight and outside visibility. They’re great for rooms where you want full privacy or total darkness—like bedrooms, nurseries, or media rooms.

Why you’ll love them:

Keeps your room dark—great for sleep
Gives 100% privacy (day and night)
Helps control room temperature
Reduces glare and outside noise

Use in: Bedrooms, bathrooms, theatre rooms, shift work spaces

Tip: Great for hot Aussie summers—helps keep the heat out.

Screen Blinds: Light Without the Glare

Screen blinds are made from a mesh-like fabric that filters sunlight while still letting you see outside. They reduce glare, protect against UV rays, and soften harsh sunlight—without making your space feel dark.

Why you’ll love them:

Keeps your view while filtering light
Protects furniture from fading
Makes rooms feel open and airy
Cuts down screen glare for home offices

Use in: Living rooms, kitchens, home offices, sunrooms

Tip: Pair with curtains or blockout blinds for night-time privacy.

Quick Comparison

Feature	Blockout	Screen
Light Control	Total blackout	Soft filtered light
Privacy	Day & night	Day only (see-through at night)
UV Protection	High	High
Outside View	None	Visible
Room Feel	Darker & private	Bright & open