Sara Miller's roman blind collection at Blinds By Post covers 62 prints - illustrated wildlife and botanical patterns that sit somewhere between contemporary and traditional - with a from-price of £21.10. The range is one of the more characterful options in the retailer's roman blind lineup: each finish is a named, illustrated pattern rather than a plain colour or subtle texture.
Who it suits
Roman blinds fold into horizontal pleats when raised, which gives them a softer, fuller look at the window than a roller blind - and more fabric on show when down. That quality suits sitting rooms, bay windows, kitchen-diners, and anywhere the window is a visual focal point rather than something to cover and forget.
The illustrated prints here - herons, hummingbirds, toucans, flamingos, peacocks, bamboo, palms - lean decorative. They work best in rooms where the blind is allowed to be the pattern rather than competing with a heavily patterned wallpaper or upholstery. A neutral scheme in a dining room, living room, or bedroom will carry the Sara Miller motifs well; a room already busy with pattern may not.
Roman blinds stack at the top when fully raised, so there is always some fabric in the window. For rooms where you want an unobstructed view, a roller or venetian blind will stack more compactly. Roman blinds also tend to cost more than an equivalent roller, which the pricing reflects.
An opacity class is not stated for these fabrics; they appear to be standard decorative wovens rather than dedicated blackout fabrics - typical for patterned roman blinds. If you need genuine light exclusion for a bedroom, check the individual finish specifications on the retailer's site before ordering.
The finishes
62 colours available
The palette divides roughly into four groups. The cooler, bolder end runs through navies, teals, aquas, and cornflower blues - prints such as Birds & Gate Deep Navy, Dragonfly Navy, Heron Teal, and Toucans Aqua. The mid-range covers sage greens, olives, and soft stone neutrals - Palm Garden Soft Olive, Peacock Filigree Sage Green, Ornamental Peacock Stone, and Small Palm Tree Linen among them. Warmer options include the fuchsia and peach colourways and a soft grey group: Songbird Soft Grey, Peony Border Dark Grey. The whites and creams - Bamboo White, Flamingo Cream, Lemon Cluster White - work where you want the print to read light rather than bold.
Several finishes share a motif with a border variant: Heron Teal and Heron Border Teal, for instance, give the same image at different scales. The border versions tend to have a more graphic, framed quality; the plain versions let the repeat fill the fabric edge to edge. Worth comparing both if a particular motif appeals. A couple of the most intricate designs - Peacock Filigree Petrol and Cheetah Midnight - carry a premium over the from-price, the denser print work being the usual reason.
Price by your dimensions
Enter your window size. We round up to the next standard size, which matches how the retailer actually quotes you.
Price down 2% since 7 Aug. (our checks since 6 Jun)
With a from-price of £21.10, this range sits at the more accessible end of roman blind pricing. Roman blinds as a category typically cost more than rollers of equivalent size, so the entry point here is relatively competitive for a named illustrative print collection. Larger widths and drops will increase the price; the grid above shows how pricing scales across common window sizes. A handful of the more complex prints also sit above the entry price, so the figure you see depends on the design as well as the size.
How it compares
Against plain-fabric roman blinds, the Sara Miller range offers pattern at a broadly similar price point - the trade-off is that an illustrated print limits future redecorating flexibility more than a neutral linen or weave. If you expect to change the room's scheme within a few years, a solid-colour roman blind in a warm neutral gives more flexibility.
Against other patterned roman blinds in the Blinds By Post range, the Sara Miller designs are more illustrative and bold than most florals or geometric prints - they are meant to be noticed. Visitors who want a quieter patterned effect may find a tonal damask or a soft botanical better matched to their room.
If your main requirement is light exclusion rather than decorative impact, the roman blind format with a standard decorative fabric is generally not the most efficient route to blackout performance. A roller blind with a purpose-made blackout fabric, or a roman blind with an explicit blackout lining (check the individual finish listing), would be a more reliable choice for bedrooms where complete darkness matters.
A note on care
Patterned woven fabrics for roman blinds are typically polyester or a cotton-blend. Vacuum the fabric monthly with a brush attachment to keep dust from settling into the pleats. Spot-clean marks with a damp cloth and mild soap. Avoid soaking or machine-washing unless the retailer's care label specifically permits it - roman blind fabrics are usually not removable for washing in the same way as roller fabric.
The same Sara Miller designs, at several retailers
Sara Miller roman blinds are sold by more than one UK retailer, so the same designs turn up under each shop's own range. They differ in construction, colourway and fitting, so it pays to compare on more than price:
- Unbeatable Blinds from £16.14
- Blinds By Post this page from £21.10
- Wilsons Blinds from £22.07
- Blinds Direct from £27.03
Designs carried by more than one of these retailers include Bamboo, Birds & Gate, Birds & Trellis, Birds of Paradise, Butterflies & Trellis, Circus, Dragonfly, Flamingo, Heron and Heron Border.
Our full Sara Miller blinds guide - every pattern and price →
These are the same designs rather than guaranteed identical blinds - one retailer may weave a jacquard where another prints the pattern, and colourways and fittings vary. Check the specific design, colour and fitting at each retailer before buying.