Sara Miller's roman blind collection at Blinds By Post covers 67 prints - illustrated wildlife and botanical patterns that sit somewhere between contemporary and traditional - with a from-price of £20.57. 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

67 colours available

Laura Ashley Magnolia Grove Mulberry No Drill Blinds Uk
No-drill
Laura Ashley Magnolia Grove Mulberry from £20.57
Sara Miller Botanic Paradise Border Dusky Blue Motorised Blinds Uk
Motorised
Botanic Paradise Border Dusky Blue from £183.11
Laura Ashley Bowen Star Chalk Pink Motorised Blinds Uk
Motorised
Laura Ashley Bowen Star Chalk Pink from £183.11
Laura Ashley Pussy Willow Winter Cranberry Red Motorised Blinds Uk
Motorised
Laura Ashley Pussy Willow Winter Cranberry Red from £183.11
Sophie Allport Bears Sage Green Motorised Blinds Uk
Motorised
Sophie Allport Bears Sage Green from £183.11
Laura Ashley Candy Stripe Steel Motorised Blinds Uk
Motorised
Laura Ashley Candy Stripe Steel from £193.91

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.

Price by your dimensions

Made to measure from £20.57. Check Blinds By Post for the price at your exact window size.

With a from-price of £20.57, 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.

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.

Fittings for this fabric

The same fabric and blind type is sold in more than one fitting:

  • Standard and No-drill (twist-fit) from £20.57 fixed with drilled brackets; clips onto a UPVC frame, no screws
  • Motorised from £183.11 remote or app control

No-drill and clip-in fittings suit UPVC windows and renters, but they cap out at the largest window sizes - check the maximum drop before ordering for a tall window.