The Sophie Allport roman blind collection at Unbeatable Blinds is a made-to-measure soft blind offered in 29 designs, starting from £16.14. These are licensed Sophie Allport prints sold through Unbeatable Blinds, so the appeal is the artwork: the brand's familiar countryside and animal motifs - bees, hares, sheep, foxes and bears - alongside gingham and stripe designs, in a palette of soft naturals. A roman blind folds into gentle horizontal pleats when raised and hangs as a flat panel when lowered, which shows a print cleanly and makes it a natural home for a decorative designer collection.
Who it suits
Roman blinds suit living rooms, bedrooms, nurseries and dining rooms, where their soft fabric folds add warmth and a tailored finish a flat roller cannot match. This collection is decorative by intent, so it is best where the design is meant to be seen: a feature window, a child's room, a country-styled kitchen-diner away from the steamiest spot. The designs range from playful animal motifs (Bears Balloons, Foxes Forest Green, Sheep Sage) through to the quieter Stamford Stripe and Gingham patterns, so the range covers both a clear focal point and a softer, more textured backdrop.
Because the fabric folds and sits close to the glass, a roman blind is less suited to steamy kitchens and bathrooms, where prolonged moisture can mark the cloth and the folds dry slowly. For those rooms a wipe-clean roller or an aluminium venetian is the more practical choice.
The colours
29 colours available
This is a print collection rather than one cloth in many shades, so each name describes a distinct Sophie Allport design. Cream and natural tones dominate, running through Bears Linen, Bee Soft Linen, Hare Linen, Woof Linen and the Vector Dragonfly linens, which gives the collection its soft, neutral character. Blues appear in Dragonfly Grey Blue, Hare Teal Blue and Stamford Stripe Blue; greys in Bee Pale Slate, Hearts Grey and Gingham Warm Stone; greens in Foxes Forest Green, Gingham Sage Green and Olive Neutral; plus mustards and ochres (Dragonfly Deep Mustard, Sheep Ochre) and a Hearts Blush pink. The fabrics are a standard light-filtering weight, so they soften daylight and give daytime privacy rather than blocking light out; expect a glow through the cloth at the brightest part of the day. Because a printed design reads differently at full window size than on a screen, and a single motif can set the tone of a whole room, it is worth requesting a sample of the specific design before ordering.
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 around its usual level (checked since 23 Jun).
The collection is priced from a single standard fitting, with the size you order driving the final figure. As a licensed designer print on a made-to-measure roman, it sits above plain own-brand roman fabrics, which is typical for designer-licensed ranges, but the price reflects the artwork rather than any change in construction.
How it compares
Against a printed roller in a similar design, a roman blind gives a softer, more tailored look - fabric folds rather than a flat panel - at the cost of a little more bulk at the top when raised and a slower-drying cloth. Against plain own-brand roman fabrics, this collection trades a higher starting price for the licensed Sophie Allport artwork, which is the reason to choose it. Within designer roman ranges the choice between this and another licensed name comes down to which prints suit the room, since the construction and care are much the same.
A note on care
Treat these as decorative fabric blinds. Dust regularly with a soft brush or the upholstery attachment of a vacuum on a low setting to keep the print fresh, and deal with marks promptly by dabbing rather than rubbing, which can spread a stain or disturb the print. Keep the blinds out of prolonged damp, raise them fully to let the fabric breathe, and check the maker's guidance before any wet cleaning, as printed designer fabrics are not generally machine washable.
The same Sophie Allport designs, at several retailers
Sophie Allport 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 this page from £16.14
- Blinds By Post from £21.10
- Wilsons Blinds from £22.07
- Terrys Fabrics from £23.79
- Blinds Direct from £27.03
Designs carried by more than one of these retailers include Bears, Bears & Balloons, Bee, Boxing Hares, Dinosaur, Dragonfly, Foxes, Hare, Hearts and Sheep.
Our full Sophie Allport 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.