The Totalshade Complete Blackout Thermal Blind is a made-to-measure pleated blind sold by Blinds 2go, combining blackout opacity with a thermal backing across 24 colour options starting from £26.86. What sets it apart from a plain blackout roller is the accordion-fold construction - the pleated fabric stacks neatly at the top when raised, and the thermal layer adds modest insulation beyond what a single-layer fabric blind delivers.

Who it suits

Bedrooms are the obvious fit. Blinds 2go describes the Totalshade as blackout, meaning the fabric is opaque against a backlight test - useful for anyone dealing with early summer light, shift-work sleep schedules, or a young child's nap routine. Worth noting: blackout fabric alone won't give complete darkness in a room, because light enters around the edges. If total darkness is the goal, pair the blind with side channels or a face-fitting approach rather than a recess fit, or layer it with curtains.

The thermal backing is a secondary draw. It adds a degree of insulation against cold glass in winter - more than a bare roller but less than a dedicated honeycomb cellular blind. If energy saving at the window is the primary concern, a cellular blind is the stronger choice. The Totalshade suits buyers for whom blackout comes first and the thermal element is a welcome extra.

The pleated format is also well suited to home offices where you want full blackout on demand without the blind looking strictly utilitarian when it's up. Pleated blinds have a softer profile than rollers. They are less well suited to kitchens and bathrooms, where moisture resistance matters more than thermal or blackout performance; aluminium venetians or PVC roller fabrics handle those rooms better.

The colours

24 colours available

Nineteen finishes across a wide tonal spread - cooler neutrals (Frost White, White, Turtle Dove, Cliffside Grey, Elephant Grey), warm neutrals (Ecru, Birch, Mink, Toffee), greens at multiple depths (Pistachio, Sage, Olive, Forest), and a set of softer accent colours (Mint, Duck Egg, Sherbet, Peach, Pumpkin Spice, Navy). The range reads as a considered household palette rather than a one-colour-in-a-few-shades set. Most rooms will find something that blends or contrasts well. The Navy and Forest options lean bolder; the Ecru and Birch tones work where you want the blind to recede into a neutral interior. No variant is marked as premium, which suggests consistent pricing across the full palette.

Price by your dimensions

Made to measure from £26.86. Check Blinds 2go for the price at your exact window size.

With a from-price at the low end of the made-to-measure pleated market, the Totalshade sits at a budget-friendly starting point. Made-to-measure pricing scales with dimensions, so a small bathroom recess and a large bedroom window will land at very different totals - the grid above reflects that range accurately. The from-price applies to the smallest available size; most bedroom-sized orders will sit higher.

How it compares

Against a standard blackout roller, the Totalshade gives you a neater stack at the top and softer visual character at a typically higher per-square-metre cost. If budget is tight and the room is strictly functional, a plain blackout roller fabric is hard to beat on price. The pleated format earns its keep where aesthetics matter and where the thermal backing is useful.

Against a honeycomb cellular blind, the Totalshade loses on insulation. Cellular blinds seal air between fabric layers and measurably reduce heat loss; the Totalshade's thermal backing is lighter work. If you're buying primarily for winter warmth, a cellular blind is worth the higher outlay.

Within the blackout pleated category specifically, the 19-finish palette is a strength. Many pleated blackout blinds offer fewer colour options; the breadth here means less compromise on interior matching.

Fitting and operation

Pleated blinds operate on a cord or spring mechanism that lifts the accordion folds upward as the blind raises. They fit inside or outside the recess using standard top-fix or face-fix brackets. Cord safety applies: the Blinds 2go listing should confirm the cord arrangement is compliant with UK regulations (BS EN 13120), and a cord cleat or breakaway connector is the minimum expectation for any domestic blind. For a child's bedroom, check whether a cordless lift option is available in this range before ordering.