Roll-Up Bamboo Blind

Yes, and that is where they work best — the weave gives shade while letting air move, so a balcony stays usable instead of turning into a hot box. Two conditions: roll them up before heavy rain rather than letting them soak, and fix the bottom so the wind cannot slap them against the railing. Given both, a bamboo blind on a covered balcony lasts years. In driving rain with no cover, expect the reeds to split eventually.

Anything that does not mind getting damp: PVC and aluminium slats, PVC vertical louvres, and polyester roller fabrics all wipe clean and do not swell. Natural wood is the one to keep away from a window that takes rain, because repeated wetting warps the slats — faux wood gives the same look without that risk. For a bathroom or an open balcony, PVC or aluminium is the safe answer.

Yes, and this surprises people. Sunscreen mesh works by contrast: in daylight the bright side is outside, so you can see out and passers-by cannot see in. After dark the bright side is inside and that reverses — with the lights on, silhouettes are visible from the street. For a street-facing bedroom or a ground floor, pair sunscreen with a blackout blind on the same window, or choose a light-filtering fabric instead.

Both are valid, and they give different results. An inside (reveal) mount looks tidier and keeps the sill usable, but a little light always escapes at the edges. An outside mount overlaps the frame by two to three inches on each side and is the only way to get a genuinely dark bedroom. Tell us which you want and measure accordingly — our /measure guide walks through both with the exact points to record.