Kitchen Blinds: Which Blinds Survive Steam, Grease and Heat
Steam, splashes and airborne grease decide which blind belongs beside a sink or hob. Faux-wood and metal slats need little more than a wipe, so they are the ones to look at for the wet end of a modern kitchen. Real timber and woven materials need more care there and do better on a window away from the stove.
Kitchen window blinds near steam, grease and heat
Soft woven materials absorb moisture, and real basswood slats can swell with repeated damp. Read the care instructions before placing either above a hob. Wipe-down slats are easier to look after in that position.
Faux-wood, sometimes written fauxwood, gives the look of timber in a composite slat. An aluminium Venetian blind keeps a slim line on a small window. Both are made to the window's exact sizes, so the slats sit square in the recess.
The same wipe-down slats go into bathroom blinds, where condensation is the bigger worry. For bedrooms and living areas, the guide on how to choose blinds by room starts from the job each one has to do.
The window above the sink
A blind above a sink has to clear the taps and splashes and leave the basin within reach. A tilt wand on an aluminium Venetian keeps cords away from the water, and it is easy to use with damp hands. An inside mount sits back in the recess; an outside mount clears pots of indoor herbs or a soap dish on the sill.
Roller blinds work above a sink as well, provided the bottom bar stops clear of the tap when the blind is down. Pick a roller that rolls up tight to the head of the window so it stays out of the splash line while you wash up.
Glare on the worktop and the view in after dark
Afternoon sun on a west-facing window throws glare across worktops. A light-filtering roller softens it and keeps the kitchen bright, which matters in open-plan kitchen spaces where the cooking end shares daylight with the lounge.
Roller blinds in a sunscreen weave work as a light filter by day, but the effect reverses after dark: with the lights on inside, people outside may be able to see in. On a window facing the street or a neighbour, use a blockout roller or tilt the Venetian slats shut in the evening.
A window that gets minimal sun needs no glare layer at all. A plain roller that closes off the view at night is enough there.
Window sizes, recesses and burglar bars
Where burglar bars, or security bars, sit inside the recess and leave no depth for a bracket, the blind goes on the wall above the frame, with enough space on each side to cover the glass.
A roller needs a clear recess depth for the tube and bracket, and Venetian slats need room to stack at the top. Capetown Blinds measures the window for the quote, so you do not need to measure it yourself.
The price depends on the window size and the material you choose. Request a quote online, by phone or on WhatsApp, and samples come to the house so you can hold them up in the room.
| Material | Above hob / sink | Elsewhere in kitchen | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aluminium | Yes | Yes | Wipes clean, unaffected by steam or grease |
| Faux-wood (PVC/composite) | Yes | Yes | Timber look without the swelling |
| Real basswood | No | Marginal | Absorbs steam, slats bow within a season or two |
| Fabric roller | No | Marginal | Holds airborne grease, yellows over time |
| Bamboo / woven | No | No | Traps grease in the weave, cannot be washed |
Products mentioned in this guide
Aluminium Blinds
Aluminium blinds are slim 25mm metal Venetian slats with a tidy tilt-and-lift action and a powder-coated finish that shrugs…
Venetian Blinds
Venetian blinds are horizontal slats on cords that tilt to control light and privacy, and lift to stack clear of the window.
Roller Blinds
Roller blinds are a single panel of fabric that winds onto a tube above the window.
Request a quote
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Questions about steam, grease and sinks
What blinds are best for a kitchen?
Aluminium Venetians and faux-wood slats are the two to start with next to a sink or hob. Aluminium does not absorb moisture, and faux-wood slats are made to take steam. A roller in a wipe-down weave works on windows away from the stove. Real timber and woven materials do better away from the steam.
Can you put blinds above a sink?
Yes. Check that the blind clears the taps and the splash line. A wand-operated aluminium Venetian keeps cords away from the basin, and a recess fit sits back from the sink where the opening is deep enough.
How do you clean greasy kitchen blinds?
Wipe aluminium and faux-wood slats with warm water and a drop of dishwashing liquid on a soft cloth, working along each slat. Repeat gently on stubborn grease, and check the care instructions before using a stronger cleaner on the coating.
Where can wooden blinds work in a kitchen?
Real wood slats suit a kitchen window away from the hob and sink, because they need protection from repeated steam and splashes. Near a hob or sink, faux-wood is the one to look at. Composite slats give a timber-like look with simpler care.
Do roller blinds work in a kitchen?
Yes, on a window that is not right above the hob. A roller gives a contemporary kitchen a flat, plain look. Choose a weave the supplier lists as wipeable, and keep the roller up while you cook.