Custom pleated blinds: how to measure a window and choose fabric

In the evening, a streetlight shines into the bedroom. During the day, the sun glares off the monitor screen. Ready-made blinds from the store don't help much: the standard width leaves gaps along the edges of the window, and light still comes through around the border.

Custom pleated blinds are cut to fit your opening. The fabric sits evenly, covers the glass without gaps, and maintains the right light level all day. You can easily remove such a curtain, wash it, and put it back in place.

Below we look at how pleated blinds differ from roller blinds, how to take measurements, and what to consider when choosing fabric.

What custom pleated blinds are

💡 In short:

• Pleated blinds are made to the size of a specific window, including non-standard frames and balcony doors.
• Choose fabric based on the task: light-filtering fabric works for the living room, dense blackout fabric for the bedroom.
• Clip-on mounts attach to the window sash without drilling into the wall: pleated blinds are suitable for rental housing.
• Ordering terms and prices from the MyLuks store: 10/2026, according to the company's website.

Pleated blinds are fabric folded into parallel pleats. The panel stretches and gathers like an accordion, so light is adjusted smoothly, without abrupt steps. You set the lift height yourself and hold the desired level for as long as you want.

The main difference from ready-made products is in the measurement. The manufacturer receives the width and height of your window and cuts the fabric to fit. This is how pleated blinds cover narrow balcony doors, non-standard frames, and slanted skylights.

There are two basic designs. Standard pleated blinds work as a light light filter: during the day they diffuse light, in the evening they shield the room from prying eyes. The Wabenplissee honeycomb model is more complex: air chambers in the pleats slow heat loss through the glass in winter and heat gain in summer.

How pleated blinds differ from roller blinds and blinds

The choice comes down to three things: how precisely the product fits the window, how flexibly it adjusts light, and how much space it takes up.

Roller blinds and blinds are also made to order. The difference is in how they adjust light and how they look on the window. Blinds are cheaper and easy to clean, but they have many slats and cut light into strips. Roller blinds give an even screen, but the height moves in steps.

Pleated blinds cover both the opening and the sash. The pleats gather into a narrow strip, so even a wide panel barely interferes with airing the room.

Where to order pleated blinds in custom sizes

The MyLuks online store from Dortmund sells custom-size pleated blinds: light-filtering models Clowi, Mooni, Dutchi, and Parro, and the blackout Nite for the bedroom.

According to the company's website, the panels are cut millimeter-perfect to your measurements, and order delivery is free of charge. Fabric samples are sent free of charge so you can evaluate the color at your window. You can pay for the order by invoice.

At the showroom in Dortmund, the company provides consultations and, on request, does measuring and installation. For skylights and non-standard windows, details are clarified before ordering and the fit is checked.

How to measure a window for pleated blinds

An accurate measurement determines whether the panel will fit without gaps. One window takes about five minutes.

• Measure the width along the glass including the seal at three points: top, middle, and bottom. Take the smallest value, otherwise the narrowest point will prevent the panel from moving.
• Measure the height along the glass from the top edge to the bottom, including the same seal.
• Measure each window separately. Even identical frames differ by a couple of millimeters, and the difference ruins the fit.
• Leave a small clearance in width for the panel to move and check that sash handles don't get in the way.
• Enter the measurements into the seller's configurator: different systems have their own tolerances, so check the instructions on the website.

Take measurements after the window is installed, not based on the old opening. If your window is a skylight or the frame has a non-standard shape, clarify the fit with the manufacturer before ordering: not every system is suitable for slanted sashes.

Types of pleated blinds and where to use them

Choose the type of pleated blinds by task, not by color. The living room needs one kind of light, the bedroom another, the kitchen a third.

There is a day-night model: the fabric alternates transparent and dense strips, and you slide the panel to the desired strip. Honeycomb models are chosen by those who also want to insulate the window.

Fabric color has the strongest effect on perception. White and gray panels visually widen a narrow opening, dark ones make the room feel more contained. Order samples to see the shade in your own light.

What determines the price of custom pleated blinds

The price is made up of several parts, and the most noticeable is the panel area. The wider and taller the window, the more fabric goes into the pleats, so the price grows slightly faster than the size.

• Panel area and height: large windows require more fabric and material for the pleats.
• Fabric type: blackout and honeycomb panels are more expensive than light-filtering ones.
• Control: a manual cord is cheaper than a motorized drive and the day-night model.
• Window shape: skylights and arched frames require individual fitting.
• Additional services: on-site measuring and installation are paid separately.

If you take a standard pleated blind, the savings will turn into gaps along the edges. Measure the window in advance and compare not the price per meter, but the price of the finished panel for your opening: different sellers have their own tolerances and package contents.

How to care for pleated blinds

Pleated blinds are not machine-washed, but they do collect dust. Every couple of weeks, go over the pleats with a soft brush or a vacuum cleaner with an attachment.

• Dust: remove the panel and go over the pleats with a soft brush or cloth.
• Stains: wipe with a damp cloth with a drop of mild soap, don't rub the pleats.
• Humid rooms: choose moisture-resistant fabric for the kitchen and bathroom.
• Mechanics: pull the cord evenly, without jerking, so as not to stretch the pleats.
• Fabric: many models can be washed whole, check the method with the seller.

Don't soak coated fabric and don't iron the pleats: the fabric loses its shape. If you're unsure about the cleaning method for your model, ask the manufacturer before buying.

⁉️🤔 Frequently asked questions

How much do custom pleated blinds cost?

The final price depends on the window area, fabric, and control type. Blackout and honeycomb panels are more expensive than light-filtering ones. According to the MyLuks website (10/2026), light-filtering models start at €80, the blackout Nite at €95. The exact amount is calculated by the seller's configurator based on your measurements.

Can pleated blinds be hung on a plastic window without drilling?

Yes, there are clip-on mounts for this. They are placed on the sash, the screw is tightened, and the panel is inserted. No drilling into the frame is needed, and no marks remain on the plastic. This option is suitable for rental housing.

What fabric should I choose for the bedroom?

For the bedroom, take blackout fabric that doesn't let in morning light. The day-night model works well: dense strips cover the window, and transparent ones give soft light during the day. Choose a dark or neutral color, it reflects less glare from the sun.

Are pleated blinds suitable for a rental apartment?

Yes. Clip-on mounts don't drill into the frame, so when you move, pleated blinds are easy to remove and take with you. Before ordering, check that the sash depth fits the bracket. If the window is a skylight, clarify the fit with the manufacturer in advance.

Can pleated blinds be washed whole?

Many fabric panels are removed and washed by hand in warm water, then dried laid out flat. Coated panels and those with electronics cannot be wetted, they are only wiped. Check the exact cleaning method with the manufacturer for your model.

In short: how to choose custom pleated blinds

Choose the type by room, not by color. For the bedroom, take a blackout or honeycomb model, for the living room a light-filtering one, for the kitchen moisture-resistant fabric. Before ordering, measure each window in your home separately.

It's easier to proceed step by step:

• Measure each window separately and record the width, height, and clearance.
• Hang fabric samples on your window and choose the shade in daylight.
• Enter the measurements into the configurator and compare finished panels, not the price per meter.
• Check the mounting: in rental housing, clip-on mounts without drilling will work.

One last tip: don't order based on old measurements and don't choose fabric only from a photo on screen. The shade looks different at your window.