When designing a beautiful home, window coverings like blinds and curtains often take centre stage. But beyond aesthetics and light control, there’s one factor no Australian family should ever overlook child safety.
With strict regulations now in force across Australia, choosing compliant, child-safe window furnishings isn’t just responsible parenting, it’s a legal requirement. Whether you’re building a new home, renovating, or simply assessing what’s already installed, this guide covers everything you need to know.
Why Child-Safe Window Coverings Matter in Australian Homes
Loose cords and chains on blinds and curtains are a serious and often invisible risk to infants and young children. According to Kidsafe Australia, blind and curtain cords are among the leading causes of preventable child deaths in the home, with children under five at the greatest risk of strangulation.
The danger lies in loop cords and continuous chain systems. These can form a noose-like loop in seconds. A toddler can become fatally entangled in minutes even when a parent is in the next room.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has issued multiple mandatory recalls on corded window coverings that failed to meet minimum child safety standards. These aren’t rare events; they happen regularly, in ordinary Australian homes.
Important: The Product Safety Australia portal maintains a live database of recalled window coverings. If your blinds were purchased before 2014, it’s worth checking your product has not been flagged.
At Delux Blinds, we’ve spent over 25 years helping Melbourne families find window furnishings that are not only beautiful but built with safety as a non-negotiable. Learn more about who we are and what drives us
Understanding the AS/NZS 2111 Standard
All internal window coverings sold and installed in Australia must comply with the AS/NZS 2111 standard, developed by Standards Australia. This is not optional, it is a mandatory legal requirement enforced by the ACCC and state product safety regulators.
The standard was introduced and progressively strengthened in direct response to child fatalities caused by blind cords. It requires:
- Cords and chains secured out of reach a minimum height of 1.6 metres from the floor
- Fixed chain tensioners that eliminate any free-hanging loop
- Break-safe connectors on chain systems, designed to release under load if a child becomes entangled
- Clear warning labels and written safety instructions with every product
- Compliance documentation provided to homeowners at time of installation
Non-compliant products can expose suppliers and homeowners to serious legal and financial liability. For plain-English detail on your obligations, visit the ACCC’s mandatory standards page.
As proud members of the Window Shading Association of Australia (WSAA), Delux Blinds is committed to full compliance on every installation of residential, commercial, and aged care alike.
The Safest Window Covering Options for Families with Young Children
Not all window coverings carry the same risk level. Here’s a detailed breakdown of your safest options:
1. Motorised Blinds and Curtains — The Absolute Gold Standard
Motorised blinds are the safest window covering available because they completely eliminate cords and chains. Controlled by remote, wall switch, or smart home platforms like Google Home and Amazon Alexa, there is simply nothing for a child to grab, pull, or become entangled in.
This is exactly why Kidsafe Australia and the ACCC both explicitly recommend motorised systems as the preferred choice for families with young children.
At Delux Blinds, we offer motorised options through industry-leading Automate and Somfy motor brands, available as rechargeable battery-operated or hard-wired systems with pricing now far more accessible than in previous years.
Best for: Nurseries, children’s bedrooms, living areas, and any room where children spend regular time.
Explore our motorised blinds Melbourne range the safest window covering solution for Australian families.
2. Cordless Roller Blinds
Roller blinds are one of the most popular and versatile window covering options in Australia and when specified as cordless, they’re among the safest. A spring-loaded or battery-operated mechanism raises and lowers the blind with a simple push or pull on the bottom rail. No cord. No chain. No risk.
They’re available in a huge range of fabrics including blockout, translucent, and UV-protective options making them ideal for children’s bedrooms where both safety and light control matter.
Browse our roller blinds Melbourne range or explore our indoor roller blinds for the full selection.
3. Roman Blinds with Internal Cord Management
Older Roman blind designs featured exposed pull cords a known hazard. Today’s child-safe Roman blinds feature internal cord management systems where all cords run within the blind’s fabric and are fully inaccessible. Combined with a break-safe connector, these meet AS/NZS 2111.
As noted on our Roman blinds page, the chain on compliant systems “can be tucked neatly away to the side when not in use” — keeping it well out of a child’s reach.
Best for: Living rooms, dining areas, and any space where you want the warmth of a soft fabric blind with full compliance.
Discover our Roman blinds Melbourne range — elegant, safe, and compliant.
4. All Indoor Blinds with Professional Installation
Whether you choose roller, Roman, Venetian, honeycomb, or vertical blinds, the key to child safety is always professional installation by a qualified team who can ensure tensioners are correctly anchored and documentation is provided.
Explore our full indoor blinds Melbourne range — from classic roller blinds to motorised honeycomb cellular options.
Are Your Existing Blinds Still Safe?
If your window coverings were installed before 2014 when stricter mandatory standards were introduced there is a significant chance they are non-compliant. Even products installed between 2014 and 2019 may have gaps, as the standard has been updated multiple times.
Warning signs your blinds may be non-compliant:
- Loose, dangling cords or chains with no tensioner
- A continuous loop chain without a wall-anchored tensioning device
- Cords reachable by a child standing on the floor or climbing furniture
- No break-safe connector on chain systems
- Missing or illegible warning labels
- Cords that have been knotted or tied together
If you spot any of these, act immediately:
Wind cords up and secure them on a cleat mounted high on the wall as a temporary measure only.
Move all furniture away from windows to eliminate climbing access
Check the Product Safety Australia recalls database for your product
Book a professional inspection retrofitting may be possible, or full replacement may be safer
Whether you’re in a new home or an established property, our team can help. We specialise in blinds for new homes as well as full assessments and upgrades for existing properties across Melbourne and South East Queensland.
Contact Delux Blinds for a free measure and quote and we’ll assess your existing setup at no cost or obligation.
Simple Everyday Steps to Improve Child Safety Around Windows
Even with fully compliant window coverings, these habits make a meaningful difference:
- Keep furniture away from windows beds, sofas, and bookshelves within reach of a window create a climbing hazard
- Inspect tensioners and cleats every six months for wear, loosening, or damage
- Never tie cords together even temporarily, this creates the loops you’re trying to eliminate
- Talk to your children about cord dangers in age-appropriate terms
- Brief grandparents and regular carers many incidents happen in homes visitors consider safe
For broader child safety guidance, the Raising Children Network offers free, expert-reviewed resources tailored specifically for Australian parents.
Why Choosing the Right Supplier Matters
Not all window covering suppliers treat compliance equally and the difference can have serious consequences for your family. When selecting a provider, look for:
- Proactive discussion of AS/NZS 2111 without you having to ask
- Written compliance documentation at both quote and installation stage
- WSAA membership confirming commitment to industry standards and best practice
- A genuine recommendation toward motorised or cordless systems for homes with young children not just the most affordable option
At Delux Blinds, compliance is woven into every consultation and every installation. Our team has over 25 years of industry experience and serves residential customers, new home builders, schools, commercial facilities, and aged care and retirement villages all with full adherence to Australian safety standards.
We serve customers acrossMelbourne and surrounds, and our 45-minute in-home consultations are completely free. See why customers choose us.
Why Compliance Is More Than Just a Requirement
Meeting AS/NZS 2111 delivers real, lasting value beyond regulatory obligation:
- Peace of mind — knowing your home is genuinely safe for your children
- Legal protection — documented compliance is a meaningful defense if an incident occurs
- Insurance security — some policies limit payouts where known hazards haven’t been addressed
- Property value — motorised and cordless systems are increasingly attractive to buyers with young families
- Future-proofing — regulations are tightening; upgrading now avoids mandatory changes later
The ACCC actively monitors the market and has issued mandatory recalls on products breaching AS/NZS 2111. Staying compliant is always less costly than a recall or worse, an incident in your home.
Make Your Home Safer Today
Beautiful window coverings and family safety are not competing priorities — they go hand in hand. Today’s motorised, cordless, and compliant systems are more stylish and affordable than ever before.
Whether you’re building, renovating, or simply want peace of mind about what’s already installed, the Delux Blinds team is here to help.
Contact Delux Blinds today for a free 45-minute in-home consultation and measure and quote. We’ll help you find child-safe window coverings that meet every current Australian standard — without compromising on style.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the AS/NZS 2111 standard? The AS/NZS 2111 is the mandatory Australian and New Zealand standard governing the manufacture and installation of internal window coverings. It requires tensioning devices, break-safe connectors, minimum cord heights, warning labels, and installation documentation to protect children from strangulation risks. It is enforced by theACCC and state product safety regulators.
Are cordless blinds genuinely safer for children? Yes — and this is supported by decades of injury data, not marketing. Cordless and motorised systems remove the physical mechanism that causes strangulation. BothKidsafe Australia and the ACCC explicitly recommend these as the safest choice for homes with children under 10. Delux Blinds offers a wide range ofcordless and motorised options.
Can my old blinds be made compliant with a retrofit? In many cases, yes — tensioners and break-safe connectors can be retrofitted. But this only works when installed correctly by a qualified professional. For older blinds, full replacement with a modern compliant system is often the safest long-term solution.Contact us for an honest assessment.
Is professional installation legally required? DIY installation isn’t explicitly prohibited, but professional installation is strongly recommended to ensure AS/NZS 2111 compliance. An improperly installed tensioner provides no safety protection. Delux Blinds provides written compliance documentation with every installation. Learn why choosing us matters.
What are the safest blinds for a baby’s nursery? Fully cordless ormotorised blinds are the clear best choice. Battery-operated roller blinds and motorised Roman blinds eliminate all cord hazards while delivering excellent light control. Pair with a quality blockout fabric for optimal sleep conditions.
How do I know if my blinds have been recalled? Check theProduct Safety Australia recalls database — it’s free, searchable, and regularly updated. If your product appears, stop using it immediately and contact your supplier or the ACCC.
Does Delux Blinds service my area? We serve residential customers, builders, schools, and commercial clients across Melbourne and beyond. See all the areas we service orget in touch directly.
