Letting natural light into your home is important, but not all the time. Especially when you are trying to sleep, or keep your home cool in the summer, or have more privacy, you may not want your shades to let in any sunlight. Solar shades and blackout shades can help protect your home from overheating or blinding early morning sunlight.
How can homeowners or apartment renters know which shade option is best for their space? Is one option better for different climates or weather conditions? Let’s dive into the difference between the two window shade options and how they can both serve different purposes.
What Are Solar Shades?
First, we will look at solar shades. These shades can filter sunlight to let in the perfect amount of sunlight without causing damage to your furniture or your skin. Solar shades are made from woven materials, typically a mix of synthetic fibers and polyester, which creates an open weave. The openness or thickness of the shade determines how much light is let through. These shades help protect your belongings from sun fading, allow you to reduce glare on TVs and other screens, and improve interior temperature.
What Are Blackout Shades?
Blackout curtains or shades are used to stop all light from entering a room. These shades are often used to help people sleep during the daylight hours, have better privacy, and reduce sun damage to fragile materials. Blackout curtains are made from tightly woven fabrics or special backing that prevents the light from reflecting into the room. Blackout shades insulate a room and block harmful rays that can cause damage or unsafe interior temperatures.
Placement Of The Shades
Depending on where you want to put sun-blocking shades, there may be certain options that will work better than others. Different shades will be more beneficial for different rooms and at different times of the year. Let’s look at the common rooms in your home and what shade will best compliment the space.
Living Rooms
Your living room should feel warm and inviting to your family and guests. For this reason, solar shades are a good option for letting in just enough light to brighten the space without causing glare or hot spots. Solar shades can also be paired with curtains so you can let in light at certain times and block it out during others. Solar shades provide UV protection while still providing a connection to the outdoors.
Bedrooms
Sleeping and privacy are crucial when it comes to a bedroom, so the best option for them is blackout shades. Having a dark and private environment is best for uninterrupted rest, quiet nights, and relaxing activities. Adults who are light sleepers can benefit from blocking out all car lights, sunlight, or security lights.
Office
When you work from home, seeing the sunlight or the surrounding landscape can make the day go by much faster. Solar shades are recommended for offices because they can help reduce glare on your computer screens without making the office feel dark and uninviting. Solar shades will help keep the space bright and increase your Vitamin D, which will boost productivity.
Nurseries/Children’s Rooms
Depending on the age of the child, dark rooms can be helpful for bedtime and nap time. Blackout shades can help reduce noise and light and create a peaceful environment for children. This can be helpful for keeping onlookers from seeing into a child’s bedroom as well. While you may not want to consider that someone is looking in your child’s window, it is best to err on the side of caution.
Can You Combine Both Shades?
Some homeowners may want the benefits of both shade options, and while you can put different shades in different rooms, you can combine solar shades and blackout shades on one window. Dual roller shades can be installed to allow you to switch between the different materials depending on the time of day or the season. This option gives you more flexibility of the amount of light you let into your home and the interior temperature.
Solar Shades From Kool Breeze
Kool Breeze offers different solar shade options for homeowners in Utah. These options will help reduce glare, provide privacy, and improve energy efficiency. Our team provides quality shade materials that are automated and durable to provide you with sun protection. Kool Breeze is locally owned and has over 75 years of experience installing window shades, pergolas, and enclosed rooms. If you want to extend your living space and enjoy the outdoors without the consequences, reach out to Kool Breeze today!
