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!

Adding an awning to your backyard space can make it more comfortable, protect you from the sun, and create a space to host events. Awnings come in many different materials, types, and colors to choose from. When it comes to the color of an awning, it can be difficult to choose the best option to match your home and enhance the outdoor landscape. This blog will share some popular colors for awnings around your home, and what considerations you should keep in mind when looking for colors. 

Will Dark Colors For Awnings Be Too Hot?

Dark colored fabric, metal, or plastic will absorb more sunlight than lighter colors, so this can result in the surface of these materials being hot. However, just because you have a dark colored awning doesn’t necessarily mean the air underneath will rise in temperature. If you have an enclosed space with a dark colored exterior, the interior temperature will rise. A black awning will be hotter than a white one, but there are reasons you may benefit from a darker color. 

Most Common Awning Colors

The color of your awning contributes to more than just the temperature, it also impacts the overall appearance of your backyard. While you should take the exterior design of your home, your climate, and the surrounding landscape into consideration, there are some common colors that work well for most homeowners. Looking at the popular color choices can help you narrow down your options. 

Cream

Off-white, beige, and cream are popular choices for outdoor decor and shade options. Since lighter colors reflect sunlight, they help keep the patio space cool and provide a clean look. Cream or white awnings are also less likely to show dust and dirt compared to black ones. 

Brown 

Another neutral option that is often incorporated into exterior designs is brown or taupe. Using natural colors for awnings that are spotted outdoors will help your awning blend in with your home or landscaping. Brown can come in many shade variations, which means it can still keep your patio space cool, while also hiding dirt and stains. 

Red

Whether you choose a bold red or a more natural dirt red, this awning color will boost your outdoor appeal. The pop of color will make your lounge space stand out, while a reddish brown will help the space feel adventurous and natural. 

Blue

While blue is not considered a neutral, it is another popular choice for awnings. It can be similar to red, making your awning pop against the rest of the background, or it can be used to help blend the awning into the sky or mountains. Blue evokes calm feelings, so it is best used around lakes, oceans, or in a lush area. 

Should You Choose A Patterned Awning?

Stripes and geometric shapes can be implemented on your fabric awning materials. These patterns can help conceal some of the debris that can line your awning, while also giving your backyard more visual appeal. Patterns that are too busy can be overwhelming to look at, but simple patterns can give your patio an eclectic feel.

Awning Colors That Match Your Home’s Exterior

The best way to choose an awning color is to match it to your siding, brick, or roof materials. When matching the color, it can be helpful to take samples of your siding or roof with you to purchase an awning. If you don’t have samples, try taking photos during different times of the day to get the most accurate color. While it is not essential that the awning be the exact color of your exterior, a close match will help the space feel cohesive. 

If you have window awnings, matching the awnings to another contrasting color on the home will make the space look well-maintained. If the awnings match your siding, it could cause your windows to look too short or oddly shaped. Choose the color of your roof or shutters when implementing window awnings. 

Appearance Of Dirt Or Debris

Choosing a color that can hide bird droppings, dirt, and twigs will help save you time on frequent awning cleaning. While it is impossible to keep your awning free of debris at any moment, lighter colors or patterns can help disguise the mess. Light beige or browns will hide most debris from being noticeable, allowing you to entertain without stressing about the cleanliness of the awning. Black and striped awnings will show the most dirt and debris. 

Coverings From Kool Breeze

Kool Breeze offers many shading options for your home or business. No matter the color, our awnings, carports, and shades will give you more usable space around a home. Our team offers the highest quality materials and modern offerings to help give you an outdoor entertaining space or sun protection that will last a lifetime. Learn more about our options or get an estimate by filling out our contact form.

Trying to figure out a way to save energy, keep cool, and improve your home? Awnings may be the perfect solution for you. A stylish choice and easy to install, awnings have been providing coverage for windows and doors for hundreds of years.

Awnings not only offer some shade, but they also bring significant other benefits to your home. Let’s look at how.

Science Behind Awnings & Heat Reduction

It’s reported that about 30% of a home’s heat is lost through windows and 76% of sunlight that enters through double pane windows turns into heat. This means that at any point of the year, your interior temperatures can be poorly regulated and your energy bill can get expensive quickly.

On the other hand, statistics report that awnings and other window coverings can reduce solar heat gain by up to 65% on south-facing windows and 77% on west-facing windows. They also work to block harmful UV rays, which can damage structures and furniture.

Lower Energy Costs with Awnings

Since awnings are built to extend past a window and provide shade, this helps to block a substantial amount of sunlight that can come through the windows. Especially during hot summers, it’s important to keep your house as cool as possible for maximum comfort and relaxation.

Window coverings, like awnings, can prevent your home from heating up from the sun and save energy. This in turn means you don’t need to use your air conditioning system as much, lowering energy bills. For a practical, convenient, and appealing option, awnings are a great solution.

So not only do awnings look stylish, but they can also help save energy.

Types of Awnings to Consider

When you are picking out the right kind of awning for your home, you should consider the style, function, and location to determine the right fit to suit your needs.

• Retractable Awnings – These coverings give you flexibility to choose whether you want them extended or not. This allows you the option of extending them when you want shade, and retracting them when you want to let in more light.
  
• Fixed Awnings – For windows that regularly let in unwanted light, fixed awnings provide a permanent solution that allows you to have consistent shade and light blockage.
  
• Window & Door Awnings – These are smaller coverings that are installed above certain doors and windows to block sun exposure and save energy.
  
• Freestanding Awnings – A good non-permanent solution, freestanding awnings aren’t attached to a building and are often used on patios or in backyards to provide shade.

Regardless of the kind of awning that you choose for your home, each offers unique benefits that can provide you with shade, privacy, light control, and UV ray protection.

Additional Benefits of Awnings

Though the main benefits of awnings help you save energy and block light, there are some other notable benefits to awnings that can improve the quality of your home.

• Protection From UV Rays – When furniture, flooring, and interior surfaces are exposed to UV rays too frequently, this can lead to fading, stains, and other damage. By reducing the amount of UV rays entering, you can preserve the look and quality of your home decor.
  
• Enhanced Outdoor Spaces – Although awnings can save energy for the interior of your home, they can also provide temperature regulation and comfort outdoors. Offering a nice shade covering over porches, decks, and backyards can create a nice environment for relaxing or hosting.
  
• Curb Appeal – Awnings can help create a polished, complete look for your home, framing the doors and windows and adding extra character. Whether you want a classy, sophisticated look, or something bold and whimsical, awnings are often customizable so you can find one to suit your taste.

Choosing the Right Awning for Your Home

Awnings help provide you with shade, save energy, look aesthetically pleasing, and are practical for preserving the look and feel of your home. Whether you are looking for a way to upgrade your house’s exterior or are looking for a practical way to improve your energy efficiency, awnings are a great solution.

If you are ready to add awnings to your home, reach out to Kool Breeze. We have a wide variety of window awnings, pergolas, patio coverings, and more so you can create a relaxing, cool environment for any part of your house. Contact us today!