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Solar Shades

Large living room with large windows with designer screen shades, Fabric: Panama. Designer Screen Shades Fabric: Panama

UV blocking window treatments

Want the shade trifecta of UV-protection, daytime privacy and a view? Solar shades are your answer. A roller shade, solar shades are crafted with a specially designed fabric to help prevent sunlight from damaging upholstery, carpet, hardwood floors and artwork. If your windows overlook gorgeous scenery, but you also get a lot of sun, solar shades will block glare and reduce heat gain without obstructing your view. Today’s solar shades are available in a range of designs, colors and opacities, giving you lots of choices to complement your décor. As you consider your options, keep the following in mind.

Openness 

Openness refers to how tightly solar shade fabric is woven. The lower the openness level and the tighter the fabric weave, the better it blocks the sun—but the less you can see through the shades. The higher the openness level, the looser the weave—and the less the fabric blocks the light. However, a higher openness level gives you better visibility to the outdoors. 

Privacy

The higher the openness level (the looser the fabric weave), the better you can see through the fabric, while maintaining your privacy. At night, however, fabrics with a high openness level do not offer much privacy. 

If you prefer a fabric with a high openness level, you might consider layering your shades with drapery. That way, you can have nighttime privacy by simply closing the drapes. You can also find solar shades that combine two fabrics of varying opacities on the same shade, with one shade positioned in front of the other. That gives you the flexibility of having a shade with a high openness level in the front and a more opaque fabric in the back. 

Color

When it comes to solar shades and fabric color, you’ll find that lighter colors better reflect heat and illuminate a room, but your view might be a little hazy (similar to that of sheers). If you have small windows or want to brighten a space, a lighter color may work best. 

Dark colors, on the other hand, are excellent at reducing glare and providing better view-through. A darker fabric is a great choice for larger windows that frame an amazing landscape.

Large living room with large windows with designer screen shades, Fabric: New Orleans. Designer Screen Shades Fabric: New Orleans
Living room with large windows with designer screen shades, Fabric: Agora and Ashton. Designer Screen Shades Fabric: Agora and Ashton
Office with windows featuring designer screen shades, Fabric: Empire. Designer Screen Shades Fabric: Empire

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