Solar shades are a great interior décor choice—especially for those living in hotter climes. Such a window feature provides a multitude of advantages, ranging from the practical to the environmentally friendly.
One aspect that often confuses is that of solar shade opacity. The following guide demystifies the commonly-used terminology and can be used to help determine the perfect solar shade to suit your vibe and lifestyle.
Sometimes the opacity of a shade (how much light the fabric allows to shine through) is expressed as a percentage. This tends to be from 0 – 20, with 0 percent letting no light through at all and 20 percent letting a lot through.
However, the most popular way of describing solar shade opacity is to use the terms, sheer, semi-sheer, semi-opaque, and opaque.
Sheer is the least dense of all the categories, allowing a fair amount of glare and daylight to enter the room. These are a popular choice for naturally dark rooms and areas that benefit from a good deal of natural light. When viewed from the interior, sheer shades will gently soften the focus of the world outside. Sunrooms are another location that this level of opacity particularly flatters.
One step up from sheer, this ‘in-between’ choice allows less light through but still doesn’t provide a high level of privacy. While it suits some rooms, the semi-sheer option tends not to be as popular as the other options. This is because, in most cases, the choice of solar shades is either to let in a lot of light (as in sheer) or to go for the options below that provide more of a barrier to the elements.
If you’re looking for an option that blocks a large amount of glare but you still require a little natural light, then semi-opaque could be the answer. They will block your view (although you can see shadows) but still allow a little natural light through. They provide a high degree of privacy as people can’t see in from the outside.
Sometimes described as ‘room darkening’, opaque solar shades block almost all light from entering the room. These offer considerable privacy as they completely stop any view from the outside. While some natural light will seep in around the edges, the only true way to allow daylight in is to have them partially or fully open.
A quick word on blackout shades which, as the name implies, prevents any light whatsoever from entering. These are a good choice for media rooms or perhaps bedrooms for shift workers who need to sleep during daylight hours.
Solar shades offer many advantages. Some of these are:
By blocking the sunlight and glare, solar shades are very effective at keeping the interior at ambient temperature.
Thanks to their effectiveness at blocking heat transference, most people find they can use their air conditioning less, therefore reducing energy costs and benefiting the environment.
Not only good for your health but also prevents premature fading of interior décor.
Meaning no annoying light shining on screens or in your eyes at certain times of the day.
They look great, both from the inside and the outside.
With so many options, it can be a challenge to determine the ideal solar shade opacity for your needs. Regency provide a preeminent service that covers all aspects of window dressings: from choosing the ultimate solution through to the creation and installation of your dream look.
Discover more and give their friendly team a call for a no-obligation chat.
If you would like a hand deciding, that is what the consultation is for. A designer comes out, looks at the actual room, and brings the fabrics that suit it. Book a free in-home consultation, or see the gallery.
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Book a free in-home consultation. We will bring the samples, take the measurements, and leave you with a proper quote.
