3 Practical Considerations For Choosing Window Shades
Choosing window treatments for your home is, first and foremost, a highly personal and aesthetic decision. The right shades, blinds, and curtains can transform your home's interior and help tie together the other elements of your rooms. On the other hand, window treatments are also a practical choice that can impact energy efficiency and comfort in surprising ways.
When choosing shades for your home, it's important to always look at options that fit your style and design goals while also keeping in mind how your new window treatments will impact your home. These three considerations will help you find shades that strike the perfect balance of style, aesthetics, and utility.
1. Not All Shades Offer Equal Light Control
Light control is the primary function of any window treatment, so it should be one of the first things you consider when looking at shades for your home. Ensure you understand the amount of light control you want since not all shades offer the same level of control. However, shades, in general, will offer more light control than blinds.
Cellular shades typically offer the greatest amount of light blocking, but the material can often be a more significant factor in light control than the shade style. Light-blocking fabrics will offer the most ability to keep light out of your room, while light-filtering fabrics are a better choice if you want to control your room's lighting without darkening the room too much.
2. Window Treatments Can Impact Energy Efficiency
Surprisingly, your window treatments can substantially impact your home's energy efficiency. While shades are far from the largest factor affecting energy efficiency, they can significantly affect your home's comfort and HVAC costs. Energy-efficient shades will block infrared radiation, reducing the cooling load in the summer while adding an extra insulating layer to keep heat inside during the winter.
Cellular shades offer the most advantages if efficiency is your primary concern, but there are other options. Any shade material that includes insulating fabric will help control heating and cooling costs, so choosing an energy-efficiency fabric can provide some of the same benefits if you'd prefer a different shade style. Exterior treatments, such as solar shades, are another option to improve energy efficiency.
3. Window Size, Shape, and Location Matter
A window's location and size can heavily influence its contribution to your home's heat gain. North-facing windows will typically contribute the least, while south-facing windows will often contribute the most. If you're looking for the highest impact parts of your home, large, south-facing windows will benefit the most from energy-efficient window treatments.
If you plan on using different shades throughout your home, it's worth carefully considering these factors. Choosing different fabrics or styles for different parts of your home can help you achieve the look you're after while still ensuring you get the best possible light control and energy efficiency benefits.
Reach out to a residential window shade supplier to learn more.
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