The benefit of sun blocking blinds is pretty obvious: if you’ve ever had trouble watching television during the daytime, or if you have a home office and find that certain hours of the day are unproductive, you’ll know that the culprit is excessive sunlight. This guide will tell you everything you need to know about sun glare and how you can help reduce it (and your squinting) for your home.
What is Sun Glare?
Sun glare is the irritating reflection of the sun off of almost any surface. It can cause eye strain, headaches, distraction, blurry vision, eye irritation, and more. In fact, sun glare is so detrimental that it causes thousands of road accidents a year. Doesn’t sound like something you’d want in your home. Sun glare can cause difficulty seeing computer screens, televisions, and even other people depending on where you’re facing in a room. Luckily, specific window treatments like sun blocking blinds can help banish sun glare while still allowing for tons of natural light.
What Causes Sun Glare?
Sun glare is caused by excessively bright sunlight that reflects into your eyes, causing temporary vision impairment or loss. It occurs during any period of the day, but especially at sunrise and sunset when light is at it’s strongest. Reflective surfaces like stainless steel, glass, televisions, and computer monitors help reflect sunlight into your eyes, making it difficult to see and concentrate.
Reducing Sun Glare
If you’ve ever experienced the blinding effect of sunlight, you’ll know how painful and irritating it can be. Most of the time, you just have to wait until the sun shifts to continue what you’re doing or close your shades completely during peak daylight hours. With the help of the right sun blocking blinds, you no longer have to be at the mercy of the sun. The key is choosing the right window treatments for your specific needs.
You might want to consider sun blocking blinds if:
1. Your main rooms have windows that face East and West.
2. You work from home.
3. You have sensitive eyes.
4. You like to sleep-in.
Why Sun Blocking Blinds?
If any of the above applies to you, it’s time to think of adding sun blocking blinds to your shopping list. They will make a noticeable difference in your home and help keep you comfortable and productive during daylight. Plus, there are tons of options that make it easy to adjust your blinds depending on your lighting preference.
Types of Sun Blocking Blinds
Honeycomb Blinds
Honeycomb blinds have a unique, cellular design that helps to keep your room cool in summer and warm in winter. They come with a great “Day & Night” option that combines sheer fabrics and blackout fabrics to give you complete darkness at night, but a fair amount of sunlight during the day.
Roller Blinds
Roller blinds are fantastic for blocking out the sun. They’re simple to install, use, and change whenever you feel like it. The thick shade keeps out piercing sunlight and can be quickly adjusted depending on the time of day.
Top-Down-Bottom-Up Blinds
A brilliant invention, top-down-bottom-up blinds are ideal for rooms that are exposed to loads of sunshine. These nifty blinds can be pulled down from the top and lifted upwards so you can get exactly the coverage you need. They ensure full privacy and natural sunlight—a combo that’s not easy to find.
Venetian Blinds
If you’re looking for a classic, simple look, then Venetian Blinds are the way to go. They offer tons of textured options like faux-wood, timber, and aluminium so that you never have to sacrifice style for comfort. Plus, the blinds can be tilted downwards to reduce sun glare while still letting in a good amount of natural light.
Reduce Sun Glare to Keep Your Home Cool
Not only is sun glare incredibly irritating, but it can also cause you to spend more on home cooling. Sun blocking blinds are not only efficient at keeping out excessive sunshine, but they also help prevent the heat from racking up your energy bill by stopping the sun from warming your home too much during summer. Sounds good, right? Investing in sun blocking blinds can pay off in the long run by reducing A/C costs and giving you a more comfortable home in the summer time.
What are your options?
If your goal is to reduce sun glare to keep your home cool, you have a number of excellent options.
1. Cover windows in a temporary heat-control window film to block ultraviolet rays from the sun, while still allowing natural light to filter through.
2. Plant trees close to windows facing East and West; they’ll provide natural shade that helps protect your home from excessive sunlight.
3. Install an awning over larger windows to eliminate sun glare entirely.
4. Paint walls and ceilings warm colours to prevent the sun from reflecting off of them.
5. Use sheer curtains combined with sun blocking blinds; the curtains will help dissipate natural light throughout the room.
6. Keep shades and blinds closed during peak daylight hours to maximise on energy savings.
Your home is where you spend the majority of your leisure time, so you must ensure that it's a comfortable nest for you and your family. Reducing frustrating sun glare will keep you cool and relaxed year-round and save you money every single month. Now that is cool.
