Solar Shades
View our Solar Shades Buying Guide
Solar shades are a unique type of window treatment. Unlike many other window treatment styles, this shade specifically focuses on blocking UV rays. Solar shade material uses a special design to keep UV rays from entering your home. They still allow you to enjoy your view, but they reduce glare and brightness. The end result is a chic, modern shade that protects you and your home from harmful UV light.
Solar window treatments come in various opacity levels. These levels address the amount of UV light that the shade lets into your room. For example, a 1% opacity shade lets 1% of all UV light into a room. Lower opacity levels may make your view fuzzier, but they keep more UV rays out of your home. 5% opacity tends to provide the best of both worlds. It keeps out UV light while still letting you see outside. Depending on your needs, you might want shades with anywhere from 1% to 18% opacity.
Solar Shade Benefits
Selecting a solar shade for your home lets you access a variety of excellent benefits.
- Glare Prevention: Many people like to use these shades in living
rooms and offices because they cut down on glare. You still get
diffuse light, but not strong rays that make it hard to see your
screens.
- Light Control: You can still easily see through the weave of a solar
shade. However, it does make the room dimmer. These shades can be a
nice option for nurseries or other rooms where you want dim, filtered
light.
- Furniture Protection: Strong UV rays can make plastic crack, fabric
fade, and wood warp. If you don't want this to happen, it's a good
idea to install solar shades.
- Open Appearance: A solar shade gives you a lot of protection without
making the room seem closed-in. They let you easily see the outdoors,
so your room feels larger and more open.
- Cooler Temperatures: Many people in hot climates select these shades
because they help keep interior temperatures cooler. Since the solar
shade blocks UV rays, it keeps the sun from heating up your house.
Ways to Upgrade Your Solar Shades
To get the best solar shade style for your needs, consider adding these upgrades.
- Continuous Cord Loop: This control style consists of a loop of cord
that you mount on the wall. It gets rid of dangling cords, and it
makes larger windows easier to operate.
- Cordless Lift: Get rid of cords altogether with this upgrade. Instead
of cords, you adjust these shades by gently tugging on the bottom
rail. It's safer for pets and looks a little more streamlined.
- Motorization: This upgrade lets you use a remote to raise or lower
your shades. It's helpful for hard-to-reach shades, and it's nice
when you want to adjust shades without walking around the house.
- Matching Valance: A valance covers the roll of fabric at the top of
the shade. It gives your windows a touch of class and hides any
hardware.
- Reverse Roll: This reverses the direction the fabric wraps around the
roller. Instead of hanging toward the glass, it hangs toward the
room. This can create a cleaner look, but keep in mind it may cause a
small gap at the top.
Things to Consider Before Getting Solar Shades
Solar shades have some unique features not found in other shades. To get the best results, there are a few things you'll need to know about.
- If you try an inside mount on a shallow window, there may be slight
gaps due to incorrect mounting. For the best UV protection, check
measurement requirements carefully, and consider an outside mount.
- When selecting a fabric with a pattern in the weave, keep in mind
that you can choose its orientation. Having the fabric run
horizontally instead of vertically can greatly impact the look.
- Since part of the advantage of these shades is that they display your
view, they typically are not privacy shades. You'll need to add a
blackout fabric if you want better privacy.
Solar Shade Measurements and Installation
To get the best possible results, you'll need to carefully measure your windows before ordering. Check the solar shades product description to see how to measure your window and find the right mounting depth. Once you order your shades, you have a few different product installation options. If you're feeling handy, you can install a solar shade yourself. All you have to do is follow the easy instruction guide we provide with your purchase.
If you have any questions about measuring and installing a solar shade, remember that our team is here to help. You can call 800-575-8016 to get measuring and ordering advice from the design consultants at American Blinds. In no time at all, you can be enjoying the gorgeous style of these shades in your own home.
