Discover how the right blinds, curtains or shutters can help you keep your home at a comfortable temperature all year round.
A good dose of sunshine is good for the soul. But too much sun shining in through your windows can create an uncomfortably warm environment and unwanted glare.
With the right blinds, curtains or shutters you can make the most of the sunshine and stay comfortable. We’re here to show you how…
Day and Night Roller blinds offer the dual benefit of gently filtering light and blocking out strong sunlight, all in one innovative design. These blinds have two fabric layers that slide over each other to create different effects at the window. Choose the translucent option to filter sunlight, and move to the opaque position when you want to block strong sunlight.
TransitionTM Pleated blinds are hugely flexible, giving you tremendous control over light and temperature. They’re especially suited to rooms that suffer extremes of temperature, such as conservatories. Consisting of two Pleated blind fabrics built into one blind, you can select different fabrics to suit your specific requirements, for example choosing a sheer fabric to make the most of the sun during the day, and teaming this with a blackout fabric to control strong sun, or a thermal fabric for evenings and cooler days.
South facing rooms that get a lot of sun can become uncomfortably warm in the summer months, so a blackout solution is a must. Roller blinds in blackout fabrics are great for kitchens and bathrooms, Vertical blinds are ideal for wide windows and doors and Roman blinds with blackout linings are a luxuriously soft option for living rooms and bedrooms.
Simple seasonal updates that take my home from winter to summer are first and foremost botanicals in some delish spring, summery colours like deep pink peonies or lilacs.
Sun worshippers should choose a sheer or semi-sheer Roller blind fabric to take the edge off the full rays of the sun, while still allowing plenty of light into the home. However, if the early morning sun disrupts your sleep, you can make an exception in the bedroom by choosing a Roller blind in a blackout fabric, or by layering different styles together for maximum flexibility.
Glass extensions and sunrooms with bi-fold doors and large glazed windows are wonderful additions to your home. However, they can cause glare, as well as making dining areas and other social spaces feel uncomfortably bright. Vertical blinds are the perfect choice for these areas as the louvres gently filter the light, creating a comfortable environment. They're available in a range of contemporary designs and performance fabrics to perfectly suit your interior décor and lifestyle.
Voile curtains are perfect for sunny summer days, creating a light and breezy feel at your window. They gently filter strong sunlight without reducing light levels, and they have the added benefit of providing a level of daytime privacy for rooms that are overlooked.
Swap out heavier bedding with breezier bedding and don’t forget lighten scents make the biggest difference.
Early morning and late evening sun can cause havoc, especially in bedrooms and south facing rooms. So it’s important to have a flexible solution in place to block unwanted sunlight. Layering curtains over blinds will help you create a really dark environment when you need to. For maximum darkness layer curtains with a blackout lining over a blind in a blackout fabric. If you have uPVC windows, you can even fit your blind into a special Perfect Fit frame which prevents excess light coming in round the sides of your blind.
Wooden shutters are great for keeping rooms cool when the temperature rises, creating a cosy feel during cooler months and for controlling light all year round. And because they’re available in different louvre widths, you decide just how much light you want to let into your home. Close your shutters when the sun is at its hottest to keep rooms feeling cool, and open them fully to make the most of a gorgeous sunny morning.
Here, we explore how to enjoy a good night’s rest all year round with blackout blinds and curtains
See our top picks to beat the heat and find the perfect styles for sunny spaces.
