Why Solar Shades Are Perfect For Your Sunroom
bwsit • July 5, 2017

If you  have a sunroom, you know the beauty of the space and all the amazing benefits that come with it. But perhaps you find that sometimes, the sunlight can be a little too much and cause your sunroom to get hotter than you’d like. Or, perhaps, you find that certain seats in the room just aren’t as functional due to the amount of light pouring through the windows. In that case, you need not worry. Instead, consider solar shades as your solution.

What are solar shades?

A solar shade is made out of tightly-woven fabric that works to block some sunlight that comes in, without impairing your view. This means that if you want to watch the birds at your birdfeeder, you’ll still be able to see them. At the same time, the light that had been blocking your view from behind the birds will be greatly reduced.

In addition, solar shades aren’t a one size fits all. Instead, they come in a range of opacity (ranging from 15 to 1 percent), so you can decide on how much or how little light you want to come through. The lower the number, the higher the opacity and the less you’ll be able to see through it. On the other hand, a higher number means more light coming through, resulting in a better view. A range of 3-5 percent is the most common.

A sunroom allows homeowners to enjoy the outside, without having to leave the house. That underlying purpose is exactly what makes this type of window covering ideal for the space. Traditional window coverings tend to block out 100 percent of the light, taking away your view. While solar shades can benefit other rooms in your home, they offer the perfect compromise of light and view for any sunroom.

You’re In Control

If you obstruct your view, you negate the main purpose of your sunroom. At the same time, constant and full sunlight can make the space so unbearable that you don’t want to spend time in it to begin with. Solar shades, on the other hand, place you in full control of the light you want and the comfort you can achieve in this special room of your home for you and your family at all times of the day.

Imagine the benefits if your sunroom fulfills a purpose separate and additional to lounging. Especially if your sunroom also functions as a dining room, full sunshine can make the room too bright for comfort during dinner time. On the other hand, these types of shades will be able to block the glare so that you and your guests will be able to eat in comfort.

Or perhaps you use your sunroom as an additional living space. If that space includes a TV, you may notice that the sun creates a harsh glare on the screen that impedes your view. Again, a solar shade can easily be pulled down, reducing the glare, while still allowing you to see outside whenever you want.

Open to the Outside Comes With Caveats

In short, solar shades work great in reducing glare and filtering the light that comes into your sunroom. But at the same time, because of their versatility, they will not block others from seeing into your room. So if you are looking for a window covering to not only block the sunlight but also provide privacy on an as-needed basis, you may want to look for different shades.

However, if your main priority is control over the light that floods your sunroom, then solar shades are the perfect fit. To learn more about this type of window covering, and to get the installation process started for your sunroom, please  contact us.

Expert Advice by Just Blinds

What Your Window Treatment Says About You: A Personality-Based Guide

April 23, 2025
Your selection of window treatment products and services is not merely about getting a job done. Rather, if you look hard enough, you can find direct correlations between the type of person that you are and the window treatment that you select. We have created this personality-based guide to help you best discover what kind of window treatment truly matches your spirit. The Dependable Type: Wooden Blinds You are the person that all of your friends can count on. You are the type of person who truly sticks to your plans when you make them, and you are the type of person who will choose wooden blinds for your home. Privacy is important to you when selecting your blinds, and that is why you find yourself pulled into the idea of putting up wooden blinds. Besides that, they happen to be highly functional, and that's not something that you are willing to pass up either. The Planner: Blackout Curtains Those who value truly getting the most value out of their blinds or anything else that they install in their homes will think very carefully about their options. For those people, going with blackout curtains makes a lot of sense. They want to gain as much value as possible out of their options, and they know that they can significantly improve their quality of sleep and so much more when they opt for blackout curtains. These also happen to be a great option for those who work night shifts or other odd hours and yet still want to enjoy their sleep. They need blackout curtains to help increase the quality of that sleep and allow themselves to get their day started right. The Tech Enthusiast: Smart Shades They roam among us: The type of people who are quick to adopt any new technology and get to work figuring out how it can improve their lives. These people are great because they are not afraid to take a risk and because they help to move our society forward. They simply want to get more out of each day, and they often do so by adopting and using the latest technologies. These individuals will gravitate towards smart shades for the following attributes: Innovation - Who wants to stick with the boring old ways of shading one's house? Smarter options are now available, and you better believe that the tech enthusiasts among us are willing to latch on to them. Efficiency - These shades are a more efficient option for those who care about that kind of thing. They can be easily activated and set up to open or close automatically (how cool is that?!). Progressive - The "cool" factor is a big deal for people who fall into this category as well. They might not admit to it right off the bat, but they care deeply about what others think about them. As such, they want window shades that have that cool factor attached to them. The Dreamer: Sheer Curtains Finally, we land upon the dreamer. This is the person who views every day for the possibilities that it can bring. They are not scared off by those with a negative attitude. If anything, they believe that they can change those people! Instead, the dreamer wants sheer curtains because they bring in soft light, open spaces, and bring about a feeling of possibility all throughout the house. Sheer curtains are the ideal option for someone who classifies themselves in this way. They will receive plenty of compliments on their curtains, and they will appreciate how open they are to the world.  Which kind of person are you and which window treatment option makes the most sense for your personality? For more inspiration and ideas, reach out and contact us today.

5 Unexpected Places Homeowners Are Installing Outdoor Shades

March 13, 2025
We all know and understand the concept of installing outdoor shades on a patio. It is the classic way to create a cool and comfortable space for yourself and your friends to spend some quality time together outdoors. There is nothing wrong with that, but it is limiting to think that the patio is the only part of one's property where outdoor shades are appropriate. There are some surprising and unexpected places where homeowners have taken to installing outdoor shades recently. We want to take a look at some of these to provide you with ideas for your next home improvement project. 1) Balconies Some homes are built quite close together, and some homeowners naturally feel like they would like to do more to protect their privacy. Although their neighbors might not intentionally be looking through their balconies, it is easy for the human eye to drift. Thus, some city-dwelling homeowners have made the choice to install outdoor shades in this area. On top of keeping prying eyes off of your property, outdoor shades also block the sun rays from your balcony as well creating a more comfortable space to spend some time. 2) Outdoor Kitchens One of the most delightful social experiences that someone can have is to invite over a large group of friends for a meal cooked outside. It gives everyone the opportunity to share stories, laughes, and a bit of food all at the same time. Of course, this is best done in an outdoor kitchen. Your outdoor kitchen is a space where you should feel comfortable and have the ability to entertain a large group of people all at the same time. This means looking at installing outdoor shades to provide an extra layer of protection from the heat of the sun. Thus, this has become another area where homeowners are quickly installing outdoor shades. 3) Poolside Lounges Now we are really talking! Who doesn't love to kick back with their favorite cold beverage and spend some time relaxing next to the pool? That is what you can enjoy more completely when you set up a poolside lounge with outdoor shades. Poolside lounges are meant to be a place where you can spend several hours at a time. However, it can get pretty hot while doing so if you don't put some outdoor shades in place. Get those shades up so you can let all of your worries melt away as you take in the smell of pool water and sunscreen. 4) Garden Areas Do you enjoy a little gardening in your downtime? You might like it even more after setting up outdoor shades that protect you from the excessive heat of the sun. Gardening is labor-intensive work and can take several hours of diligent labor to do it properly. However, you don't want to overextend yourself and end up getting physically overworked. Keeping some of the sun away is an excellent way to ensure that you don't overdo it. Just make sure that you check up on the sunlight needs of the various plants that you intend to put into your garden before installing outdoor shades. 5) Exterior Windows Did you know that it is possible to reduce your energy bills by installing outdoor shades? It's true! If you place outdoor shades on the exterior windows of your home, you can reduce the strain placed on your air conditioning by naturally reducing the overall temperature within your living space. This means less money out of your pocket and more money for working on your next project.  There are many interesting places where homeowners are installing outdoor shades these days. For more creative ideas on what you can do with yours, reach out and contact us now.