The Best Custom Shutters, Blinds & Shades!
Proudly Serving the Cincinnati metro area
Sheer window shades on bedroom windows

Should You Pick Light Filtering Or Room Darkening Window Shades In Cincinnati?

May 16, 2024

When selecting window shades, you need to consider more than how they look. Window shades let you control how much outside light enters your space. The right shades will make it easy to welcome daylight into an area or obstruct it almost entirely. You just need to determine what you prefer for your space. As soon as you know how much of light you need, it’s easy to determine if you should get room darkening or light filtering window shades in Cincinnati.

Light Filtering Window Shades Vs. Room Darkening Shades In Cincinnati

An illustration of five light filtering options for window shades

Window shades change the light in a room in many ways. First of all, you are able to draw them up to let in light or lower them to block it. Motorized shades of all varieties make governing light levels as effortless as pushing a button! You could also choose top-down/bottom-up shades that allow you to open the upper part of a window for outside light but keep the lower portion obscured for privacy.

Shade thickness matters, too. Denser room darkening shades keep out most light when lowered. Light-filtering window shades permit some light through their thinner construction. Whether you select room darkening or light filtering window shades in Cincinnati depends on how much you wish to block light from an area in your house.

There are differing levels of opacity or transparency. Shades range from sheer—with zero privacy and only a little light hindrance—to room darkening that halt almost all outdoor light.

When To Choose Light Filtering Window Shades

White translucent shades on a tall living room window

Many Cincinnati families want to enjoy extertior light in their indoor spaces. Sunlight is an excellent source of warmth and free light. It will enliven a gloomy area and revitalize you. You could even have a four-legged companion who enjoys lying below a sunny window.

Light filtering window shades let in the right amount of daylight. Their thin material lessens bright sun rays as they light up a space. You might select light filtering shades in any room where you want outdoor light without totally uncovering your windows. They’re fantastic for work and play locations like a living room or kitchen. Or utilize them on north-facing or shaded windows that don’t get an abundance of hot sunlight.

When To Use Room Darkening Window Shades

Sheer window shades on bedroom windows

It’s reasonable to use room darkening shades in Cincinnati when you would like to do precisely that: darken a room. You don’t always want outside light coming through your windows. Use room darkening shades in your bedroom to stop light from disturbing your sleep. Or, place them in your TV room to keep glare off the screen. You may also choose room darkening shades in sun-impacted rooms that are prone to overheating. While room darkening shades don’t stop UV rays quite as well as hard window treatments like interior shutters, they still do the job well and bring style to your windows

When To Get Both Light Filtering and Room Darkening Shades

You aren’t required to pick between room darkening and light filtering shades. If you want both options in one room, knock yourself out! It’s normal to place a room darkening shade at the rear of a more sheer shade in a single window. This layered approach provides a way to achieve filtered light AND room darkening should you need it. And integrating these shades one behind the other provides a distinctive look to your window.

Simply chat with your local Sunburst Shutters window treatment installer about installing room darkening shades behind a more sheer shade. By doing so, you are able to pull down whichever shade you require at the moment.

Get The Right Window Shades At Sunburst Shutters

Room darkening or light filtering shades? Whatever kind of window shade you want, Sunburst Shutters Cincinnati is here to help. Our impressive variety of shades and other window treatments has an option for every Cincinnati residence. Reach out to 513-216-9740 or submit the following form to request a no-cost in-home consultation today. We’ll come to your home to show you our products and help you order the perfect window treatments for your home.