Which Window Treatment Is Best for Blocking Sunlight?

It may depend on the exact orientation of your home, but most north-facing windows in Australia suffer from an excess of sunlight. This is particularly so in the summer months when the sun is at its strongest, of course. If you do not want your internal decorations and upholstery to fade or you simply want to avoid being woken up too early in the morning when the sun has risen, then there are plenty of window treatments that will block out its rays. Which is the best one for you?

• Roller Blinds

One of the best things about roller blinds is that they can be fitted to the window frame itself as opposed to the wall. This means that they sit very close to the glazing when they are dropped and can block out the entire expanse of your window. This is because they can overhang the framework with hardly any gaps that are noticeable at the sides, the top or the bottom where light could possibly penetrate. Indeed, the modern materials that blockout roller blinds are now made from do a fantastic job of preventing ultraviolet light rays getting into your home. As such, contemporary roller blinds, which are available in all sorts of different designs to suit every type of residence, are among the best ways of blocking out sunlight whilst still looking good in terms of contemporary interior design.

• Venetian Blinds

Venetian blinds are much loved all over Australia because they offer a classic look. When you turn the slats vertically, they can shut out nearly all of the light that would otherwise come through a window. However, these sorts of blind to have a drawback when it comes to total block out. Because they have to be suspended on strings, each of the slats of a Venetian blind will have a series of small holes in it. Even if you select ones with ribbons rather than strings, some sunlight will always be able to get past. That said, ones made from aluminium tend to be very good at blocking most light out, and you can control light levels quite easily, too, by simply adjusting the angle of the slats.

• Curtains

Blackout curtains are usually lined so that there is a fabric on the back which prevents any light from coming through. The front-facing material is merely decorative. This means that curtains can be highly effective in preventing unwanted sunlight during the day. However, you should bear in mind that most curtains hang in front of a windowsill rather than up against the glazing itself. In turn, this means that some sunlight can fall down beneath them. As such, it is better to go for curtains that will extend all the way down to the floor in order to minimise this problem. Even so, curtains cannot match most blackout roller blinds so you may want to consider using both products in combination with one another if you are serious about controlling the amount of light that can get inside your home.

To learn more about roller blinds and other window treatments, consult a resource in your area.

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