As the weather gets warmer, finding ways to keep your home cool and reduce energy costs becomes a top priority– because we all know what it’s like trying to fall asleep when it’s just too hot.
While systems like heat pumps and air conditioning can be effective cooling devices, we’ve found that heat-blocking window shades are a simple and affordable way to keep your space cool– without adding to your energy bill.
But not all shades are created equal. As experts in the industry, we put together a guide to the best heat-blocking window shades to help you choose the right solution for your home.
1. Top-Down/Bottom-Up Cellular Shades
Top-down/bottom-up cellular shades are one of our favorite styles of shade for keeping your home cool while maximizing both privacy and light control. As with any style of cellular shade, top-down/bottom-up shades are designed with a unique cell structure that traps air in individual pockets that acts as an insulating barrier against your window.
As their name suggests, top-down/bottom-up shades are also highly adjustable, and can be lowered from the top to allow for sunlight to enter the room while creating a sense of privacy, or raised from the bottom to allow light inside your space while preventing glare from the sun at certain points of the day.
Benefits of Top-Down/Bottom-Up Cellular Shades
We recommend top-down/bottom-up cellular shades to anyone seeking superior insulating properties while also seeking the flexibility they provide. Folks who work from home, for example, particularly appreciate the ability to create privacy from the outside while allowing sunlight in through the top of the window.
2. Blackout Cellular Shades
For maximum heat blockage all year, we recommend our blackout cellular shades. This style of shade combines the insulating properties of cellular shades with a blackout layer, providing superior protection against heat and sunlight.
Benefits of Blackout Cellular Shades
Blackout cellular shades work so well to block heat because their primary job is to prevent sunlight from entering your space. As a result, these shades are excellent for spaces intended to be dark and cool, such as a bedroom. For this reason, they also offer excellent privacy.
3. Motorized Roller Shades
Roller shades are a style of shade that rolls up and down as they’re raised and lowered. They feature one piece of fabric that can be customized to fit your needs and preferences– including light-filtering, room darkening, and a variety of transparencies.
However, in our opinion, the best way to block heat while utilizing roller shades is to invest in motorized roller shades. While featuring the same benefits as their non-motorized counterparts, motorized roller shades can be easily operated with a remote control or optional wifi hub that makes it possible to unlock powerful features like smartphone app control, home automation (Alexa, Google Home, Apple Homekit), timers, and more.
This means that your shades can be programmed to raise and lower based on the sun, further enhancing their efficiency in blocking heat.
Benefits of Motorized Roller Shades
Roller shades offer a sleek, simple design that compliments a variety of home decor. Due to their simplicity, they’re easily customizable and available at an affordable price.
Choosing the right heat-blocking window shades for your space will improve your home’s comfort and energy efficiency throughout the warm summer months. If you didn’t see what you’re looking for here, reach out to one of our Shade Gurus for recommendations tailored to your unique needs.