Let's Be Transparent About Solar Shades

We love solar shades for many reasons. They can be customized to fit pretty much any type of window, even odd shapes like bay windows, corner windows or angled windows. They protect art, furniture, rugs and other furnishings from damaging UV rays that can cause fading or discoloration. They also reduce glare from computers and televisions.

We’re in a city experiencing a construction boom and are seeing a similar uptick in clients specifying these shades, especially in modern buildings with floor-to-ceiling windows. They’re a great choice for architectural, minimal spaces. If you look closely, you’ll see them everywhere. They’re especially noticeable at night. Why? Because people often do not think about something very important when choosing these shades – the opacity or “openness” factor. We hear a lot of people say they want to be able to see through the shades to a view outside. But depending on the set-up, this could mean that at night, when interior lights are on, that the space is very clearly viewed from the outside, even with the shades drawn. Some don’t have privacy issues and are comfortable being on display. But many do, and don’t realize how transparent their shades are.

Here’s an example. The left is during the day, the right is at night.