Bright Rooms Aren't Always Best

Filed under: Bedroom, Your Home

Too much light can break down fabrics, wake you up in the morning and drive you a little bit crazy.


Natural light is both beautiful and healthful (hello, vitamin D!), but sometimes we just want less of it. Aside from abruptly waking us (or a sleeping infant) from sweet Saturday morning slumber, too much light streaming in from the windows can also cause distracting glares on computer monitors or worse, faded fabric on our favorite sofa.

"Sunlight is a natural energy boost, but it also has its downside," says Sally Morse, director of creative services for Hunter Douglas. "Natural light needs to be managed, and the proper window treatments are the best way to do it."

Finding the right treatments can definitely be a challenge, especially with the availability of so many options. It's important to educate yourself about not only what's out there but also what your needs are.

"If blocking out the light in your bedroom is your top concern, figure out which direction your window faces," says Morse. If it's east-facing, then your windows probably get lots of direct sun in the morning. She suggests drapery that has black-out lining. "If you're choosing blinds or shades, go for something that's opaque to diffuse the light," she says.

When shopping for opaque blinds or shades, always check the product's opacity rating. This will tell you just how much light will actually filter through. For example, the Hunter-Douglas line of Duette honeycomb shades diffuses up to 100% of natural light and is available in four levels of opacity: sheer, semi-sheer, semi-opaque and opaque.

Not sure what's right for you? Morse suggests taking a sample of each opacity level outside and holding them up to the sun. "You'll find out very quickly just how much light you'll be blocking out," says Morse.

Another option we find appealing is a trend in top-down/bottom-up options for shades. Several manufacturers are offering this smart design, that allows you to let some light in while still keeping say the bottom half of your window protected. Great for rooms like the kitchen, bath or even your bedroom, there's also plenty of options to choose from. For example, Levolor has the top-down/bottom-up design feature as an option for their cellular, woven and roman shades.

If your heart is set on horizontal blinds, focus on slat size. According to Morse, the thicker the slats, the more coverage they will provide. This is one of the reasons we like Christopher Lowell's line of 2" wood blinds for Smith and Noble. In addition to providing lots of coverage, they come in a variety of wood finishes such as Walnut, Blush and the pretty Rosewood.

Finally, if you have south- or west-facing windows in your room, you'll most likely get a lot of heat and glare from the sun. To protect the fabric on your furniture and flooring, choose something with a UV filter already built-in. "Most people don't realize how quickly the sun's rays can fade fabrics," says Morse.

 

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