How To Block The Sun From Making Your Living Room Unlivable During The Day

Posted on: 16 September 2016

Everyone loves a southern exposure because the sun is a great source of natural light. However, sometimes you don't want quite as much sun. On some days the sun can be quite brutal so it would be nice to be able to quiet it when you want to. There are different methods of dampening the sunlight, and the choice will depend on your style of home as well as your personal taste. Below are three different options, as well as a brief discussion of their pros and cons.

Beaded Drapes

If you don't like the idea of solid cloth drapes, and would prefer drapes that let a bit more light in, then consider beaded drapes. You can choose a minimalist, stainless steel design if your home has a modern design. Alternatively, you can get colored beaded drapes that depict a pattern.

The obvious benefit to beaded drapes is that they allow light in, so you won't have a dark room. During the days when the sun is particularly brutal, you can close the drapes and they will help to dampen the amount of sunlight that's beaming into your room. Also, unlike cloth drapes, they don't require you to take them down and wash them. You can dust them, and because they are not made of cloth, they won't absorb dust and dirt and require heavy washing. Finally, if you have a modern, minimalist design, heavy cloth curtains wouldn't look appropriate.

Stained Glass

If you happen to live in a Victorian home, then you might consider installing a stained glass panel in your living room. These panels will look beautiful, fit the style of an older home, and also dim the light. The particular benefit to stained glass is that they look amazing, and will add a very unique style to your home. You can also get any design you like. They will even make the exterior of the home attractive. The downside is that you will need to hire someone to come and remove a current window panel and install the new stained glass. Also, once installed they are permanent, so, unlike regular drapes, you cannot move them on a whim.

Shutters

If you don't want drapes, or stained glass, then consider shutters. These can be interior or exterior. For the purpose of blocking light, interior shutters are a bit better. They will allow air to flow through, but also block the light. Exterior shutters are better designed for the purpose of safeguarding against weather.

They work well on large homes, as well as small cottages and ranch houses.  If you have a really large home, you might to get interior shutters in the California or Plantation style shutters. These are interior shutters with wide slates. They are popular in areas with very warm climates. The slats can be opened up during the cooler parts of the day to let the air in, and lowered during the day when the sun is at its height. If you tour the large plantations down south, or some of the early style homes built in California, you will see that many have these style shutters.

The pros to using shutters is that they are sold, and once installed you don't have to worry about taking them off and cleaning them. You just dust them. They also have a lot of flexibility in the amount of light you can block. Regular curtains, beaded drapes or stained glass don't have the flexibility that interior shutters have. You can slightly adjust the slats to let in a little, a lot, or no light. They are similar to blinds, except they are more sturdy. For more information, contact a business such as Beard's Window Coverings.

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