When the August sun arrives, a bright home can quickly become an uncomfortably warm one. Large windows, south-facing rooms and conservatories are fantastic for natural light, but they can also allow heat and glare to build throughout the day.
The answer doesn’t necessarily have to be shutting out the sunshine altogether. With the right window coverings, you can manage the amount of light entering your home while creating a cooler, more comfortable environment.
Here are some practical ways to strike the right balance.
Control the sunlight before your room gets too warm
One of the simplest ways to manage a hot room is to think about your blinds before the temperature peaks.
Closing or partially closing blinds on windows receiving direct sunlight can help reduce the amount of solar heat entering the room. Once the sun moves away, you can adjust them again to let more natural light in.
This is where adjustable window coverings can be particularly useful.
Brighton Sunblinds’ range of Venetian blinds, for example, allows you to adjust the angle of the slats, helping you control light and privacy without necessarily blocking the window completely.
Choose blinds that give you flexible light control
Not every room needs to be completely shaded.
For living rooms, kitchens and home offices, you may want to reduce harsh sunlight while retaining a bright and airy atmosphere.
Vision blinds, sometimes known as Day & Night blinds, are designed to offer control over both light and privacy. Brighton Sunblinds specifically positions Vision and Day & Night blinds around this flexibility.
Roller blinds can also provide a simple solution, with different fabrics and finishes available depending on the level of shading and privacy required.
Explore Brighton Sunblinds’ full range of made-to-measure blinds to compare the options available.
Think about the direction your windows face
Different rooms can require different solutions.
A south-facing living room may experience prolonged sunshine throughout the day, while west-facing windows can become particularly warm during the late afternoon and evening.
Rather than choosing the same blind throughout your home, consider:
- How much direct sunlight each room receives
- When the room tends to become warm
- How much privacy you need
- Whether you want to retain a view outside
- How frequently you’ll adjust the blinds
A made-to-measure approach means you can choose a solution based on how each room is actually used.
Don’t forget external shading
Sometimes the most effective approach is to create shade outside the window.
An awning or canopy can provide shade for a patio or garden while also reducing the amount of direct sunlight reaching windows and doors.
Brighton Sunblinds’ made-to-measure awnings are available in manual and motorised options, and the company notes that external shading can help keep indoor spaces cooler during summer.
That can make them particularly worth considering for rooms opening directly onto sunny patios or gardens.
Consider automated blinds
If certain rooms become warm at predictable times every day, you may also want to consider motorised blinds.
Rather than manually adjusting several blinds throughout the day, motorisation allows them to be raised or lowered at the touch of a button. Brighton Sunblinds offers motorised options across roller, Roman, Venetian, pleated and Vision blinds.
They’re particularly useful for large windows or hard-to-reach areas.
Find the right summer blinds for your home
There’s no single blind that’s right for every sunny room. The best solution depends on the direction of your windows, how you use the space and how much light, privacy and shade you want.
Brighton Sunblinds has been helping homeowners across Brighton, Hove and Sussex find the right window coverings for over 50 years.
You can visit the Brighton showroom to explore different fabrics and designs, or book a free home consultation to discuss the most suitable option for your home. Brighton Sunblinds also offers a free measuring and consultation service across Brighton and surrounding areas.