Heavier fabrics will typically offer slightly better thermal performance, but roller and roman shades offer only a small amount of insulation and are most effective for privacy, room darkening, and blocking sunlight.
Honeycomb blinds have been proven by Glasgow Caledonian University to be more efficient at preventing heat loss than heavy curtains. Where heavy curtains can reduce heat loss by 39%, honeycomb blinds were found to reduce heat loss via single glazing by a massive 60%.
Generally, roller blinds don't insulate a window as well as thick curtains, but both curtains and roller blinds insulate a window to a degree, and help to keep heat in the room.
Properly fitted roller blinds can snugly cover the window frame, minimising the escape of warm air and blocking cold air from entering.
Cover Those Windows
Windows can account for 10% – 25% of heat loss in a home, so uncovered windows are an automatic source of wasted energy resources. Wood blinds, vertical blinds, roller or roman shades will all act as a mild barrier to the assertive low temperatures seeping in through your windows.
About 30% of a home's heating energy is lost through windows. In cooling seasons, about 76% of sunlight that falls on standard double-pane windows enters to become heat. Window coverings can help with this loss of energy by providing comfort, regulating temperatures, and lowering energy bills.
If you need the best blackout light control and privacy, such as in a bedroom, go for blackout Drapery. However, if easy control of your light and privacy is preferred, and you don't require the best room darkening effect, Blinds can be a good choice as their tiltable slats make control a breeze.
Thermal honeycomb blinds
Duette blinds, also known as honeycomb, pleated or cellular blinds, are specially designed to boost the thermal efficiency of your windows. The blinds trap small pockets of air in their unique honeycomb design which creates an insulating layer between your room and the window.
Roller blinds might not have superpowers, but they do an excellent job of insulating your home. Thanks to their close fit to the window, they create an additional layer that helps to trap air between the fabric and the glass.
Size of the Room
Full-length curtains are best suited for spacious rooms while blinds are a better option for compact spaces and other moisture-laden areas like the bathroom and kitchen.
If you are looking for durability, affordability, and easy maintenance, vinyl roller shades may be the best fit for you. However, if style, customization, and light control are your top priorities, then fabric roller shades might be the ideal choice.
Thermal Motorised Blinds are available in Roller and Roman styles. For Thermal Roman Blinds, select blackout lining (at no extra cost) before adding the blind to your shopping basket.
Coverings and shading
External shading is much more effective at keeping your home cool than internal blinds or curtains, as it stops the heat reaching the glass, but using both external and internal window coverings will provide maximum protection.
Fabric blinds are the most effective at keeping the cold out. Venetian blinds with slats, for example, are better for the summer because they allow heat to escape between the slats. Honeycomb blinds are a form of fabric roller blind that works well as both an insulator and a sun blocker.
Roller blinds make a considerable difference to your homes insultation. They keep it cozy and warm in the winter, and block the scorching heat out in summer – all without extortionate electricity bills.
Versatile roller shades are available in a wide variety of patterns and light-filtering options from translucent to black-out. Their R-value will vary according to the style chosen, but the Cornell study cited above found their R-value ranges from 1.3 to 1.8.
People often assume that curtains offer the best insulation for your windows, but various studies have shown that timber shutters and even blinds, when fitted properly to windows can offer significantly greater heat loss prevention than curtains, improving the U-value of your home.
What type of blind is best for insulation? Roller or Roman blinds can have a thermal option (Romans are best). We do not recommend Vertical or Venetian Blinds as gaps between the slats allow cold air through faster than a thick fabric.
Like double glazing, honeycomb blinds have air pockets in them which forms barrier for increased insulation and energy efficiency. For keeping your home warm they're possibly the best option.
Because blinds require slats to function, heat can easily escape through the slats. Whereas, curtains don't require slats so heat is easily maintained. The thicker the curtain is the more insulated they are. However, in summer, blinds are better than curtains for energy efficiency.
That said, Stewart does embrace a curtain cousin. According to a House Beautiful article about Stewart's Antiques & Garden Show presentation, the media mogul admitted that she often deploys window valances when they suit the home's architectural and interior design styles.
Do you need curtains if you have wooden blinds on their own? No, you don't need curtains with blinds for any functional or aesthetic reasons; certainly not in the same way that most of us would say that you'd need curtains or blinds as well as a voile or net at the window.
Blinds have a much more stylish, classic look to them – Roman Blinds in particular look chic in a living room. For open plan lounge and living areas, wider blinds work wonders.