The effectiveness of curtains vs. blinds in cooling a room depends on their material and design. Heavy, lined curtains can be more effective than blinds in blocking heat, but certain types of blinds, like cellular shades, are also highly effective.
Blinds Versus Curtains
In general, curtains are better for retaining heat in the home. However, by choosing a thermal blind you can reduce heat loss from your home by 20-40%, while thermal curtains reduce heat loss by just 25%-30%.
If your window is exposed to direct sunlight during the day, it may benefit more from a blind that can block out the heat and glare, whereas a window in a colder area may benefit more from curtains that provide greater insulation.
In the winter, heavy curtains slow heat loss. If they are dark they will absorb sunlight & add extra heat. In the summer, heavy curtains slow heat gain. If they are light they will reflect sunlight & help keep the house cooler.
Yes, keeping blinds closed can help keep heat out, particularly during hot weather. Here's how it works: Insulation: Closed blinds can act as an insulating barrier, reducing the amount of heat that enters your home from sunlight. This is especially effective if the blinds are made of thicker materials.
Sunbrella fabrics range in weight, but thicker options like Alma, a heavyweight-linen-like material, and Velarte, a durable canvas, are great choices for curtains to keep heat out.
Smart Home Cooling Tips. Close your blinds and curtains. Keeping your blinds closed during the day will reflect a surprising amount of heat radiating in through windows, especially during the time of day when the sun's rays shine directly on your home.
Increase the Shade
You'll want to do what you can to block UV rays from entering a sun-facing room. Adding window treatments is one of the easiest ways to keep sunlight from heating your living space. Curtains or drapes with a reflective or light-colored backing would do the best job since they won't absorb extra heat.
Blinds have a space-saving design that allows them to be hung inside most window casements. That provides more room for furniture and allows people to move freely about the room. It also provides a clean look.
Blinds in Bristol
Blackout blinds do more than just block out light—they can also help make a room warmer. Their ability to insulate against cold in the winter and keep heat out during the summer makes them a versatile choice for improving home comfort.
Cellular shades are the most insulating shades on the market. They're available in a variety of styles, from traditional honeycomb to cellular shades that combine the look of a roller shade with a cellular shade.
When completely closed, highly reflective blinds can reduce heat gain by around 45 percent, says the DOE. They can also be adjusted to block and reflect direct sunlight onto a light-colored ceiling, which diffuses the light without much heat or glare.
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.
Louvered Blinds
Window blinds—vertical (Venetian blinds) or horizontal slat-type (louvered-type)—are effective at reducing summer heat gain and reducing glare, while providing good daylight indoors.
Aid in Better Sleep
A dark room is key to getting a good night's sleep, and closing your blinds or curtains at night can help achieve that. Darkness prompts the body to produce melatonin, a hormone that regulates sleep cycles.
Linen and cotton curtains are two natural fiber options known for their breathability and cooling properties. Both linen and cotton curtains allow air to circulate while blocking sunlight, allowing your room to stay cool and airy.
Thermal Roller Blinds are a simple kind to go with, constructed with multiple layers of thermal material, these pull-down blinds are an easy way of retaining heat in the room. Thermal blinds are also available as Roman Blinds, Insulated Blinds, Skylight Window Blinds and Vertical Blinds.
Blackout curtains and shades will reduce the amount of heat which is transferred via your windows by as much as 24 percent, keeping the rooms where they're installed cooler in summer and warmer in winter. This will allow you to use your heating and cooling system more efficiently and save energy.
On hot days, tilt the blinds upward toward the ceiling to block heat from the sun – this simple action can reduce heat gain by up to 45 percent. On cool days, open the blinds completely or tilt them downward toward the floor to allow heat from the sun into the room. Close the blinds at night to prevent heat loss.
Insulation: Blinds act as a layer of insulation for your windows. When closed, they create a barrier between the glass and the room, preventing heat transfer. This insulation effect can help maintain cooler temperatures inside, especially during the hottest parts of the day.
Blackout Blinds As Solar Shade
By blocking the light from entering a room, they effectively deflect the heat, keeping the space cooler during hot summer days. You might have heard of cheaper, DIY solutions to this – like tin foiling your blinds.