Do Solar Shades Provide Privacy at Night?
Hawaii enjoys over 271 sunny days per year, which is one reason so many Kaloko Shutter & Blind customers come in asking us about solar shades. These window coverings let homeowners enjoy outdoor views while protecting their interiors from UV damage and glare; they also provide daytime privacy.
But what about solar shades at night – do they have the same effect? That’s a great question, and we’ll start the answer by clarifying exactly what these shades are.
What Are Solar Shades for Windows?
The science behind solar shades is quite interesting! They are made from a continuous length of mesh screen fabric with tiny holes that let some light through. The amount of light depends on the openness factor, indicating how tight the weave is. For instance, a 1% shade has a tighter weave that blocks more light and gives you more privacy during the day. A 14% shade has a looser weave, so you get clearer views and more natural light.
These fabrics filter bright sunlight while still letting you see outside. Unlike blackout shades that turn a room completely dark, solar shades reduce glare and heat while preserving views.
What Are Solar Shades for Windows Really Designed to Do?
Solar shades tackle daytime sun problems. They eliminate glare on computer screens, reduce your cooling bills by blocking heat, and stop UV rays from bleaching hardwood floors and fading photos.
Solar shades are well-suited for home offices, large windows in living rooms, and sunrooms where you want light and heat control without losing your view. You get to look out at your yard or street; your neighbors and delivery people won’t be able to see inside your home during the day.
What About Nighttime Privacy?
Here's the thing about solar shades at night. When darkness falls, and you switch on your lamps, that view-preserving fabric behaves differently than during the day. The more open your shade, the more visible it becomes to anyone outside in the dark, depending on how close they are.
This isn't a design flaw; it’s just how solar shades work. At night, your home becomes the bright spot as the world outside goes dark. The open weave fabric that filters the sun now lets light pass through in the opposite direction, turning your windows into backlit screens.
Making Solar Shades Work for You at Night
Plenty of Hawaiian homeowners have solar shades and an added privacy layer for nighttime. We feature Hunter Douglas Designer Solar Shades offer a solution for when you want to block light or views from outside:
- Duolite® or Dual Roller Design: These enhancements are additional levels of protection. Duolite® and dual roller features two roller fabrics on one shade; one positioned in front of the other. We’ll help you select a light-blocking fabric for the front and a Designer Screen fabric for the back shade. Each shade operates independently, giving you flexible light control and privacy.
- Custom Drapery: Add fabric panels with a privacy or blackout lining that you can pull closed at night. Custom drapery gives you a softer, elegant profile — draw them closed to protect your privacy at night. We’ll help you select materials that complement your solar shades.
Let’s Design Your Day-to-Night Window Treatment Solution
Our talented team can demonstrate solar shade options or others that might work for you space. Visit our showroom or contact us for a consultation in Kailua-Kona, Waikoloa, Mauna Lani, Mauna Kea, Kohala, Waimea, Kamuela, Hualalai, Holualoa, Captain Cook, or Kealakekua, HI.