Huge windows are in and for good reason. You can’t beat looking out over a beautiful landscape, or all the natural light flooding your living room. The downside is that the glass is a conductor for lots of heat, turning your home into a sauna. Reducing the heat in your home will also promote energy savings, due to causing less work for your air conditioner. This is great for both your utility bills and the environment. Luckily, there are multiple options to keep your windows low-heat. These options are usually all available to be custom made to suit your home and lifestyle at best as possible.
Blinds
Window blinds are perhaps the most classic option and they are relatively cheap. They can be installed both externally and internally, and can block heat from reaching the room. They might even be most effective when external. If they are a heat-reflecting color, like white or near-white, they will work even better.
Shades
Shades are some of the simplest window treatments and can be very effective. The closer to the window the fabric is installed, the better it absorbs the heat before hitting your home. Shades come in a wide variety of styles, and can also have a “blackout” factor if removing light is also important to you. They can be a beautiful addition to the aesthetic of a room if chosen tastefully.
Heat-control window film
There are many varieties of window film that can be stuck into your window in order to reduce heat. Some of them are tinted, but some are relatively transparent. This is a great solution if you want to block the heat and enjoy the view and light at the same time. It also isn’t terribly expensive. The downside is that it is difficult to remove and you may have to deal with a tint.
Shutters
Shutters work similarly to blinds. They also have the added bonus of weather protection. They are usually installed outside of the home, which means they can add decoration to the exterior while not taking space in the interior.
