• Julia Nilstål
Summer is finally here and most of us are probably hoping for many sunny days. Sunshine and warmth are all well and good, but don't we prefer to enjoy them outdoors?
Tossing and turning in a too-warm bedroom, or not being able to rest from the sun for a while in a cool living room, is rarely optimal. Strong sun shining through our windows can also lead to more than just heat. The strong sunbeams bleach our furniture and decor, and constant exposure to strong sunlight causes upholstery that was once colorful and fresh to become faded and dull much more quickly.
Fortunately, there are several different ways and smart products that help you regulate both heat and sun exposure. Our homes and windows vary in style and function, and traditional blinds can feel a bit impersonal, and are also an optional extra not included in many new homes.
Here we show 4 different ways to prepare your windows for summer, where both function and style are in focus!
The flexible hotel style
Double hotel curtains are as stylish as they are functional, and this hot hotel trend is here to stay when it comes to home decor.
The innermost layer of curtains usually consists of thinner, sheer curtains that protect against both curious glances and direct sunlight, without blocking out the lovely daylight. In the evening, you simply draw the outer layer of heavier, thicker curtains and open them just as easily again in the morning!
In bedrooms, blackout curtains are often preferred, but the hotel trend works just as well in other rooms of the home. Perhaps stylish, screening curtains with a trendy linen feel are enough to draw in the living room when bright evenings cause glare on the TV?
It's also common to choose double hotel curtains simply because they look so incredibly good! In these cases, less fabric is needed for the outer curtains as they don't need to be able to cover the entire window.
Combine design and function
Sheer curtains in a single layer create an airy feel, and in some rooms, this may seem like the best option. Choose a track that spans the entire window section to easily draw the curtains when needed to reduce visibility and strong sunlight. Sheer curtains soften the room without dominating and are a simple way to enhance the cozy feeling in a minimalist interior.
However, in the bedroom, there is often a need for blackout, even if we want to opt for lighter curtains. A standard, blackout roller blind can be easily lowered at night and is a discreet detail that rarely disturbs the decor during the day when rolled up.
If the sun is strong, it can sometimes be nice to be able to lower the sun protection a bit without covering the entire window, and in that case, a Roman blind is a stylish alternative. A blackout Roman blind fulfills its function of blocking out light at bedtime but also becomes a chic interior detail that works perfectly to combine with sheer or thin curtains!
Block out the heat – keep the view
There can be several reasons for not choosing traditional curtains in your home. Perhaps you want to cover as little as possible of your stylish windows, perhaps it's not the most practical option with small children, or perhaps the interior design or furniture simply doesn't work with curtains.
A screen roller blind is a stylish, practical, and effective alternative for blocking out heat and sunlight. Even when we want to spend time indoors, a blackout blind can sometimes give a confined feeling that isn't ideal during our waking hours. A screen roller blind has a transparent fabric that allows you to enjoy the beautiful summer view while simultaneously reducing both heat and sunlight. It also provides privacy, meaning it is only transparent from the inside – from the outside, it works excellently as a privacy screen during daylight hours.
Sleep well in a dark and cool bedroom
Sometimes, function is simply the most important thing. Even the most sun-worshipping person has probably, at some point, tossed and turned in tangled, sweaty sheets during a heatwave, unable to fall asleep.
Choose a roller blind with a silver backing for optimal heat reduction. Regular roller blinds absorb some heat, which in turn spreads into the room. A roller blind with a silver backing reflects away a large portion of the sun's rays, effectively reducing heat. A roller blind with a silver backing is also completely blackout, so you can sleep soundly in a cool and dark bedroom – even when you want to have a good lie-in and stay in bed long after the sun has started to warm up.