Sun protection products for various windows

Spring is finally here, and with the lovely spring sun comes an increased need for good sun protection. However, navigating the market's many sun protection products can be a bit of a jungle!

Today, there is a plethora of different types of windows in our homes, with varying conditions regarding the installation of sun protection products, the need for sun protection, and suitable design.

Here you will find valuable tips on sun protection products for different types of windows – whether you prefer a classic roller blind, a decorative Roman blind, a functional pleated blind, or a clever solution with vertical blinds.

The classic roller blind

A standard roller blind is a flexible and discreet sun protection solution suitable for most rooms. Most people have "standard" windows where you can choose to install the sun protection product in the recess or outside, on the wall or ceiling. How you best install it depends on your sun shading needs.

If you only want sun shading, recess mounting works well. This is an attractive way to install the roller blind, as it won't be too prominent in the window.

If, on the other hand, you want to blackout the room, it's best to mount the roller blind outside the window and choose a roller blind slightly wider than the window width. This is to minimize light leakage from the gaps that occur at the side of the fabric, as the fabric measurement itself is always slightly smaller than the roller blind's total measurement, including brackets.

Regarding the degree of sun shading, there is a wide variety of fabrics to choose from. A blackout fabric is obviously the best choice for bedrooms, while many prefer some light penetration in other rooms.

Sun protection can also reduce heat in windows where the sun often shines, and there are several ways to keep the heat out with sun protection. In the bedroom, where the heat can often be particularly disruptive during the summer months, you can opt for a roller blind with titanium fabric, which is the absolute best option for a dark and cool bedroom, as this fabric has a silver backing that reflects away the sun's rays.

A shading fabric minimizes direct sunlight without creating a confined feeling. A roller blind with screen fabric is another step towards increased light transmission as it appears transparent and is an excellent choice in rooms where you want sun protection without losing the view. If you want the best of both worlds, choose Day&Night – the fabric where you can vary the light transmission with both an open and a closed position.

The pleated blind – a trendy sun protection solution

If you're looking for a modern sun protection product that is both stylish and functional, a pleated blind might be for you.

A pleated blind can be mounted in the same way as a roller blind, but differs slightly in design. A pleated blind is often a popular choice for sun shading in kitchens and also as a privacy screen in bathrooms, where it is desirable to let in as much light as possible at the same time.

The pleated blind is characterized by its accordion-pleated fabric and is available in several different weaves. The so-called honeycomb fabric is also effective for heat reduction, where the double fabric creates a heat-insulating air gap.

In larger window sections, you often have inward-opening windows and perhaps also a balcony door that opens inwards. A regular roller blind that you mount on the wall above the window or in the window recess can then be in the way if you want to open the window/door.

With screw-free roller blinds that are mounted on the window frame itself, you can instead put a sunshade on each individual window. These models are clamped or nailed to the window frame itself, which results in the roller blind following the window when it is opened.

In some windows, sun protection products that are screwed in with traditional screw fasteners are simply not an option. This could be, for example, in a rental apartment where you are not allowed to damage the window with screw holes, or a modern house with aluminum frames around the windows that are part of the load-bearing structure and therefore cannot be screwed into. It could also be that you simply do not want to create unnecessary screw holes in the window for aesthetic reasons or want to have flexible sun protection that can be removed if the need for sun shading is not constant.

A friction-mounted sunshade that fastens by tensioning it in the window recess is a perfect alternative, as it leaves no marks on the window and can be installed and removed quickly and easily when needed. The spring-loaded mechanism has mounting plates that attach to the wall when you screw and expand the roller blind, making it just as secure as a roller blind with screw fasteners.

Some windows have a design that makes it difficult to install a sun protection product inside the recess, where, for example, a vent restricts the space.

In these cases, roman blinds can be a good choice. A roman blind is both a stylish and functional choice for sun protection, as it acts as a decorative valance in the window that you can easily raise and lower as needed. Choose a blackout roman blind, for example, in bedrooms where it is important to be able to achieve complete darkness. In these cases, it is advantageous to choose a roman blind that is wider than the window itself, to minimize light ingress from the sides. If, however, sun shading is the most important factor, you can choose a transparent or screening fabric for your roman blind. This will minimize direct sunlight without completely blocking it and losing daylight.

For really large windows, it can be difficult to find a sun protection product that is sufficient. In that case, vertical blinds are a good choice. A vertical blind consists of free-hanging, separate slats on a track where the light can be easily adjusted by tilting the slats to the desired position.

A vertical blind is also a good choice for sun protection in a conservatory or on glazed balconies, where the sun often shines and it can get very hot. Adapt the sun protection according to the weather and your wishes, and switch between open or closed positions or a combination of both. You can also completely pull a vertical blind to the side when you want to open up and enjoy the view.