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Advice, inspiration, tips and tricks for the perfect blinds, curtains, and shutters.

Sleek white kitchen with flowers on the bench and white light filter roller blind.
M
January 24, 2023
Blog Blinds Fabrics

What's the difference between Sunscreen and Light Filter roller blind fabrics?

If you’ve ever wondered what the difference is between Sunscreen Roller Blinds and Light Filter Roller Blinds, you’re not alone.

Sometimes knowing which fabric is right for you, and for your windows, can be a little tricky. We've broken down the main points of difference between the two, to hopefully make your decision easier.  

Sunscreen Roller Blind fabrics

Sunscreen fabrics enable you to retain your view of the outside, allow in natural light and at the same time provide daytime privacy. They excel in controlling the glare entering your room, and with an approximate 95% UV blockage they offer protection for your furniture and flooring from sun damage. With energy-efficient insulation properties, sunscreen blinds are ideal for helping to keep your rooms cooler in summer and warmer in winter. 

Light colours will reflect the light and heat whilst maximising the brightness of your space. Darker colours offer excellent visibility from inside to out and tend to be a little easier on the eye as they absorb the light and heat (though they may make the room feel a bit warmer than light colours will as a result). Keep these factors in mind when choosing which colour is best for you and your interior.

We recommend:
  • Pairing your sunscreen blind with a blockout roller blind for nighttime privacy.
  • Installing sunscreen blinds behind a blockout curtain for the ultimate in light control, like in this picture below.
  • Sunscreen blinds are ideal for both living and bedrooms, providing daytime privacy and softened light.

Bedroom with side table and sunscreen blind and blockout curtain on the window. 

Light Filter Roller Blind fabrics

Light Filtering fabrics gently diffuse and soften the light, whilst ensuring both day and night time privacy - meaning you can enjoy the best of both worlds at the same time.  Also known as translucent blinds, they are designed to block the view from outside in and vice-versa - so are ideal if you need privacy from a street-facing window, or to hide a not-so-perfect view. With their insulation properties, they can also assist in the energy efficiency of your home, helping to retain warmth in winter and keep out the heat in summer. 

Choosing a lighter colour fabric will maximise the natural light coming into your space - think of using these colours in living spaces and bathrooms where you really want to keep things as light and bright as possible. In contrast to this, using darker colours will absorb more light therefore darkening the interior, making them ideal for theatre rooms or bedrooms. 

We recommend:
  • Light Filter fabrics are a great option if you only have space to install one roller blind.
  • They are great for bathrooms - providing privacy whilst retaining natural light.
  • Try our top-selling Palm Beach Light Filter fabric or our new Linesque Light Filter for a gorgeous, decorative finish to your room. 

Open plan living space with brown couch and light filter roller blinds on the siding door and window. 

How to choose the right colour blind for your room

Choosing the right fabric isn't the only decision you'll need to make, choosing the right colour is often more important! We've given you some tips above about colour choice, but we'll go into a bit more detail for you. 
When choosing colours, many of us only consider how they will fit with our interior schemes. But what is just as important to think about, is the way colour works in a practical sense. You need to have a good think about your interior, and the natural light you have available to you. 

Light colours

Lighter colours will reflect the light and heat whilst maximising the brightness of your space. If your room doesn't have much natural light and tends to be on the darker side as a result, choosing a light colour will make it feel a bit brighter. Alternatively, if your room receives heaps of direct natural light and is quite bright during the day, you might want to reduce the glare a bit. Choosing a mid-tone to darker-toned fabric will help you do this, making it easier on the eyes, and the blind will also be easier to see through as it absorbs the light rather than reflecting it.  

Sleek white kitchen with flowers on the bench and white light filter roller blind.

Dark colours

Darker colours absorb light, therefore reducing glare and softening the light-levels you receive. If your room is on the dark side already, be wary of installing a darker-coloured blind as you could risk reducing the natural light your room receives even further. Whilst this might be ideal for theatre rooms or the bedroom of a shift-worker, it could spell disaster for a living space or kitchen. Installing a lighter-coloured blind in these darker rooms will help to brighten and lighten them, and might be what you're looking for. 

New home with black roller blinds on windows and sliding doors in the corner.

We hope that clears it up a little and assists you in deciding which fabric will be best for your home.

What next?

If you’re in need of some inspiration, visit our gallery or Instagram page for ideas and real-life photos from our customers.  Once you’ve decided which product you prefer, make use of our free fabric samples. They will allow you to see and feel the fabrics before selecting the one you like best.

So, if you've got a home that could benefit from a refresh, let us help you! The DIY process is easy to follow, and it will make a world of difference to your home, we promise.

Need some help? You can either Contact our customer service team or book in a free design consultation with me.

 

Thanks for reading!
Cheers, 

Mike Gubby. 

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