What Blinds Are Best for Insulation?
Window blinds are an important part of your home’s internal space. They add a unique character and style to your home’s decor in addition to providing privacy and insulation.
But with so many types of window blinds on the market, it can be hard to decide which ones are right for your home.
In this article, we will explore the different types of window blinds on the market, and help you decide on buying blinds that are right for your home.
Window blinds do not just serve to create an elegant and sophisticated look in your home, they also insulate your home as they trap a layer of air between the fabric and the window. Blinds that are good at insulation prevent heat loss through closed windows.
However, not all blinds are great at insulation. There are certain types of blind that do the job better. In this blog, we will discuss the blinds that offer effective insulation to keep your home warm.
But before we discuss that, here’s a fun fact:
According to this study 30% of the heating and cooling costs of your home are because of air leakage from openings in places like the side of the windows, ceilings, and walls.
How do blinds insulate your home?
When you pull up the blinds during the day, sunlight warms your internal space. And in the evening when you turn off the blinds, the warm air inside cannot escape keeping your living space nice and cosy.
Best Blinds for Insulation
Roller Blinds
These are possibly the best blinds for retaining heath and maintaining room temperature. Because they are made of layers of thermal material, they are quite effective in preventing heat loss. With double glazing, they are even more efficient. Ready-made blinds may leave small gaps through which air might escape which is not good for insulation. If you want the best insulation, go for made-to-measure blinds. Since they are custom built and measured precisely, there’s no room for any gaps on the top, bottom, or sides. This makes them an excellent choice for making your home energy efficient.
Honeycomb Blind
As the name suggests, these blinds have a honeycomb pattern and are also known as cellular shades. Honeycomb blinds offer not only excellent insulation but also privacy and light control. They are made of translucent thin fabric that allows external light into the room but keeps the heat at bay. The cells in this type of blind come in different sizes. Their function is to create air pockets and reduce heat loss through convection and conduction. These blinds can significantly bring down your home’s energy costs.
Solar Blinds
Made of tightly woven sheer materials, these types of blinds are great at absorbing heat and blocking out direct sunlight. These are generally installed in sunrooms. Solar blinds are terrific at retaining heat inside the room in the winter months and are equally good at reducing room temperature in the summer. Solar blinds provide energy efficiency and reduced energy bills as their main benefits.
Vertical Blinds
If you have large windows or patio doors, vertical blinds with thermal fabric material can help you regulate your indoor temperature well. The fabric used in these blinds blocks the passage of light but allows the flow of air. This makes them ideal for rooms that get plenty of natural light. Vertical blinds are also available in different colours, patterns, sizes, and designs.
Roman Blinds
Roman blinds installed with thermal fabrics can be great at insulating your room. However, they need to be pulled down for a better effect. If you want to take it a notch up, use thermal lined curtains or drapes.
Blackout Blinds
Blackout blinds inherently provide good insulation as they block out external light completely. They also prevent heat loss considerably. Most blackout blinds come in roller design and are the most effective when they are rolled down.
Venetian Blinds
Vertical and horizontal blinds may not be the best option because of the tiny gaps between their slats that allow air to pass through. However, they may still be a good fit for your bathroom or kitchen where your insulation needs may not be too high.
Zebra Blinds
Zebra blinds are essentially roller blinds with a fabric loop that alternates solid and sheer stripes. This innovative design allows for better privacy control and insulation. Zebra blinds are available in various colours and patterns and are one of the most efficient blinds.
Thermal Blinds
Thermal blinds are specifically designed and built for superior thermal insulation. They are perfect for bedrooms. But you can install them anywhere in the house.
Blinds that are not good for Insulation
Metal and Vinyl are terrible at insulating your room. These materials are good conductors of heat and cold instead of creating them. If insulation is the primary reason why you are looking to install blinds, then you better stay away from metal and vinyl.
Are blinds better than curtains in terms of heat insulation?
Yes, blinds are surprisingly better than curtains in insulating your home. For good insulation, the window covering should be closer to the glass, and air gaps between the covering and window frame should be minute. Curtains fail miserably in this respect, compared to blinds.
How to choose the best blind for insulation?
There are many factors to consider when choosing the best blinds for insulation. The most important consideration is the climate in which you live. If you live in a cold climate, you will want to choose a blind that offers solid insulation. If you live in a hot climate, you will want to choose a blind that is made of a light material that will allow air to circulate.
Other factors to consider when choosing the include:
- The size of your home
- Your budget
- The kind of window treatment you prefer
- The amount of natural light that enters your room
- Whether you need privacy or light control
- The style of window you have
Other Window Coverings for Insulation
Plantation shutters
In addition to blinds, installing plantation shutters are a great way to improve your home’s insulation. They not only look elegant but also provide an extra layer of insulation between the window and your home’s interior for better temperature control. Since shutters are installed tightly to the window frame, they have smaller gaps in comparison to other types of window treatments.
If you want to know more about plantation shutters, we’d be happy to answer your questions.
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Conclusion
If you want your home to be comfortable throughout the year, you need to insulate it against the elements. And a great way to improve the insulation in your home is with blinds. Make sure you install only blinds that are known to have insulation properties.
Moreover, be certain that you purchase your blinds from a reputed manufacturer that has been offering quality products for years
FAQs
Do honeycomb shades really insulate?
Yes, the air pockets in honeycomb blinds function as excellent insulators. These pockets of air minimise the conduction of heat through the window.
Are Venetian blinds good for insulation?
The slats in Venetian blinds let air come in making it ineffective at insulating the room. In general, Venetian blinds aren’t as good as roman or roller blinds in heat or cold insulation.
Should blinds be open or closed in winter?
As a general rule of thumb, blinds should be closed during winter to prevent heat loss.
Do blinds keep out the cold?
Yes, certain types of blinds are very effective at keeping out the cold. These include roller blinds and honeycomb blinds.