July 22, 2021
When considering window treatments for your home or office, factors such as style, functionality, and privacy are very important. Not all window treatments provide the same level of privacy. If one of your needs is keeping prying eyes outside of your home life, choosing the right window treatment is essential. Always consider that some shades have higher or lower opacities than others, which help block light out. For rooms like bathrooms and bedrooms that require more privacy, choosing a blind with a thicker fabric can help. When shopping for window treatments, many people all struggle with this daunting task: finding the perfect balance of all. Luckily for you, we have broken it all down for you.
Types of blinds for privacy
There are three types of blinds that will provide different level of privacy: light filtering shades, blackout blinds, and a combination of blackout and light filtering. Each type of blind has its own set of pros and cons which you should consider.
Do Light filtering shades provide privacy?
If you’ve ever worked from home or ran an office out of your house, then you know that it can be hard to find the perfect balance between letting enough light into the room, reducing the glare, and maintaining some privacy. Light filtering shades, with its different opacities and openness are a simple and versatile way to enjoy the view outside while still maintaining privacy. They help reduce glare inside your home, which is especially helpful in rooms with less natural lighting like kitchens or bathrooms.
During the night, light filtering shades aren't the best solution to protect your privacy. Some shades have better opacities than others and, depending on that, when the light at home is on, and also depending on the external light conditions, people could be able to see silhouettes of people and objects from outside.
100% Privacy with Blackout Blinds and Shades
If your main concern is privacy, blackout blinds are the best solution. Blackout roller blinds are ideal for rooms that need complete privacy from the outside. These types of treatments literally block out light from inside and outside. They have a layer of fabric on them that is impenetrable by either light or objects.
Therefore, they are simply perfect not only to improve the quality of your sleep when used in the bedroom, but alsoblackout blinds work best in rooms that are facing a street or if you want just to ensure privacy fromnosy eyes.
The perfect mix of privacy and light filtering
Not all window coverings provide the same level of privacy at night, depending on the fabric and opacity, some of them let see through them at night when the light is on, while others able just to see silhouettes or block totally the view from in and out. Most of homeowners need a combination of privacy and light filtering, while having a treatment that block out the light is more needed in places such as bedroom, nursery, or media rooms. The mix of features are are given by multiple solutions:
- Zebra Shades and Sheer Shades
Sheer shades and zebra shades - also called dual shades - are one of the most ideal choices for privacy in any room. This combination of a privacy protector and light filter will allow you to enjoy your surroundings when it's light, but will also block the outside view . That is because the patterns on these shades prevents outside-prying eyes from peering inside. Sheer shades also contain two very flexible slats that can be opened as little or much as needed for optimal light control in any space.
- Venetian Blinds
Venetian Blind, wood blinds, and faux wood blinds allow to regulate the light and so the privacy. During the day the slack can be opened to let the light in, conserving some sort of privacy. During the night, when you turn your light on, you can close the slack and leave lights and the rest of the world out.
- Solar Shades paired with blackout blinds
If you don't want to renounce to any window treatment benefit, we suggest combining solar shades with blackout shades in the same window, it will work so well for your needs, and plus, if you choose the motorized option you can just program how your shades will open and close during the day and night.
Availability of Blinds for Privacy at Night
When it comes to buy the window treatments for your home and privacy is your main concern in one or more room,then look for window treatments that will block out the outside world. We recommend a blackout shade or curtain. These can be combined with sheer curtains if desired by adding them higher up than where the blackout shades go. A zebra blackout shades may also do the trick! You might want to consider this option because it will provide an elegant appearance while not costing as much as custom made blinds or shutters. Which main need will your window treatments cover? No fear,ShadeMonster ishere to help!
Why TrustShadeMonsterwith your Window Treatment?
ShadeMonster boasts over 25 years of experience creating custom window treatments. Our products come directly from our local factory guaranteeing high quality customizable materials, competitive pricing, and quick turn around. Contact us today for your free estimate, and have your new shades in less than 7 business days!
Still need help deciding on a window treatment?
ShadeMonster’s team of experts are happy to assist. Call now for free consultation:866-206-8056
FAQs
What blinds are best for night time privacy? ›
If your main concern is privacy, blackout blinds are the best solution. Blackout roller blinds are ideal for rooms that need complete privacy from the outside. These types of treatments literally block out light from inside and outside.
What blinds let light in but provide privacy? ›- Silhouette® Shadings. Hunter Douglas Silhouette® Shadings are a modern and beautiful solution to privacy and light control. ...
- Luminette® Privacy Sheers. ...
- Nantucket™ Shadings.
Light filtering shades can provide privacy for your home at night. Cellular shades come in a range of styles and fabrics, which gives you the flexibility to choose the design that works best in your home.
Do room darkening blinds provide privacy at night? ›Do room darkening shades provide privacy at night? Room darkening shades provide similar benefits to blackout shades by increasing privacy during the day and night, provide energy efficiency, thus reducing electric bills, block noise, and protect furniture and floors from sun damage.
Is there a window film you can see out but not in at night? ›Contra Vision® White 24/7 Concealed Vision™ is a one way window film that works at night. Most one-way vision films can only provide privacy during the daytime. At night the films become see-through if the inside is illuminated and blinds or curtains are needed.
What can you put on windows so you can see out but people cant see in? ›One way window film is a type of mirrored privacy window film that offers a high level of daytime privacy. The reflective finish of one way privacy window film gives the glass a one way mirror effect when there is more light on one side than the other.
What can I put on my windows so I can see out but no one can see in day and night? ›Privacy window film is a beautifully useful, versatile, and affordable product for homes. The best privacy window films are frosted window films for your bathroom, your bedroom, your kitchen, or any room, and they are most affective when no one can see inside or outside of a window at any time during the day or night.
How do I get privacy but let light in? ›- Solar Shades. Our solar shades are made for just this. ...
- Day and Night Honeycomb Shades. The Day and Night shades are perfect if you want the best of both worlds. ...
- Layering Shades with Drapes. ...
- Layering Inside and Outside Mount Blinds or Shades.
Yes, there are solar shades, that based on the weave of the shade material, you can see out of during the day and people cannot see in. The keywords here, are 'during the day'! Solar shades are designed to allow you to see out, but other's not see in, providing daytime privacy. The exact opposite is true at night!
Are light filtering blinds private? ›Light-filtering shades are made of translucent fabric that offers complete privacy, but still allows some natural light to shine through.
Can you see through vinyl blinds at night? ›
During the day, you'll twist the slats to gain privacy and light benefits. On a night, you just close the slats completely. Nobody can see through the material as most of the time you're getting vinyl, faux wood, metal, or real wood. The window coverings are affordable depending on the materials.
Can you see through 1% solar shades at night? ›While you can purchase solar shades with varying degrees of openness, which range from 1% to 17%, when lights are on indoors, people will be able to see into your home. However, at night you will not be able to see out of your home through the shades.
What do you put on windows for privacy at night? ›- Daytime privacy with reflective window film. ...
- Decorative window film. ...
- Blackout Window Film. ...
- Perforated window film. ...
- Casper cloaking film. ...
- Other options for increased privacy other than window film.
- Choose Inside Mount and Outside Mount. ...
- Try Two-Fabric Top-Down Bottom-Up Shades. ...
- Choose Privacy or Blackout Liners. ...
- Go for Stylish Roman Shades. ...
- Choose Panel Track Blinds for Patio Doors. ...
- Always Choose Custom Window Treatments.
As mentioned above, one-way mirror tint works when light on the outside of the tint is brighter than the light inside. Put differently, it works when the sun is up. This also means that, at nighttime, the film does not provide the same level of privacy.
What can I put in my window for privacy? ›- Blinds. ...
- Shades. ...
- Curtains. ...
- Window Film. ...
- Exterior Window Privacy Screens. ...
- Interior Shutters. ...
- Textured Glass (also known as Frosted Glass Windows)
Go back to basics with easy-to-install shades, blinds and curtains. Sheer curtains can inexpensively offer privacy, especially over large windows, without compromising natural daylight.
What kind of curtains give privacy at night? ›Blackout curtains are thick, so they also help soften outside noise. Blackout curtains are available in a range of colors and sizes. Since you can't see through blackout curtains at all, they increase privacy better than other curtain types.
How do you make blinds private? ›Add a Liner to Bamboo Blinds and Shades for More Privacy
The first and simplest option is getting a lining for your shades. Window blind linings come in many styles. Light-filtering liners let in some light while keeping people from being able to clearly look inside your home.
The main reason people love sheer roller blinds is that they offer a touch of privacy without blocking natural light. The blinds allow light to filter through the seams of the translucent fabric. This helps to soften the light, reducing harsh glare in rooms like home offices.
Do zebra blinds provide privacy? ›
Zebra blinds offer both light filtering and privacy protection in one roller shade. The sheer stripes provide light filtering, glare reduction, and UV protection.
Can you see through faux wood blinds at night? ›No, you can't see through faux wood blinds at night. If you were outside in the dark and there were lights on inside behind the blinds, you'd possibly be able to see some diffuse light leakage around the slats and at the sides, but that's your lot.
Can you see through honeycomb shades at night? ›When considering whether to purchase light filtering or room darkening blinds, many homeowners ask, “Can you see through light filtering blinds at night?” The answer is, thankfully, no. While onlookers may be able to make out diffuse shadows of figures crossing the room, light filtering blinds are not see-through.
What are the disadvantages of solar shades? ›Cons of Solar Shades
Let sunlight in through spaces: Even if you choose solar shades with high light protection, the gaps between the shades and frame may allow sunlight into your property. Inhibit light and airflow: The fabric used to make solar shades sometimes darkens your outdoor living space.
A shade with an openness factor of 3%-5% blocks more sun and more privacy but it will also allow less view through.
What can I put on my window so I can see out but no one can see in? ›One way window film is a type of mirrored privacy window film that offers a high level of daytime privacy. The reflective finish of one way privacy window film gives the glass a one way mirror effect when there is more light on one side than the other.
How can I keep light in but keep privacy? ›- Solar Shades. Our solar shades are made for just this. ...
- Day and Night Honeycomb Shades. The Day and Night shades are perfect if you want the best of both worlds. ...
- Layering Shades with Drapes. ...
- Layering Inside and Outside Mount Blinds or Shades.
SCREEN ROLLER BLINDS FOR AMBIENT LIGHT
During the night is a different story. If you have a light on inside, though you can't see through the blinds, people on the street will be able to see in. If there are no lights on, no-one will be able to see in or during at nighttime.
- Privacy with frosted films. Frosted window film is a film that doesn't obscure light from your room but blocks out unwanted views (either into or out of) your property. ...
- Privacy with stained glass film. ...
- Privacy with mirror films. ...
- Privacy with patterned films. ...
- Privacy with blackout film.