While a bright, sun-filled home sounds like paradise, there are times when too much sun is too much of a good thing. Hot bright sun flooding through your windows can overheat a room, straining the air conditioning system and ramping up your energy bill. It can also cause fading in flooring, fabrics, wallpaper and artwork. While you may worship the sun, you’ll be glad to know that there are window treatments that can help you tame the fiery orb.

Sun Blocking, Room-Darkening Curtains
Room-darkening curtains are one solution to block the sun; they are made of heavyweight material that blocks the rays of the sun and the amount of heat entering the home. When the temperatures soar outside, room-darkening curtains can keep a home cool and inviting; they’ll also make things easier on your air conditioning system.

Light-filtering curtains are different from room-darkening curtains. The light-filtering variety work well when some light is desired in a room, but they do not effectively block out heat or light. Check the product label to be sure that the curtains are specifically room-darkening; while they are more expensive than regular curtains, they have greater ability to block the sun and will be effective at keeping your home cool and comfortable.

Stylish Shutters
Shutters are a beautiful choice in window treatments, and though they can be expensive, they provide great sun-blocking ability and add beauty and richness to any room. Their superior sun-blocking ability makes shutters very popular in the southwestern region of the country where hot sun can actually damage interior features and furnishings. Shutters can be made-to-order or purchased in pre-designed kits; although the made-to-order variety provide the most professional look.

Shutters are typically made from wood or wood composite and they can be painted or stained to blend with any decor. They can also be built to fit any size or shape of window. Be sure to shop around if you are considering shutters, because you will find a great deal of variance in price from one manufacturer or store to another.

Versatile Blinds
A very traditional and very versatile window treatment, blinds are an excellent choice for blocking out bright midday sun. You can find blinds in room-darkening styles that block the sun and keep cool air inside. One of the best features of blinds is that you can position them as desired to let in as little or as much light as you desire. Blinds come in horizontal or Venetian styles or vertical styles, which are often chosen for sliding glass doors because they can be easily pulled to one side to allow passage through the door. They come in real wood, wood composite, metal and plastic, although real wood or wood composite blinds provide the richest look and best light blocking ability. You can find them in virtually any color or finish imaginable.

In the final analysis, any of these options – room-darkening curtains, blinds or shutters – will work efficiently to block out unwanted sun and heat. Research products and options carefully, then choose the product that matches your needs, budget and style.

Author Bio: Alyssa Davis is a staff writer and decorating specialist with Metal-Wall-Art.com and she offers stylish suggestions for decorating with tiger metal wall hangings and tropical fish wall hangings.

Category: Home Management
Keywords: home, decor, design, wall art, improvement, remodel, budget, repair, organize, feng shui, clean