Understanding the difference between translucent, sunscreen and blockout blinds

 When you are moving, decorating or renovating it is an exciting time as you make choices about design, decorating and window treatments. Sometimes it is hard to know what designer blinds would best meet your needs, especially when you are considering issues such as light-blocking, privacy, sound, and so on. A decade or so ago this would have been less of an issue as there was less choice, but now as things progress and develop we are fortunate to have a lot more options, but that means having to make a lot more decisions! The window treatments you choose have a big impact on how well a room works and also how good it looks! Here is a look at three options, translucent blinds, blockout (also known as blackout) and sunscreen blinds.

Blockout blinds

The great thing about any blockout window treatment is that the material is designed to completely block out the light and they are also good at blocking out sound. You can keep a room completely darkened and quiet even on a busy street in the broad daylight. If you need a space like this during the day for you or a child or older parent to nap, or you want to create a perfect room for watching movies, or you want to have complete privacy for a bathroom, blockout blinds are a perfect option. With some examples that have a high UPF rating, you can also enjoy a cooler room in the summer and a warmer room in the winter. This saves you on your heating and cooling bills.

Translucent blinds (sometimes referred to as light filtering blinds)

Translucent blinds are designed using a material that is very tightly woven so that they filter the light coming in and soften it adding to the ambiance of the room. They still stop people looking in though, while they might let in some light they do not prevent privacy when you want it. This of course means you cannot see out of them either. However, at night your silhouette is visible from the outside when you turn on the lights. These designer blinds can also come with a high UPF rating to reduce how much heat gets in and are good for handling glare issues. Often people use light filtering blinds in dining rooms, living rooms and kitchens though they are not limited as such.

Sunscreen blinds

These blinds are also known as mesh, transparent or sheer blinds. The specially designed mesh allows in a lot more light than other blind types but still gives protection from sun rays and glare. They give you some privacy but you can see out of them and enjoy the view. It means for rooms where you would require privacy especially at night like a bedroom or bathroom this is not the best option unless you use them in a dual set up with another kind of window treatment behind them to add in that privacy effect.