If you’re lucky enough to have a sunroom in your home, the thought of blocking out the sun and letting less light inside may seem counterintuitive. Stick with us, though, because there are several very valid reasons for controlling the amount of light inside your sunroom, both during the day, and at night.
While sunrooms are designed to allow people to enjoy the warmth and the light from the sun, in the comfort of their own homes, too much sunlight can come with its own risks. Not only can fierce sunlight in the summer become unbearably hot, it can also cause furniture, ornaments, and decorations to fade, plus it can be difficult to watch TV or read your screen due to the glare.
One of the simplest ways of controlling the amount of light within your sunroom, is by installing sunroom blinds or shades. With so many designs to choose from, however, finding the right blinds or shades is easier said than done.
To help make life that little bit easier for you, here is a look at sunroom blind and shade adjustment for optimal light control.
Adding Light to Your Sunroom
Harnessing the natural power of the sun is all well and good when it comes to sunrooms, but what about at nighttime, in bad weather, or during the winter when it’s often grey, murky, and dark virtually all day? That is what lighting is for.
Here are a few useful tips for those of you looking to add light to your sunrooms.
LED Roof Panel Lighting
If your sunroom is in desperate need of more light, LED roof panel lighting is a great solution.
LED roof panel lighting requires LED lights to be integrated into the panels of your sunroom’s roof. You can have them installed so that they’re visible, or alternatively you can have them hidden from view, giving the illusion of natural light when they’re switched on.
LEDs are the better option as they give a more natural light, plus they are incredibly energy efficient, making them great for your bank account, and the environment.
Corner Lamps
If you want a more subtle light for your sunroom, corner lamps are a great option.
Corner lamps offer a softer, more subtle light source and are great for relaxing in an evening, or curling up in your sunroom with a good book as the sun begins to set.
Corner lamps are great because they’re free-standing and portable, so you can put them in the most convenient spot for you, providing they have a power supply of course. Not only that, but you have so many styles and designs to choose from so you can select ones that match the existing décor of your sunroom.
Hanging Lights
Hanging lights are great for those of you who are planning on spending a lot of time in your sunroom in the evening, or during periods of dark and gloomy weather.
As the name implies, hanging lights are installed in the ceiling of your sunroom and hang freely. You can choose a number of styles and designs, including decorative chandeliers for a really grand finish. Just be aware, that hanging lights require a great deal more planning than, say, corner lamps.
Hanging lights take up more space in the room so you need to be aware of that when it comes to tall furniture, or tall people in general. Because there is more wiring required, it’s also best to have them installed before you furnish your sunroom, as they are controlled via the mains, instead of electrical outlets.
Candles
Finally, for a more rustic look and feel, candles offer a gentle warming glow that really helps to set the ambience.
For a really relaxing experience you could opt for scented candles that smell wonderful as they burn and give off plenty of light. If you are concerned about the risks of burning real candles, why not opt for LED battery operated candles instead?
Sunroom Blinds and Shades
Okay, we’ve looked at ways of adding more light to your sunroom when the sun isn’t around, but what about on days when the sun is too bright? Well, in this case, you’ll need sunroom blinds and shades instead.
Motorized Shades or Blinds
Motorized shades are quickly becoming the gold-standard when it comes to sunroom shading, for a host of different reasons.
To begin with, as they are motorized, they don’t need to be manually operated in the same way as shades or blinds with a cord. You don’t need to pull on the cords to move the shades or blinds up and down, you just press a button or give a command.
From a safety perspective, cordless shades and blinds are also proving hugely popular. As there is no dangling cord there are no risks or hazards, especially for children and animals. No cord means no risk of strangulation, or getting tangled, plus it helps neaten the room up.
Light Shades or Blinds
As the name suggests, light blinds, or light shades, are made from light colored material. They come in colors such as white, beige, cream, or grey and are designed to help keep sunrooms nice and cool during periods of hot weather.
Because of their light color, these particular shades reflect the sun’s energy away from your sunroom, rather than allowing it to flood inside. This in turn helps to keep the inside of your sunroom cooler.
Of course, because they’re a light color they do let plenty of light in, which can be tricky if you’re trying to watch TV, do some work on your laptop, or scroll through your phone.
Dark Shades or Blinds
If you’re looking for a way of making the inside of your sunroom darker on bright and sunny days, and you don’t mind a little extra heat, dark shades or blinds are the way to go.
Dark colored shades or blinds come in colors such as dark grey, charcoal, or black. They basically serve as sunglasses for the windows of your sunroom. Their primary objective is to allow less light into the room, soaking up bright sunlight, and reduce reflections so you can see screens easier when the sun is bright.
The main downside to dark shades or blinds is the fact that they absorb more heat from the sun, so they will make the inside of your sunroom warmer, especially when it’s sunny. In the winter however, this can actually feel very pleasant.
