Learning about the different types of skylight blinds available can help you to improve the benefits that skylights provide in your home. One of the primary reasons why skylights are installed in homes is to lighten up dark rooms, and this can improve function and ambiance in the space. These are often highly desirable additions to many homes, but the reality is that there are times when you may not want the room to be brilliantly bright. You may want to minimize or eliminate the light from the skylight, or you may want to block heat or UV rays in some cases. Many homeowners will install skylight blinds for these reasons, and there are different types of skylight blinds to meet different needs.
Sun Blocking Skylight Blinds
One of the most common types of skylight blinds available is a sun-blocking style, according to Hunter-Douglas. There are different versions of these available, and most are motorized or accessed through a remote control. They often do not feature a partial-blocking option, such as with tilting blinds. When the blinds are closed, they may block the majority of the sunlight. When they are open, full sunlight will stream through the windows. These can block heat and UV rays as well.
Cellular Shades
When learning about the different types of skylight blinds available, you may also learn about pleated or cellular shades. When these blinds are drawn, they typically will partially block the sunlight. This means that a significant amount of heat and UV rays will be blocked by the shades, but a limited amount of diffused light may come in through the windows, according to Home Tips. They can soften the light and can improve ambiance in many cases, but they will not fully block the sun or darken the room.
Venetian Blinds
Just as there are Venetian blinds for your other windows, there are also Venetian blinds for your skylight windows. These can be fully opened or closed, and the slats can also be rotated. Adjusting the angle of the slats can partially block the light, and it can also angle the direction of the light. Depending on the material that is used to make these, they may have significant sun-blocking benefits when they are fully closed.
Making the Right Decision
If you are thinking about investing in skylight blinds, it is important to understand the different types of skylight blinds as well as their features and benefits. You should consider what you want to accomplish by installing the blinds. For example, you may want to block all of the sunlight, or you simply may want to mute or buffer the intensity of the light without blacking out the space. In addition, consider the style of the room and the impact that your style selection will have on room décor. While these are overhead features in your room, the blinds will nonetheless be noticeable and will affect the style and ambiance.
Related Resource: When To Use a Curb-Mounted Skylight
While you may love the fact that skylights bring natural sunlight into darker rooms in your home, you may also want to have greater control over the light and heat from the window. By understand what the different types of skylights are and the benefits that each one can provide to you, you may discover that one particular style is more beneficial to you than others.
