Skylights provide rooms with a brighter, more open and airy feeling beyond what standard windows can offer. But like standard windows, harsh summer rays often stream in through skylights, overheating a space; they can also let cold air in during winter. Direct sunlight and glare pose potential snags, too (think afternoon napping or movie binging).
Window treatments are available, though, to address those kinds of issues, from improving energy efficiency to eliminating glare. One of the top picks that checks off those boxes is cellular shades. Here’s a quick look at their benefits.
Enhanced Energy Efficiency
Up to 30% of a home’s heating and cooling energy can be lost through its windows. And that’s where cellular shades can help make a difference. The most energy-efficient window treatments available, their unique honeycomb design traps air in pockets, providing a layer of insulation at the window.
You’ll find cellular shades in a variety of colors, textures and pleat sizes, as well as styles with a honeycomb-within-a-honeycomb design, for even more energy efficiency.
Fabrics That Meet Your Needs
If your skylights are in spaces that receive a lot of sun—especially bedrooms or media rooms—you might want to consider cellular shades with a room-darkening or blackout fabric, so natural sunlight doesn’t interrupt your sleep or add glare to a TV screen. If they’re in a room such as a kitchen or bathroom, which doesn’t require complete darkness, choose a fabric that will bring in natural light while still blocking harsh rays.
Cellular shades are available in an extensive selection of fabrics, so you’ll easily be able to find a fabric that complements your room’s aesthetics.
Hassle-Free Control Options
Enhancing energy efficiency while just generally making a space more comfortable will only work if you open and close the shades over your skylights (as opposed to leaving them open all the time).
You can choose from manual control or motorized control. Manual control options include systems that let you control your shades either with a hand crank (if you can reach the skylights) or with a telescoping pole for hard-to-reach windows.
With motorized skylight shades, you can conveniently open and close shades with a remote, an app on your smart device or even with your voice and favorite voice assistant (when integrated with other smart-home systems).
Benefits of Custom Shades
If you’re considering cellular shades for skylights, custom-made shades are the way to go. Having a window-treatment specialist come to your home to walk you through your options will help you find the perfect fabric and opacity for your shade, as well as the ideal control option. Your specialist will also take care of measuring and installation, ensuring a perfect fit.
