Roller blinds are more capable than ever before of providing you with insulation. They are great for light insulation and heat insulation allowing you to conserve energy in both the winter and summer.
Windows are where the indoors and outdoors meet – and if it’s cold outside, the glass will convey that chill to your home meaning you’ll spend more on heating throughout the winter. Similarly, in the summer, windows allow direct sunlight access to your indoor spaces – so your AC will have to work harder to keep the temperature at a more comfortable level.
With roller blinds, you can control how much impact these temperature extremes have on your space. By closing the blinds, you drastically reduce that impact, so that you can relax and enjoy your home no matter the weather.
How Do Roller Blinds Insulate?
Through innovative design and scientific advances, roller blinds are no longer a simple roll of fabric that only protects your privacy. Now, you can purchase internal blinds with heat-regulating capability that makes use of specialised fabrics or a honeycomb fabric structure.
The honeycomb design utilises several layers of fabric that come together to form connected pockets similar in appearance to the honeycomb in a beehive. These pockets trap air that provides insulation properties that have been likened to the effects of double-glazed windows.
Roller blinds that base their insulation properties on the type of fabric work in a different way, but with similar efficiency. The fabric reflects sunlight away from your window, restricting its access to your home which, in turn, helps to keep the air far cooler inside than would otherwise be possible.
Using the right type of roller blinds at the right type of year will reduce your monthly bills by preventing the need for excessive use of space heating and AC.
Do Roller Blinds Keep Heat In?
Some types of roller blinds do keep heat in, whilst other types of roller blinds will keep heat out. Blockout blinds will give you freedom from the intrusiveness of outside light, just as it will help you regulate indoor temperatures during the heat of summer.
Blinds backed with the right type of insulative fabric will reflect the sun’s light away from your home, reducing the temperature considerably. It’s important to choose the correct size of blinds, and the correct fitting type, to ensure you’re getting the most value for your money.
Professionally measured and fitted blinds are the most energy-efficient because their expertise ensures that your window is covered correctly and with the correct type of blinds for your particular circumstances and needs.
You do have options when it comes to fitting types, with perfect fit – snug and ideally sized – blinds being the most energy efficient. Blinds fitted outside the recess, along the outside of the window frame, have a middling efficiency. They’re not the best, but nor are they the worst, because a little air can circulate between the immediate window area and the rest of the room, but it’s not a huge impact on temperature.
Blinds fitted inside the recess are the least energy efficient. There are more gaps for air to circulate, meaning that more sunlight can penetrate the coverings in summer, as can colder air in the winter.
Do Roller Blinds Help Insulate?
If you’re concerned about temperature shifts during extreme months – whether too hot or too cold – then roller blinds are definitely a top consideration for home insulation.
Some types of blinds are fantastic at blocking all light from entering your home too – whether you live on a well-lit street or are sensitive to even the smallest stream of light as you sleep.
Roller blinds are generally fantastic on their own most of the year – but when you’re trying to maintain a comfortable home temperature without relying excessively on energy-intensive heating and AC, it’s only part of the package that your decorative home furnishings can offer.
Used in combination with curtains, you can create a layered fabric effect over your windows that allows you to easily switch between open and closed without any hassle. Thankfully, there are many styles of roller blinds that work for any time of the year and still look great on your windows. Consider the appearance of classic white blinds. Whether open or closed, they add a touch of sophisticated elegance to any decor style – but they are also ready and waiting for the next extreme temperature shift.
Combining roller blinds with curtains allows you to strike a balance between decorative choices and functionality. One popular choice is to opt for timeless roller blinds that will be in situ for years, whilst having the flexibility to change curtains to refresh and rejuvenate the decor without opening a single tin of paint.
Are Roller Blinds Good for Insulation?
Roller blinds are long-lasting – especially those crafted from high-quality materials and professionally fitted. In most cases, they sit close to the window, reducing the amount of heat/cold that can travel from the window to the rest of the room.
However, not all roller blinds are made equal in the insulation department. Some roller blinds are designed for light reduction only, whilst others are made as a way to preserve your privacy in your home and are only fabric without a reinforced fabric backing.
The best roller blinds for heat insulation are those made from sunscreen fabrics (that reflect light from the sun away from your home); Blockout fabrics with immense heat conservation and light blocking capabilities; and honeycomb blinds that create pockets of air to keep the chill away from your warm home.
If you want a sustainable and environmentally conscious way to control your home temperature, consider blinds made with these types of reinforcements.
For even more control, you can even purchase motorised blinds that open and close automatically as a reaction to intense sunlight and heat – so you can keep your home cool even when you’re not at home.
Are Roller Blinds a Good Choice for Insulating Your Home?
For warmer, or for cooler, insulating roller blinds are an excellent way to conserve energy, reduce your bills, and have a more comfortable home all year round. For extra insulation, pair with some lined curtains that can cover any gaps between the windows and blinds, that might otherwise allow free-moving air to alter the temperature of your room. For tips on maintaining your roller blinds, especially when considering their insulating properties, visit our guide on cleaning roller blinds without the hassle of removing them.
Roller blinds are ideal for any room in your home and also enhance your privacy, reduce light pollution, and add an extra element of decor that makes your house a home. In fact, Uniblinds provides an extensive selection for you to choose from.