Protect Your Sunroom with These 3 Window Treatments
A sunroom catches more daylight than any other space in the house, making it a huge part of the appeal but also part of the problem. All that southern Kentucky sun fades upholstery over time, warms the room past the point of comfort, and washes out the view on a TV screen by mid-afternoon.
The Painted Horse has been outfitting homes across Central Kentucky since 2015—check out the three window coverings we suggest most often for sunroom protection.
Solar Shades as Sunroom Window Treatments
Solar shades are designed for spaces like this. The fabric is a tight mesh weave with an openness factor that runs from one to ten percent, and a one-percent shade blocks up to 99% of UV rays while still letting you see the yard. That is the combination most sunroom owners are after, since the goal is rarely full privacy but always heat and fade control.
A lower openness factor gives you maximum UV protection and the deepest cut to glare, while a higher openness factor preserves more of your view at the cost of some heat resistance. We help clients pick the right weave based on which direction the sunroom faces and what time of day they use it most.
Solar Window Shades vs. Roller Shades for Heat Control
Solar window shades and standard roller shades both operate the same way on a roller tube, but the fabrics behave very differently. A solar shade uses an open-mesh weave for view-preserving sun control. A roller shade uses a solid fabric panel that runs the full opacity range from sheer to blackout.
For a sunroom that doubles as a TV room or guest space, roller shades with a higher opacity provide full privacy and let you fully darken the room when you want. Pairing a solar shade and a roller shade on the same window with a dual-roller system gives you the best of both, since you can drop the solar layer during the day for view and UV control, then pull the room-darkening layer down at night.
Woven Woods and Other UV-Resistant Window Treatments
Woven wood shades are the third pick we keep coming back to for sunrooms. Crafted from natural materials such as bamboo, jute, woods, and grasses, they give a room an organic, botanical feel that pairs naturally with the plants and light most sunrooms already have. Many lines offer a liner option that adds a layer of UV protection without giving up the natural appeal.
A few other UV-resistant window treatments worth considering for a sunroom include:
- Cellular shades: The honeycomb pockets trap air and add real insulation against summer heat and winter chill.
- Plantation shutters: A moisture- and heat-resistant material built to stand up to sunroom conditions year-round.
- Drapery with a UV-blocking lining: A layered finish that pairs beautifully with shades or shutters on the same window.
- Motorized options: Schedule any of the above to lower automatically during peak sun hours for hands-free protection.
Layering two of these often gives a sunroom the best balance of view, comfort, and long-term protection.
Custom Sunroom Window Treatments in Lexington, Georgetown, and Richmond, KY
When you’re ready to add window treatments to your sunroom, our showrooms have working displays you can operate before you buy. Let us walk you through our displays, fabric selections, and design features that set window treatments at The Painted Horse apart.
The Painted Horse proudly serves Lexington, Georgetown, Paris, Versailles, Frankfort, and Richmond, KY, with free measuring and installation included on every order. Call (859) 523-0469 or contact us online to book your complimentary consultation.
