Beyond Beauty: How Window Shading Systems Protect Your Furniture and Flooring
Natural sunlight can do beautiful things for a home but can damage flooring, furniture, and carpets through continuous exposure. Window shading systems offer protection. Motorized shades allow for a seamless integration of technology and design, elevating the functionality of your windows. Available in various fabric styles with varying opacity levels, there are countless possibilities to fit any aesthetic.
Light Filtering
We love the warm glow natural light creates in our homes, but too much sun can damage furniture and flooring. Harsh rays can fade indoor furnishings, flooring, and artwork over time, resulting in permanent discoloration.
One way to avoid this is by moving items away from the window, which is only sometimes a realistic option for many homeowners. Another solution is to install window treatments like J Geiger Shades that reduce the amount of sunlight entering your home. Light filtering shades transform bright, harsh light into a soft glow that eliminates glare and protects furniture and flooring from UV fading. These versatile window treatments are available in varying opacities, from sheers to a room darkening liner, and come with optional features that allow you to customize your lighting, privacy, and shade goals.
Privacy
Besides blocking harmful UV light, shades provide privacy by keeping outsiders from seeing in. This feature can be helpful in busy neighborhoods or for those who live in high-rise buildings.
Natural sunlight can create glare and cause carpets, hardwood floors, and fabrics to fade. By limiting the amount of light that enters a room, shades protect furnishings from sun damage and reduce the need for artificial lighting. Hunter Douglas Shades are designed to be encased between panes of glass, making them much more durable than traditional blinds and curtains. They are also more convenient and practical since they can be operated remotely or integrated into your building management system (BMS). This helps minimize maintenance and cleaning concerns. Moreover, automated shades can be programmed to raise and lower randomly throughout the day, simulating occupancy, a valuable security addition to homes and businesses.
Sound Absorption
How furnishings are set up and what the furniture is made of can affect how sound travels in a space. Suitable drapes, carpeting, and upholstery can also help to absorb sound waves and reduce the likelihood of echoing.
Absorption happens when a sound wave encounters an absorbing surface that converts some energy into heat. This can make the sound quieter, less resonant, and easier to hear.
Some non-invasive sound-reducing options include acoustical quilted curtains and Coat of Silence paint. These are an excellent solution for apartments where you may share walls with neighbors. Other solutions may involve some construction, such as wall-mounted foam panels. These may be more effective for higher frequencies that are harder to absorb.
Aesthetics
Shades can enhance a room’s aesthetic, providing a sleek backdrop for furnishings and a sense of calm. Their simple lines and uncluttered appearance make them ideal for traditional and modern interiors.
They also help to regulate the temperature of a building, reducing energy costs and glare. When integrated with a home or building management system, shades can be opened and closed automatically throughout the day to control sunlight and temperature. Motorized shades are safer than standard pull-cord shades because they do not have dangling cords that can become tangled or strangled. This eliminates the risk of injuries to children and pets. Automated shades can be programmed to open and close on a schedule, optimizing daylight penetration during winter warm-ups and closing them to block summer solar heat gain that increases cooling costs.
UV Protection
The sun brings beautiful sunlight into our homes but can also get harmful UV rays. These rays cause things like fabric damage, discoloration, and fading to carpeting, wood furniture, and even artwork and paintings.
The good news is that window tints and shades can help to protect these items from fading. These specialized films can filter out UV rays and reduce the fading of furniture and flooring in your home.
Another way to help reduce fading is to replace your current windows with low-emittance glass. This window type is a great way to block out UV rays while allowing in the light and heat you need. This quick and affordable solution can help preserve your furniture, carpeting, and flooring for longer.
