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We’ve written countless times on our blog about the benefits of motorized shades (instant privacy, energy savings, time savings, to name a few). But to get the maximum enjoyment out of your motorized shading installation, you need to consider the best fabric for each room. This isn’t a decision that should be made at random or based on color alone.
As a Lutron Sapphire Dealer, we have access to Lutron’s entire catalog of luxury fabrics in a spectrum of thickness and opacity levels. We typically categorize Lutron’s motorized shades into three fabric types: light-filtering, blackout, and solar. The difference? Let’s take a closer look.
Light-Filtering Shades
Light-filtering shades soften natural light and reduce glare, but still let some sunshine into your home. They help you maintain daytime privacy but won’t fully darken the room.
We recommend light-filtering roller shades for living rooms, home offices, kitchens, and open concept spaces. Lutron offers a wide selection of designer fabrics and textures that are light-filtering and will match your preferred aesthetic.
Blackout Shades
As you can likely guess from the name, blackout shades and curtains block incoming light entirely from your windows. This is maximum privacy and darkness, perfect for better sleep and movie viewings in the home theater. Blackout shades are typically installed in bedrooms, nurseries, and media rooms.
Solar Shades
Solar shades are similar to light-filtering fabrics, but are more transparent. You’ll still be able to enjoy outdoor views while minimizing glare and UV exposure. This also means people can likely see in your windows, so they aren’t a great choice for privacy.
Lutron’s solar shades’ transparency will depend on the tightness of the fabric weave, ranging from 1 to 5% percent openness. 1% openness will let in less sunlight and visibility, while 5% openness allows you to see a more detailed outdoor view through the fabric.
For windows with exceptionally beautiful mountain, water, or city skyline views, we suggest opting for a dark-colored screen fabric with a higher openness factor. This will minimize glare and heat gain during peak sunlight hours while allowing you to bask in the views outside.
Dual-Pocket Motorized Shades: The Best of Both Worlds
What if you want to preserve your outdoor views some of the time, but need total privacy other times? Lutron considered this dilemma too, and offers dual-pocket motorized shading tracks that allow you to alternate between fabrics.
Tap “Blackout” on your wall keypad, remote, or app, and the room will darken instantly for a nap. Select “View,” and the blackout shade will retract, replaced by a solar shade lowering in sync.
Working with a smart home integrator like Wipliance ensures your motorized shades are installed neatly within your window frames and connect to a convenient whole-home control system. That way, you can adjust multiple windows and even the entire house with one command.
Upgrade to Lutron Motorized Shades with Wipliance
Inspired to make the switch to motorized shades? Wipliance designs and installs smart shading systems in homes across Washington, Idaho, and Arizona. Connect with us here to learn more or start your project today.
