Privacy Window Treatments Gallery
Room-darkening | Blackout | Translucent
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If privacy is a primary concern for one or more of your windows there are some important factors to consider. Which product looks and functions the way you want? What are the differences between one product or fabric and another? What level of privacy does each product provide? We’ll walk you through this to help you narrow down your choices.
Hunter Douglas Vignette with Duolite System Lower back blackout shade for privacy
Insolroll Elements Roller Shades Translucent fabric for light-filtering without view-through
Hunter Douglas Silhouette Close vanes for privacy
Hunter Douglas Sonnette with vanes closed
Hunter Douglas Pirouette with vanes closed
Insolroll Blackout Shades Built-in option with motorization
Hunter Douglas Provenance Woven wood shades with blackout liner
Light vs view
Some fabrics allow light to pass through while others block light. Either can provide privacy by blocking view-through, though if light comes through, shadows on the fabric may be visible to someone on the outside.
Translucent vs opaque
The opacity of a fabric determines whether light passes through and whether it allows view-through. Non-opaque fabrics like sheers, semi-sheers, and solar screens have tiny openings in the fabric weave that allow us to see through them to varying degrees. To block view-through, a fabric must be tightly woven, made of a non-woven material, or coated with an opaque material like flocking, which includes Translucent fabrics, Room-darkening fabrics, and Blackout fabrics.
Opaque
Translucent
Daytime privacy from Sheer, Semi-sheer, and Solar Screen Fabrics
Depending on a fabric’s transparency level, it will still offer varying degrees of daytime privacy. A general rule of thumb is that the privacy is on the darker side of the window treatment. Transparent fabrics will enhance daytime privacy because the light outdoors is stronger during the day than the interior light. Once the daylight begins to face, however, the inside light will slowly become stronger than the outside light, and a viewer outside will be able to see through the window to the interior. This view will be softened or blurred, but visible. So it’s important to know whether you need daytime privacy, nighttime privacy, or both when choosing a product and fabric.
Solar Screen
- Best view through (especially darker colors)
- Enhanced daytime privacy
- View Solar Screen Products
A deeper level of privacy
Block the tiny gaps between window treatment and frame
For window treatments mounted on the inside of the window frame, some may be uncomfortable with the very small gaps between the edge of the fabric and the window frame. This may be of concern if your window is at ground level, or facing the street, or very close to a neighboring window. If you have a situation like this, side tracks that encase the fabric edges can provide the extra protection. This also helps to block light even more effectively. We offer solutions for this from both Insolroll and Hunter Douglas.
Insolroll Side Tracks
Inside mount
Hunter Douglas Light Lock
Inside mount
Outside mount
Overlaps window frame
Dual fabric shades
If you want to be able to control privacy but maintain the ability to have some level of filtered light, a dual fabric shade may be the answer. 2 fabrics are incorporated into a single window treatment at the headrail.
One treatment with
- 2 fabric panels
- 2 rollers
- manual or motorized
- independent operation
One treatment with
- Vignette, Duette, Silhouette, or Designer Roller shade panel
- 2nd back roller panel which lowers after the main shade
- 1 motorized operator
One treatment with
- Front Silhouette shade
- Back Roller Shade
- independent operation
Hunter Douglas Provenance woven shades with independent liner
One treatment with
- Front woven roman shade
- Back ⅜” cellular shade in either light-filtering or room-darkening fabric
- independent operation
Hunter Douglas Provenance woven shades with fixed liner
One treatment with
- Front woven roman shade
- Fixed/attached room darkening liner
- Simultaneous operation
One treatment with
- Top-down/Bottom-up control
- Room-darkening and sheer fabric combo
Blinds and shutters: adjustable louvers for adding privacy
Window treatments with louvers, such as shutters and blinds, feature individual slats that with adjustable angles and degree of openness. Closed louvers block both view-through and light, with 2 closed positions angled up and angled down. For maximum ground-level privacy, tilt the louvers up, and for upper levels, tilt the louvers down. The amount of light that can pass through closed louvers depends upon the material and color.
Smart controls for motorized shades to maximize privacy
Motorized window treatments are easier to power and install than ever before, and the control options available can customize the operation of your shades to optimize privacy. App-based control allows you to operate shades with your mobile device or voice control assistant. Or from anywhere in the world if you are not at home. With app-based control, you can set schedules to raise and lower shades at certain times of day, and even schedule based on sunrise and sunset times for your area. Enjoy creating special settings, or ‘scenes’, to move your shades to specific levels with the tap of a screen even if the schedule says otherwise. For enhanced security, create an “away” schedule to lower privacy shades in the evening and raise them in the morning to make it look like someone is home when you are traveling.
More about Smart Shade Controls