Choosing Opacity for Custom Shades
To be the most satisfied with your window treatment purchase, it’s best to understand the opacity level you’re selecting. But what’s the “right” level? At Blind Builders here in Feasterville, we’re always happy to guide our clients through the entire window treatment process, from choosing products to understanding—and determining—the elements and features they have. Fabric opacity, while perhaps a bit on the dry side, is an important element to ensuring the treatment performs the way you need it to, all the time. Read on to learn more, and be sure to speak with one of our consultants to discuss your unique situation.
Opacity Definitions
A fabric’s opacity level is essentially how much light can go through it. Sheer fabrics, which let the most light through, are the least opaque—simultaneously, they also provide the least privacy. Blackout fabrics, on the other hand, block the most light while also offering the highest level of privacy. Other factors, including things like fabric type and color, can help determine opacity. However, in below is the range you’ll find.
Sheer Shades For View-through
Sheer fabrics allow lots of light into the room and offer a soft focus to the view through the window. Sheers can help reduce glare but don’t offer much in the way of privacy.
Semi-Sheer Shades For View Less
These fabrics don’t let in as much light as sheers do; by the same token, the view-through is less. Furthermore, privacy is still pretty minimal.
Semi-Opaque Shades For Some Light
These fabrics allow enough light through to brighten the space some, but they’re aren’t transparent enough to give you any sort of view-through. That said, they offer greater privacy.
Opaque/Room-Darkening For Almost no Light
These fabrics block almost all light from coming through and provide excellent privacy. On the flip side, the only way to get natural light is to open the treatment.
Blackout For No Light
As mentioned above, blackout fabrics block the most light—in fact, they can block it almost entirely—and they provide complete privacy.
Choosing Opacity by Room
Choosing the right opacity for a room means you should consider the room’s privacy and light needs. For example, for a living or family room, where lots of light can be welcome and privacy isn’t a huge consideration, sheer or semi-sheer fabrics can be the best choice. For bedrooms, bathrooms, and media rooms, where privacy and light reduction can be big goals, semi-opaque, opaque, or blackout fabrics are good choices. To help ensure you’re making the correct decision, contact one of our specialists to see the fabrics in person.
Understanding Opacity in Feasterville, Yardley PA Areas
Blind Builders Inc is a service-oriented business specializing in custom blinds, shades, shutters, and motorization solutions. No matter what your window treatment needs may be, we are here to help. We serve residential & commercial customers throughout Bucks and Montgomery County including Newtown, Yardley, Doylestown, and Warrington, PA, and surrounding areas.
