What Opacity Should I Choose for My Window Shades
What curtain opacity is right for you?
Opacity: What precisely is it? The quantity of light that a fabric lets through is referred to as its opacity. The maximum quantity of light can enter a space through sheer materials, but they also provide the least degree of privacy. On the opposite end of the spectrum, blackout fabrics offer the greatest level of privacy by obstructing almost all light from entering a space.
If you don't know much about fabric opacities, you can unintentionally pick one that doesn't offer as much privacy as you had anticipated. So let's take a closer look at each opacity level.
Sheer
The most light enters your home through sheer materials, softening the focus of the view. Although they do some glare reduction, they are not made for privacy, especially the thinner ones. Still, they add an elegant presence to an interior without preventing natural light.
Semi-Sheer
Sheer textiles admit somewhat more light than semi-sheer ones. They still don't provide much seclusion and allow for less view-through than a sheer.
Semi-Opaque
Semi-opaque materials let in just enough light to illuminate a room, but they will obstruct your view and prevent people from seeing inside (although you may still be able to see the shadows of the objects).
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Opaque
Opaque (sometimes referred to as room-darkening) materials will virtually completely block light from entering a room and offer the highest level of privacy. However, keep in mind that unless they are partially or completely open, it will be more difficult to illuminate your space with natural light. Unlike Blackout, such fabrics could still sneak in some light rays throughout its yarns, especially when sunlight hits direct.
Blackout
Blackout shades, as their name suggests, produce the total darkness by obstructing practically all incoming light. Additionally, they offer total privacy for every room of your house. It is also prized for hotel projects.
Think about the privacy and light control requirements for your room when selecting the fabric for your window coverings. For spaces or activities you don't care too much about people seeing, such as living rooms or family rooms, sheer and semi-sheer fabrics that don't give much privacy are fantastic choices. In contrast, semi-opaque, opaque, and blackout textiles are perfect for spaces like restrooms, media rooms, and bedrooms where you want to increase privacy and completely block out incoming light. Don’t forget that very often, mixing both on two layer curtains is the best option to gain on flexibility and control over how much light you want to let in at different times of day.
Contact one of our specialists to schedule an in-person consultation so you can see how various materials will appear in your space. This will help you select the ideal level of opacity for your window coverings.