Which Fabric Should I Use for My Motorized Shades?

QMotion Fabric Selections for Your New Orleans Property

Often families become pre-occupied with the way their curtains look, including the pattern, color, and style. However, there are other aspects to consider, including the openness factor, UV-ray prevention, and material quality. These properties will help your family save energy and still allow you to enjoy the beauty of your shades. Read this fabric selection guide to get a better understanding of all the items to consider when you purchase motorized shades for your New Orleans, LA home.

SEE ALSO: 3 Reasons Motorized Shades are Worth Your Investment Fabric Types Solar shades are commonly used to block out the sun’s UV rays to protect furniture and keep the home cool. They can reduce your cooling costs during the year by keeping out the heat and also lessen your need for artificial lighting. QMotion has a new fabric type called KOOLBLACK, which is a dark fabric that reflects the sun’s rays instead of absorbing them. By reflecting the light, the KOOLBLACK shades reduce heat gain and save energy. They also give you more visibility so you can see outside. KOOLBLACK shades are ideal for work environments and for the home too.

Fabric Color Light fabrics are ideal for common areas, like living rooms and kitchens. They reflect a high percentage of light to keep out heat, while still preserving natural light to reduce the need for artificial light. Dark color fabrics don’t let as much light in through the window but increase the exterior visibility during daylight hours. So if you want to see outside, pick a darker color fabric. Dark fabric colors are ideal for media rooms or home theaters to reduce glare on the screen as well. They can also be used in bedrooms to ensure privacy.

Openness Factor The openness factor refers to the tightness of the weave of your shade fabric, which determines how much you can see through it. A blackout shade, for example, would have an openness factor of 0% because you can’t see anything through it. Sheer fabrics, on the other hand, let you see outside, but the tradeoff is that they let more light and heat inside your home. If you choose a shade with an openness factor of 1%, 99% of the UV light is blocked. Though it will be harder to see out of them you will conserve more energy. If you pick a sheer fabric, keep in mind that people may be able to see inside your home at night. So when you get started choosing your motorized shade fabric, make sure you take the openness factor into account.

Dual Shades Yes, there are many different types of shade fabrics, but you don’t necessarily have to choose just one for every room. Double roller applications let you have the benefits of both shade types – sheer and blackout. Hit your remote control or button on your mobile app and the blackout shade will drop down for a movie. Then, later on, change it and lower the sheer shade so you can read a book in a bright, sunlit room but still stay cool.

We hope this guide informed you about all of your options when it comes to motorized shades. For personalized service, give us a call or fill out this online form. We can help you pick the perfect shade fabric for every room.