Solar Shades for Bellingham View Homes: Keep the View, Soften the Light
Some homes are all about the view.
Bellingham Bay at sunset. Mount Baker on a clear morning. Lake Whatcom through the trees. And throughout Whatcom and Skagit County, there are beautiful homes overlooking the water, mountains, islands, farmland, and surrounding landscape.
When you have windows looking out at scenery like that, you probably don’t want to cover it up.
That is why solar shades are one of our favorite window coverings for view homes. They soften bright sunlight, reduce glare, and help protect your interiors while still allowing you to see outside.
What Are Solar Shades?
Solar shades are made from a woven screen fabric designed to filter sunlight while maintaining your view.
Lower them on a bright afternoon and you can still see the water, mountains, trees, or backyard beyond the window. The light coming into the room simply feels softer and more comfortable.
Solar shades can also help reduce heat and protect flooring, furniture, rugs, and artwork from UV exposure.
When you want the window completely open, the shade rolls neatly to the top for a simple, uncluttered look.
Choosing the Right Openness
One of the biggest decisions when choosing solar shades is the openness of the fabric.
Openness refers to how tightly the solar fabric is woven.
1% openness provides greater sun and glare control with less visibility through the shade. It can be a great choice for windows that receive intense afternoon sun.
3% openness gives you a nice balance between light control and maintaining your view. This is a popular choice for living rooms, great rooms, and other everyday spaces.
5% openness allows more light and greater visibility through the fabric. It can be a beautiful choice when keeping the view as open as possible is the priority.
Fabric color matters too.
Darker solar fabrics can provide a clearer view through the shade, while lighter fabrics tend to reflect more sunlight and can blend beautifully into bright, airy rooms.
This is exactly why we like choosing solar shades in your home. Our design team brings samples so you can hold different fabrics against your windows and see how the color and openness actually look with your light and your view.
Where Solar Shades Work Best
Solar shades are especially useful on west-facing windows where afternoon and evening sun can become intense.
We love them for Bellingham Bay view homes, Lake Whatcom properties, and homes with large windows overlooking the mountains, islands, farmland, or surrounding landscape.
They are also a great option for home offices because they can reduce glare on computer screens without making the room feel closed off.
Large picture windows, sliding doors, kitchens, dining rooms, and great rooms can all be excellent places for solar shades.
Motorized Solar Shades for Large Windows
Large windows are beautiful. Operating several shades every afternoon is not always as appealing.
Motorized solar shades make it easy.
Depending on the system you choose, shades can be operated with a remote or app and can even be scheduled to lower when the strongest afternoon sun reaches your windows.
Motorization is especially helpful for tall windows, hard-to-reach spaces, and groups of shades you want to operate together.
Layering Solar Shades with Drapery
Solar shades also look beautiful layered with custom drapery.
The solar shade handles bright daytime light while the drapery adds softness, color, and evening privacy.
For bedrooms or other rooms where you want more light control, a dual shade system can combine a solar shade with a room-darkening shade. You can enjoy filtered light and your view during the day, then lower the second shade when you want more privacy and darkness.
Frequently Asked Questions About Solar Shades
Can you really see through solar shades?
Yes. Maintaining your view is one of the biggest reasons to choose them. How clearly you can see outside depends on the openness percentage, fabric color, and lighting conditions.
Do solar shades provide privacy at night?
Solar shades are primarily designed for daytime light and glare control. Once it is dark outside and the lights are on inside, they should not be relied on for privacy. We can pair them with drapery or another shade when evening privacy is important.
Are solar shades good for Bellingham homes?
They can be an excellent choice, particularly for homes with large windows, water or mountain views, and rooms that receive strong afternoon sun.
Can solar shades be motorized?
Yes. Motorized solar shades are especially useful for large windows, tall windows, and view homes with several shades that you want to operate together.
See Solar Shades in Your Own Home
At Bindi & Bird, we believe the best place to choose window coverings is in the room where they will actually be used.
We bring solar shade samples to your home so you can see how different colors and openness levels look against your windows, furnishings, and view before making a decision.
Our design team provides in-home consultations throughout Bellingham, Whatcom County, Skagit County, and surrounding communities. You can also visit our Bellingham showroom on Cordata Parkway to see even more blinds, shades, shutters, drapery, and motorized options.
Explore our Bellingham blinds and custom window coverings or schedule a free in-home consultation to see which solar shades look best in your home.
