Creating the Right Natural Lighting with Curtains
Creating the Right Natural Lighting with Curtains
When it comes to your style and comfort, lighting is everything. Some homeowners want every room basked in natural sunlight, while others prefer to keep their homes darker. There are some in-between as well, who like diffused light to stream through their home. Thankfully, Budget Blinds of Scottsdale has blinds, shades, and drapes that can achieve all of those effects. So, let’s get you set up with the right “mood lighting” for your home, starting with your curtains.
Why is it Called “Mood Lighting?”
Mood lighting is a relatively simple term on the surface — it’s lighting that makes you feel a certain way. It’s generally used in a positive sense, though the wrong curtains can give you the wrong lighting, which will leave you unhappy.
With curtains, their weight and texture will determine the mood lighting. Using different types of curtains and different materials will help you find exactly what you need. Unsure what you want? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered.
Our Guide to Choosing Curtains Based on Natural Light Control
All curtains will block some light when they’re drawn, however, they may not block all of it depending on what type of curtain you choose. For example, you can choose sheer curtains, light filtering, room darkening, blackout, or a combination of them to create a layered effect.
Sheer Curtains
Sheer curtains are perfect for homeowners who want plenty of natural light to be let in, even when the curtains are drawn. These curtains maintain some degree of your privacy and often come in lighter shades, such as white, and are made of lighter materials.
The best material for sheet curtains are as follows:
We recommend either polyester or voile, as both are easy to maintain, are strong and durable, and come in nearly every color imaginable. Voile in particular also allows for a lot of ventilation, which is great for the warmer months.
Sheer curtains go best when they are layered with thicker drapery. This will give you the option of total privacy and blackout without compromising on the sheer effect.
Light-Filtering Curtains
Light-filtering curtains give your home a diffused and warmer glow, instead of stark and bright sunlight. They still let in a good amount of light, but the color of it will often be warmer (more golden) and softer. They also offer greater privacy than sheer curtains due to their color.
Keep in mind that the darker your curtain color will give you less light filtering and more into a room darkening effect.
The best material for light-filtering curtains are as follows:
- Cotton
- Silk
- Rayon
- Wool
Room Darkening Curtains
For a darker room, you’re going to want heavier curtains that are a darker color without a lining, or a lighter color with a light lining. This way, you don’t get the full blackout effect, but you still can block most of the light from your home.
The best material for light-filtering curtains are as follows:
- Polyester
- Cotton
Blackout Curtains
If you want to block 99% of the light from your window, then blackout curtains are for you. They are the perfect and favorable choice for bedrooms, movie theaters, and rooms where you want the option to block out most of the light, such as the living room. These curtains are either dark and heavy, or they are lighter shades with a heavy liner.
They offer the best privacy as well!
The best material for blackout curtains are as follows:
- Heavy polyester
- Cotton
- Heavy microfiber
Layered Curtain Effect
You’re not limited to only one set of curtains or drapes. You can choose to layer them so you can have the best of both worlds: natural light and blackout. This also adds dimension and depth to your interior design and helps frame your windows to really make them stand out.
A common option is laying sheer or light-filtering curtains with heavier drapes, though you’re not limited to that. At Budget Blinds of Scottsdale, we custom-make everything to fit your style and your needs, so you’re never limited. For your free design consultation, visit us online! We’ll be happy to help and we’ll even give you free samples of materials so you can see exactly what mood lighting each curtain will create.
Visit us online to schedule your free consultation today!
