Do Internal Screen Blinds Keep Homes Cooler?

How Internal Screen Blinds Can Help in Summer

Keeping your home comfortable during a hot British summer can be difficult, particularly if you have large windows or rooms that receive direct sunlight throughout the day.

Opening the windows can help when the outside air is cooler, but it does not stop sunlight from entering through the glass and making the room feel warmer.

Internal screen blinds offer a simple way to manage this. They are fitted inside the window recess, just like a roller blind, but use a specialist screen fabric designed to filter sunlight, reduce glare and provide a degree of solar control.

So, can internal screen blinds help keep your home cooler?

They can help reduce the amount of sunlight and solar energy entering a room, although the overall effect will depend on factors such as the fabric, glazing, window size, orientation and amount of direct sunlight.

What Are Internal Screen Blinds?

Internal screen blinds are essentially roller blinds made using a specialist screen fabric.

They are fitted inside the window recess and are designed to filter sunlight rather than block it out completely. This means you can still enjoy natural daylight and, depending on the fabric selected, maintain some visibility through the window.

This makes them different from blackout roller blinds, which are designed to block out as much light as possible.

Screen fabrics are available with different levels of openness, allowing you to choose how much light, visibility and glare control you want.

How Do Internal Screen Blinds Help With Heat?

When sunlight passes through your windows, some of that solar energy contributes to heat inside the room.

Internal screen blinds can help by filtering and reflecting some of this sunlight before it reaches further into the room. Certain specialist screen fabrics are specifically designed to provide solar control while still allowing natural light through.

The result is a more controlled level of sunlight, which can help make rooms feel more comfortable during bright summer days.

It is worth remembering that internal blinds are not the same as external shading. Because they are fitted inside the window, the glass has already been exposed to the sun. Their main benefits are controlling glare, sunlight and comfort within the room rather than completely preventing solar heat from reaching the glass.

**Summer Tip:** If a room becomes particularly uncomfortable in direct sunlight, choosing a screen fabric with stronger solar control can help you manage the amount of sunlight entering the space.

Can Internal Screen Blinds Reduce Glare?

Yes, and this is one of the main reasons to consider screen fabric.

Direct sunlight can create glare on television screens, computers and other displays, making them difficult to see.

Screen fabrics are designed to filter sunlight while maintaining natural light, making them particularly useful for rooms where you still want the space to feel bright without strong glare.

They can be a great option for:

Home offices
Living rooms
TV rooms
Bedrooms
Kitchens with large windows
Rooms with south-facing windows

Do Internal Screen Blinds Provide Privacy?

They can provide a useful level of daytime privacy, depending on the fabric you choose.

The woven structure of screen fabric can make it more difficult for people outside to see into your home while still allowing you to maintain some visibility from inside.

However, privacy can change depending on the lighting conditions. During the day, when it is brighter outside than inside, screen fabrics can offer good daytime privacy. In the evening, when your lights are on and it is darker outside, the effect can be reduced.

If privacy is particularly important, it is worth discussing the different fabric options before choosing your blind.

Can You Still See Through Screen Roller Blinds?

One of the biggest advantages of screen fabric is that you do not necessarily have to choose between controlling sunlight and keeping your view.

Depending on the fabric and its openness factor, you can still see outside when the blind is lowered.

The fabric works by filtering sunlight rather than completely blocking it, helping to reduce glare while allowing natural light and some visibility through the window.

This can be particularly useful if you have a garden, attractive outdoor view or large windows that you do not want to cover with a solid fabric.

Are Internal Screen Blinds Better Than Blackout Blinds?

It depends on what you want from your blinds.

Screen blinds are designed to filter sunlight, reduce glare and maintain natural light. Blackout blinds are designed to block out much more light and are often preferred in bedrooms or rooms where darkness is important.

For example, a home office may benefit from screen fabric because it can reduce glare on a computer screen while keeping the room bright.

A bedroom may benefit more from a blackout roller blind if your priority is creating a darker environment for sleeping.

There are also situations where combining different window coverings can give you greater flexibility throughout the day.

Are Internal Screen Blinds Good for Large Windows?

Large windows can bring plenty of natural light into a home, but they can also create problems with glare and direct sunlight.

Internal screen roller blinds can be a practical option for larger areas of glazing, allowing you to control the amount of sunlight entering the room without completely blocking the view.

They can be particularly useful in:

South-facing rooms
Large living rooms
Home offices
Rooms with bifold or large windows
Open-plan spaces
Rooms that receive strong afternoon sunlight

The right fabric will depend on the size and position of your windows, as well as how much glare, privacy and sunlight you want to control.

Can Internal Screen Blinds Help Protect Furniture?

Strong sunlight can contribute to fading and deterioration of furnishings, flooring and fabrics over time.

Screen fabrics can help filter sunlight and UV radiation, providing an additional layer of protection for the room and its contents. The level of UV protection will depend on the particular fabric selected.

This can be particularly useful in rooms where furniture, artwork, flooring or soft furnishings are regularly exposed to direct sunlight.

Choose the Right Screen Fabric for Your Home

Not all screen fabrics are the same.

Different fabrics can offer different levels of openness, glare control, solar control and visibility. A tighter weave can provide stronger glare control, while a more open fabric can allow greater visibility and natural light.

This means it is worth considering how you actually use the room before choosing your blinds.

For example, you may want stronger glare control in a home office, while maintaining a clear view outside could be more important in a living room.

At Feran, we can help you explore the available options and find a screen fabric that works for your windows, style and requirements.

Make the Most of Your Windows This Summer

If certain rooms in your home become too bright, suffer from glare or feel uncomfortable when the sun is shining, internal screen roller blinds could be worth considering.

Fitted neatly inside the window recess, they offer the familiar look and functionality of a roller blind while using specialist screen fabric to filter sunlight, reduce glare and provide a degree of solar and privacy control.

They are a particularly useful option if you want to manage sunlight without completely losing the natural light or view outside.

Feran offers bespoke blinds in a range of fabrics and styles, with expert advice to help you find the right option for your home.