Windows are an important part of any home. Not only do they let light into your home, but they also help create a less depressing environment to live in. And while windows are indeed great, having them bare is simply not an option, as you won't be able to control the amount of heat and light that comes into your home. That's where window coverings come in.  Thermal Curtains and blinds

Window coverings can make your home more energy-efficient by filtering the light that comes through. But which type of window covering should you get for your home?

Curtains and Drapes

Curtains and drapes are perhaps the easiest window coverings to install. The thing about curtain and drape panels is that you can adjust them to limit the amount of incoming light. If you want to filter sunlight, then you can use them to block it entirely. It's far better than using blinds to do so, as sheet metal is not a good insulator, especially when compared to fabric.

Curtains and drapes are also fairly simple to clean and maintain. All you need to do is shake the dust from the panels from time to time. You can either do this by hand or using a vacuum cleaner. Once in a while, you'd have to hand-wash them under the faucet, but this would involve little more than a soap and water solution, and even then, it would be far less than what you'd have to do if you're using blinds.

Venetian Blinds

Venetian blinds are another common energy-efficient window coverings that you can choose. They come with horizontal slats that help filter the incoming sunlight. These blinds are popular because they are easy to install. All you need to do is mount the slats onto your window, and you're good to go. And because they're made from metal, they could be used to block out the sun completely.

That said, there are some drawbacks to using Venetian blinds. For one thing, you have to manually open and close them each time. Also, they don't come cheap, and you may have to get a professional to install them.

Louvred Vertical Blinds

Louvred blinds are similar to Venetian blinds. However, they have vertical slats instead of horizontal ones. Because of this, they are more practical for use by people with limited mobility, such as children and the elderly. Meanwhile, the vertical slats do an excellent job at blocking out the sun. While you won't be able to filter the light entirely, you can still filter out most of it.

Roller Blinds / Shades

Roller shades are perhaps the easiest way to block out the sun. These window coverings come as full-length curtains that can be fastened to the window itself. They come with a cord that you can use to roll them up, allowing you to filter light in your room.

Because it's a light-filtering cover, you won't be able to block out the sun completely. The light that comes through is not only dim but is also filtered, letting you read in the room without the pressure of bright light. And perhaps the best part about roller shades is that all you need to do is pull them down. They are easy to clean and maintain, as all you need to do is wipe them with a damp cloth, or you can take them out of the window and wash them in the sink.

Final Thoughts

Having light-filtering window coverings will make your home more energy-efficient. You can choose Venetian blinds, louvred blinds, roller shades, or curtains and drapes. You can also adjust the filtering mechanism of each one of these to whichever level you want.

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