689-259-2722
689-259-2722
Solar shades are a popular choice for homeowners looking to enjoy natural light without sacrificing comfort. These window coverings are made from specially engineered fabrics designed to filter sunlight, block harmful UV rays, and reduce glare, all while allowing you to maintain a view of the outdoors during the day. Unlike traditional blinds or curtains, solar shades strike a balance between openness and protection, giving your space a bright yet controlled atmosphere.
The way solar shades work comes down to the fabric’s openness percentage—a measure of how tightly the threads are woven. A higher openness percentage allows more light and outside views but offers less privacy. A lower openness percentage lets in less light and gives you more privacy during the day. Because of this, choosing the right openness level is key to getting the balance you want between light control, view, and privacy.
From a functional standpoint, solar shades are all about managing light direction. During daylight, the brighter outdoor environment naturally prevents outsiders from seeing in, while you can still enjoy looking out. At night, however, when interior lights are on, the brightness inside reverses the effect, making it easier for people outside to see into your space.
When it comes to privacy and visibility, openness percentage is the single most important factor in how your solar shades will perform. These percentages usually range from 1% to 10%:
10% openness – Blocks about 90% of UV rays. Offers the clearest daytime view outside but provides the least privacy overall.
5% openness – Blocks 95% of UV rays. Still offers a clear view but with slightly improved privacy.
3% openness – Blocks 97% of UV rays. Softens the outside view and adds a moderate privacy boost.
1% openness – Blocks 99% of UV rays. Limits outside visibility the most and delivers the highest level of privacy among solar shade options.
These percentages directly affect how well your shades will protect your privacy—especially at night. For example, a 1% shade will naturally make it harder to see in after dark, but if you have bright indoor lighting, even the densest weave can still reveal silhouettes or movement.
From personal experience, choosing a lower openness level not only improves daytime privacy but also offers a subtle improvement in nighttime privacy. That said, no solar shade, regardless of its percentage, can guarantee full nighttime privacy if your lights are on and the outside environment is darker.
One of the biggest advantages of solar shades is how well they perform during the day. The combination of outdoor brightness and the shade’s filtering fabric creates a one-way visibility effect—you can see out, but people outside can’t see in.
During daylight hours, even a 10% openness shade can make it difficult for someone outside to see through, unless they are very close and looking directly into the window. The denser the weave (1% or 3%), the more secure you’ll feel knowing your activities inside are not visible from the street or neighboring properties.
In sunny spaces, solar shades can make a huge difference in comfort. They:
Cut down glare so you can watch TV or work on your computer without closing off your room.
Reduce heat gain by blocking UV rays, keeping your interiors cooler.
Preserve your view so you can still enjoy the scenery outside.
It’s worth noting that daytime privacy works best only when the outdoors is brighter than indoors. On cloudy days or at dusk, privacy levels can decrease, so additional window treatments might be necessary if privacy is a high priority.
This is the point where expectations and reality often collide. At night, when the inside of your home is lit and the outside is dark, the direction of light flips. Instead of the outdoor light blocking views inward, your indoor lights illuminate the interior for anyone outside to see.
From outside, the effect can be dramatic: silhouettes, outlines, and even details inside can be visible, especially through shades with higher openness percentages. This is not a flaw in the product—it’s simply physics. Light always travels from the brighter area toward the darker one.
From my own tests, with 5% openness shades in a well-lit living room, you can still see general shapes and movement from outside at night. A 1% openness fabric reduces this significantly, but if privacy is your main concern after dark, the only foolproof solution is to combine your shades with another window covering.
Outdoor lighting can also influence how visible your interiors are at night. For instance:
Bright porch lights or streetlights near your window can actually improve privacy by reducing the contrast between inside and outside.
Complete outdoor darkness makes it easier for anyone outside to see into a well-lit room.
This is why homes in rural or low-light neighborhoods often experience more noticeable nighttime visibility through solar shades than homes in well-lit urban settings.
Breaking it down:
10% openness – Best for preserving the view but worst for nighttime privacy.
5% openness – Good compromise for daylight comfort, but still quite transparent at night.
3% openness – Offers moderate view and better light control, with slightly better privacy at night.
1% openness – Best for reducing visibility after dark but still not fully private without additional coverings.
If nighttime privacy is important to you, 1% or 3% openness fabrics are the most practical choice—but pairing them with another window treatment is the real game-changer.
While privacy is often the first concern, solar shades offer a range of benefits that make them worth considering even if you plan to use them alongside other coverings at night.
Solar shades block up to 99% of UV rays depending on their openness. This helps prevent fading and deterioration of wood floors, rugs, upholstery, and artwork.
They’re perfect for rooms where you want to enjoy daylight without eye strain—such as home offices, living rooms with TVs, or kitchens with big windows.
By blocking sunlight before it enters, solar shades help maintain a cooler indoor environment, which can reduce the need for air conditioning and lower your energy bills.
If you love your solar shades but want more privacy at night, you don’t have to give them up—just layer them with another treatment.
The most effective method is to combine solar shades with blackout curtains or heavy drapes. You can keep the shades down during the day for light control and view, then close the curtains at night for complete privacy.
Dual shades have two separate fabrics—one solar shade for daytime and one blackout or opaque fabric for nighttime. With a simple pull or chain, you can switch between them.
Frosted or tinted window films can reduce nighttime visibility while keeping your daytime view. These can be a good middle ground if you don’t want to install additional curtains.
When selecting solar shades, think about:
Primary function – Is it light control, view, or privacy?
Room location – Bedrooms may need more privacy than living rooms.
View importance – If your view is a priority, go for higher openness during the day, but pair it with privacy solutions for night.
Lighting habits – Bright indoor lighting will increase nighttime visibility through any shade.
So—can you see through solar shades at night? The answer is: yes, to some degree, especially if your lights are on and the outside is dark. The level of visibility depends heavily on the openness percentage, your indoor lighting, and outdoor light conditions.
From experience, the sweet spot for most people is a 3% or 5% openness during the day, combined with a blackout curtain or second shade at night. This gives you the best of both worlds—natural light and views in the daytime, and full privacy after dark.
By understanding how openness works, how light behaves, and how to layer your treatments, you can enjoy all the benefits of solar shades while keeping your home as private as you want, day or night.
