MASTERING LIGHT, PRIVACY & HEAT CONTROL

Nikki
Dec 11, 2025
3 min read

Updated: Dec 15, 2025

Why Layered Roller Shades and Drapery Are the Smartest Window Solution Today.

THE REALITY OF MODERN WINDOWS:

The large windows in modern buildings shower us in natural light, they are also bringing with them a lot of glare on computer screens, heat gain in offices, and inconsistent daytime temperatures. While we love staying in touch with what's going on outside, a little filter can make a huge difference.

CHOOSING THE RIGHT SHADE FABRIC FOR THE SPACE:

Modern Offices

With New office buildings, 1% opacity black is the perfect match.

Employees sitting near windows are experiencing a lot of glare on screens and heat on their backs. 1% black solar shade fabric Cuts that eye strain while letting in enough light that your space doesn't feel dark. This solution also keeps the exterior of the building looking neat and uniform, while letting you maintain a nice view.

Sometimes the heat is still too much, that's when you add on motorized exterior roller shades. This stops that harsh Colorado heat from even entering your buildings. You can install these with a remote so you can operate them individually, or we can help you find a solution that's integrated with your buildings operation system to program exterior shades to move as the sun moves. This added solution will help keep your cooling costs down by preventing the heat from radiating inward off the glass, and they look great paired with interior shades.

In club houses and social amenities within your buildings, you can soften the look and pair roller shades with custom draperies. These spaces generally don't require as much reduction of glare and heat, so a 5% black shade fabric will give you the light filtering you need for events, and custom drapery panels can add a pop of color to the conversation. This combination gives you an elevated modern look, that is welcoming and has the opportunity to be a center piece in your design.

Inside your Home and Multi Dwelling Units

In living spaces, privacy matters! Black shade fabric is great in offices to cut down on your computer glare, but it's not going to give you the privacy you need in a dwelling space. 1% or .5% white, or light-colored roller shades are perfect to give you the privacy you need in your home. They also provide a nice brightness, and great heat control during the day. If Privacy is still a concern, you can shine a small outdoor light in the direction of the shades to completely eliminate silhouettes from being seen outside.

THE POWER OF LAYERING:

Roller shades are the perfect neutral looking backdrop for custom drapery. While your shades provide daytime light filtering and nighttime privacy, your draperies provide a soft human touch to every space. You can choose a sheer fabric to add a conversational color and make your space stand out, or a heavier blackout fabric for full privacy as well as dampening street noises. These two together Give you privacy and endless customization of your space. Amenities' and entryway drapery's paired with shades can give your tenants privacy from street traffic and a beautiful decor centerpiece, as well as cutting down on echoing from people using the areas to gather and meet. Truly a powerhouse duo to make your spaces feel elevated and complete.

SAMPLE SIZE MATTERS:

When making final choices of color and openness, request a larger sample! When you place a larger swatch in your window you can see the glow, undertones and lighting shifts easily. This will help you decide what best matches your space, and what will give you the look you're aiming for from the outside as well. We can provide you a 6" square sample of our roller shade fabrics as well as drapery fabrics, making this process smooth, ensuring you have the exact combination you're looking for.

THE BEST SOLUTIONS ARE LAYERED!

Roller shades aren't meant to handle everything alone, when you layer them with Drapery or exterior shades you can have the exact solution you need. Layering will give you a clean and effortless finished look, while providing less glare, better energy efficiency, and privacy that completes your overall design goals.