What Are The Most Energy Efficient Window Coverings?

Winter is on its way, and that means the cold weather is not far off! Heating is a great way to stay warm, but if you don’t have the right coverings on your windows, you’re essentially throwing your money out of them! Good window coverings will keep the heat in by keeping a layer of air between your cold window and the rest of your warm house. Air is a bad conductor and a great insulator, so the bigger and more protected the layer of air, the less heat is escaping out of your house through your windowpanes.

So now that you know how window coverings can save you money this winter, read on to find out about some of your best options.

Honeycomb blinds are a newer invention and feature a design similar to roman blinds. Roman blinds are one strip of fabric with wooden slats embedded which allows them to fold up into a very unobtrusive shape. Honeycomb blinds feature a honeycomb-shaped layer of material sandwiched between the fabric. This gives the low profile and aesthetic appearance of a standard roman blind with a great layer of air stored inside for maximal heat retention without big, bulky and thick curtains.

Blackout curtains are made from a thick, often double-layered fabric, and are designed primarily to keep light out for people who sleep at odd hours or need a very dark space to sleep. An additional benefit is that they’re often close-fitting and made from a thick material, so they also keep air very still behind them and are well insulating. They’ll also keep your room darker at night, which can give you a better night’s sleep.

Sheer curtains are made of thinner, gauzy fabric, and are a great way to have privacy while achieving a bright and romantic space. Sheer curtains are often used behind thicker curtains so that you can keep prying eyes out while still having light in your space. As they’re made with thin fabric, there are plenty of tiny holes which allow airflow so make sure to use a thicker curtain over them at night.

Shutters are wooden or metal slats affixed to a frame that can be pushed to open or close them. They’re very simple to use and don’t have any frustrating cords or ties. They are a sleek and stylish option and are popular for those looking for a farmhouse aesthetic. When closed, they keep a good layer of air between them to keep your house nice and toasty, so earn bonus points for insulation.