Best Window Treatments for a Queensland Summer

Queensland summers put window treatments to the test. The sun is direct, the heat is persistent, and UV levels sit among the highest in the world. What you put on your windows affects how cool the room stays, how much your air conditioning works, and how quickly your furniture and flooring fade.

Here is what works and why: 

Sunscreen roller blinds are the single most effective indoor product for managing heat and glare. A sunscreen fabric blocks UV while letting you see outside and keeping natural light in the room. The fabric density determines how much heat it stops. A five percent openness factor blocks 95 percent of UV and a large portion of heat. A ten percent openness lets more light through but stops less heat. For west facing windows that cop afternoon sun, go with a tighter weave.

Sheer curtains filter light beautifully but are not as effective at heat management as sunscreen roller blinds. They reduce glare and protect against UV, but the fabric is lighter and the heat passes through more easily. In rooms where the window does not face directly into the sun, sheers work well. On north and west facing windows, pair them with a roller blind behind for better thermal performance.

Double roller blinds with a sunscreen daytime layer and a blockout night layer give you the most control in a single product. The sunscreen layer manages daytime heat. The blockout layer provides full darkness and better thermal insulation at night when the room is warmer than outside.

External blinds stop the heat before it reaches the glass, which is the most effective approach. Stopping heat outside the window is always more efficient than trying to manage it after it gets inside. Motorised zip screens on a west facing patio or alfresco area can drop the indoor temperature of the room behind by several degrees.

Plantation shutters provide good airflow management. Open the louvres for breeze, close them for shade. They do not insulate as well as a roller blind with a tight sunscreen fabric, but they manage heat and light while adding airflow, which matters in older homes without ducted air conditioning.

Light coloured fabrics reflect more heat than dark ones. If your priority is keeping the room cool, go light on the fabric colour regardless of the product type.

We consult across Brisbane, Logan, Ipswich, and the Redlands. Book a free in home consultation  and we will assess your windows, your sun exposure, and recommend the right products for each room.