You’ve specified beautiful solar shades for a project, trusting they offer privacy. But when your client turns their lights on after dark, they feel completely exposed, like they're living in a fishbowl.
Yes, people can easily see through solar shades[^1] at night. When your interior lights are on, the daytime privacy effect is completely reversed. From the outside, your home becomes a brightly lit display, while from the inside, you can't see out at all.
As a blinds supplier, this is the most common and critical issue I discuss with project managers like Emma. Solar shades are fantastic for what they do during the day: they cut glare and block UV rays while preserving the view. But that one major drawback—the complete loss of privacy at night—can be a deal-breaker for residential projects, especially in bedrooms and bathrooms. Understanding this limitation is the key to avoiding a costly mistake. Let’s break down the cons of solar shades and look at the best solutions to ensure your clients have privacy 24/7.
What are the main cons of solar shades?
Solar shades seem like the perfect modern solution for managing sunlight. You love the clean look and glare reduction[^2], but you worry there are hidden downsides that could cause problems for your client later on.
The primary con of solar shades is their limited nighttime privacy. They also provide very little insulation[^3] compared to other options like cellular shades and are not capable of creating a true blackout effect.
When I'm working on a project specification, being upfront about a product's limitations is just as important as highlighting its benefits. Solar shades are a fantastic product, but they aren't right for every application, and it's important to understand why.
First and foremost is the nighttime privacy[^4] issue. As soon as the lights go on inside, the see-through effect reverses, making them unsuitable for rooms where privacy is essential, like bedrooms or bathrooms. Second, they offer poor insulation. While they do an excellent job of blocking solar heat gain, they don't do much to prevent heat loss in colder climates because the woven fabric doesn't trap air like cellular shades do. Finally, they only filter light; they don’t block it. Even a 1% solar shade won't create the total darkness needed for a media room[^5] or nursery, which makes blackout shades a much better choice for those spaces.
Do 1% solar shades provide privacy at night?
You know that solar shades can be transparent, but you figure a fabric with a very low 1% openness factor should solve the problem. You need to be certain before specifying it for a sensitive area like a bedroom.
No, even 1% solar shades do not provide privacy at night. While they block 99% of UV rays, they still allow people to see inside your home once your interior lights are on. Silhouettes and movement will be visible from the outside.
This is one of the biggest misconceptions I have to clear up for designers and contractors. The openness factor percentage only refers to how much UV light is filtered, not how opaque the shade is at night. The "fishbowl" effect happens because light always moves from the brighter area to the darker one. At night, your warmly lit interior is much brighter than the dark street outside. This causes the shade to become transparent from the outside looking in, regardless of how tight the weave is. While a 1% openness factor will obscure fine details better than a 10% fabric, it absolutely will not provide the level of privacy required for a bedroom or bathroom. I’ve spoken to homeowners who were mortified after discovering their neighbors could see right into their home through the expensive "privacy" shades they had installed.
What blinds are best for nighttime privacy?
Your clients need guaranteed privacy, especially in bedrooms and bathrooms. Solar shades aren't the right fit for this, so you need to know which window treatments[^6] offer complete light and privacy control after dark.
For the best nighttime privacy, choose window treatments made from truly opaque materials. Blackout roller shades, blackout cellular shades[^7], heavy fabric Roman shades, and plantation shutters are all excellent options for total privacy.
When a project demands absolute privacy, I always steer my clients toward one of a few reliable solutions. The key is to select a product that physically blocks the view, not just filters it.
| Blind Type | Privacy Level | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Blackout Roller Shades | Total | Bedrooms, Media Rooms |
| Blackout Cellular Shades | Total | Bedrooms, Cold Climates |
| Dual-Roller Shades | Total (at night) | All rooms needing 24/7 flexibility |
| Plantation Shutters | Total | Traditional designs, Living Rooms |
For clients who want the daytime benefits of a solar shade, the best solution is a Dual-Roller system[^8]. This combines a solar shade for daytime use and a blackout shade for nighttime privacy, all within a single compact bracket. The client gets a perfect view during the day and complete privacy when they need it. It's the ultimate solution for 24-hour coverage.
Are solar shades worth the money?
After learning about their limitations, you're wondering if solar shades are a good investment. The cost can be higher than traditional blinds, and you need to justify the expense for the right application.
Solar shades are absolutely worth the money for spaces where daytime glare and UV protection[^9] are the priority. For rooms needing nighttime privacy or high insulation, their value is limited unless they are part of a layered system.
The value of solar shades really depends on the project's goals. I always ask my partners to consider a few key factors to determine if they are the right fit. For commercial spaces, living rooms with beautiful views, or any room with heavy sun exposure, they are an excellent choice. They protect expensive furniture, flooring, and artwork from fading by blocking up to 99% of UV rays. They also dramatically reduce glare, making it much more comfortable to work on a computer or watch TV.
When it comes to performance, exterior-mounted shades[^10] are more effective at blocking heat, as they stop the sun's energy before it hits the window glass. Interior shades, however, are easier to install, maintain and offer far more design flexibility. But for rooms that require nighttime privacy, like bedrooms or ground-floor bathrooms, a solar shade by itself is a poor investment. In these cases, their true value comes from being part of a dual-roller system, which delivers the best of both worlds.
Conclusion
Solar shades are a great solution for daytime glare and UV control but fail to provide nighttime privacy. For a complete, 24-hour solution, pairing them with a blackout layer in a dual-roller system is the most effective approach.
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[^1]: Learn more about the effectiveness of solar shades for nighttime privacy and their limitations.
[^2]: Find out which window treatments effectively reduce glare while maintaining your view.
[^3]: Learn how different window treatments can improve insulation and energy efficiency in your home.
[^4]: Explore this link to discover effective window treatments that ensure complete privacy at night.
[^5]: Explore the ideal window treatments that ensure complete darkness for an optimal media room experience.
[^6]: Find comprehensive information on window treatments that balance privacy and light control effectively.
[^7]: Discover the benefits of blackout cellular shades for insulation and nighttime privacy.
[^8]: Understand how a Dual-Roller system combines the benefits of solar and blackout shades for optimal privacy.
[^9]: Discover how various window treatments can protect your interiors from harmful UV rays.
[^10]: Explore the advantages of exterior-mounted shades for better heat blocking and energy efficiency.Partner with VelaBlinds for Your Next Project
Smart window treatments shouldn't be complicated. After working with 500+ distributors and contractors worldwide, I've streamlined the process to get you quality products, competitive pricing, and reliable support - every time.
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