Custom Solar Shades in Northwest Washington
Solar shades use specially designed screen fabrics to manage bright sunlight and glare while maintaining varying levels of outdoor visibility. Their clean, rolling design works well in homes, offices, and other spaces with sun-exposed windows.
Lorraine’s Window Coverings provides custom solar shades for homes and businesses throughout Whatcom, Skagit, Island, and San Juan counties. Our team will help you compare openness levels, colors, controls, and mounting options before professionally measuring and installing your shades.
Openness Levels, Colors, and View-Through
A solar shade’s openness level describes how tightly the fabric is woven. More open fabrics generally preserve a clearer view but provide less glare control and daytime privacy. Tighter fabrics provide greater coverage but reduce the view.
Fabric color also affects performance and appearance. Darker colors often provide clearer outward visibility, while lighter colors may reflect more visible light and create a softer appearance.
Our team will help you compare samples at the window so you can evaluate the view, glare reduction, privacy, and room appearance.
Where Do Solar Shades Work Best?
Solar shades may be a good choice for:
- Living rooms
- Kitchens
- Dining rooms
- Home offices
- Media spaces
- Large windows
- Commercial offices
- Conference rooms
They are especially useful for windows that receive direct sunlight or create glare on screens. Solar shades are not usually the best standalone choice when complete nighttime privacy or room darkening is required.
Solar Shades Compared with Roller Shades
Solar shades and standard roller shades use a similar rolling system, but their fabrics perform differently.
Solar fabrics contain small openings that help preserve outdoor visibility while managing glare and sunlight. Standard roller shade materials offer a broader selection of decorative, light-filtering, and room-darkening options.
Choose solar shades when glare control and view-through are priorities. Choose light-filtering or room-darkening roller shades when privacy or stronger light control is more important.
Why Choose Solar Shades?
Solar shades are designed for windows where glare reduction and daytime view-through are important.
Benefits may include:
- Reduced glare on televisions and computer screens
- Varying levels of outdoor visibility
- Management of direct sunlight
- A clean, streamlined appearance
- Multiple openness levels
- Cordless operating options
- Motorization on compatible products
- Options for homes and commercial spaces
Performance depends on the fabric, openness level, color, window orientation, fit, and exterior lighting conditions.
Quality Brands Selected with Care
We partner with respected manufacturers known for design, innovation, reliability, and product support. Working with multiple brands allows us to recommend solutions across a range of styles, performance needs, and budgets. Instead of applying the same product to every project, we help you compare the features and materials that make sense for your particular space. Available brands, collections, fabrics, finishes, and operating systems may vary.
Custom Measured and Professionally Installed
Personal Service From Consultation Through Installation
Once you select your window treatments, our team takes precise measurements and coordinates the ordering process. When the products are ready, our professional installers mount, align, and test each treatment before explaining its operation and care.
This full-service approach provides:
Personalized design guidance, accurate window measurements, products custom ordered for your space, professional installation, motorization setup when applicable, product operation and care guidance, and continued assistance after
installation.
Step 1:
Explore your options
Visit our showroom or contact us to discuss your project.
Step 2:
Schedule A free consultation
We evaluate your windows, design preferences, and functional needs.
Step 3:
Professional measuring & ordering
We confirm the details and order treatments made for your windows.
step 4: Professional installation
We install, test, and demonstrate your finished window treatments.
Visit Our Bellingham Showroom
Compare Window Treatments in Person
Pictures and samples are helpful, but operating a shade or seeing a fabric in natural light can make choosing much easier. Our Bellingham showroom features more than 40 displays, allowing you to compare blinds, shades, shutters, drapery, motorized products, and other custom solutions in person.
Our designers can walk you through differences in materials, light filtration, privacy, durability, and operating options. You can also experience motorized window treatments firsthand and explore options from Hunter Douglas, Springs Window Fashions, Alta, Lafayette Interior Fashions, Norman, and more.
Showroom Address:
410 W. Bakerview Road, Suite 101
Bellingham, WA 98226
Frequently asked questions
The openness level describes the amount of open space in the fabric’s weave. A more open fabric generally provides a clearer view, while a tighter weave provides greater coverage and glare control.
Solar shades can provide daytime privacy when exterior light is brighter than interior light. At night, illuminated interiors may be visible from outside. A second treatment may be needed when nighttime privacy is important.
Solar shades preserve varying levels of outdoor visibility. The view depends on the openness level, fabric color, interior lighting, exterior lighting, and viewing distance.
No. Solar shades manage sunlight and glare but do not eliminate all incoming light. Performance varies by fabric and window orientation.
Solar shades can reduce exposure to direct sunlight, which may help limit fading over time. Actual protection depends on the fabric, openness level, window, orientation, and use.
Cordless operation is available for many solar shade collections. Compatibility depends on the product, dimensions, fabric, and manufacturer.
Yes. Motorization is available for many solar shade collections. Depending on the system, shades may operate with a remote, wall control, mobile application, schedule, or compatible smart-home platform.
Solar shades are available for many large windows. Maximum dimensions depend on the fabric, tube, controls, motor, and manufacturer. Some openings may require multiple coordinated shades.
Exterior solar shades are available as separate products designed for outdoor conditions. Interior solar shades should not be installed outdoors unless specifically approved by the manufacturer.
