If you love natural light and your view but not the glare, heat, and fading that come with it, solar shades were made for your windows. They're one of the most misunderstood window treatments out there, so here's a plain-English guide to what solar shades are, how they work, what the "openness" number means, and whether they're right for your home.
Quick answer: Solar shades are roller shades made from a tightly woven mesh fabric that screens sunlight instead of blocking it. They cut glare, block most UV rays (roughly 95–99%), and reduce solar heat, all while keeping your view to the outside and letting natural light in. The weave's "openness factor" (commonly 1%, 3%, or 5%) sets the balance between sun control and view. They're ideal for glare and UV control, but they are not a room-darkening or nighttime-privacy product.
What Are Solar Shades?
A solar shade is a single flat panel of screen-like fabric that rolls up and down on a slim tube at the top of your window, exactly like a standard roller shade. What makes it "solar" is the fabric: a tight, technical mesh (often a PVC-coated polyester or similar screen weave) designed to filter the sun. Instead of a solid, opaque material that blocks light, the mesh has thousands of tiny openings that let you see through it while cutting the sun's glare, heat, and ultraviolet rays.
The easiest way to picture it: solar shades are sunglasses for your windows. You still see out, the room still feels bright, but the harsh edge of direct sun is gone. Curtarra's solar option, Leo Custom Weave Solar Shades, is custom-woven, cut to your exact window, and available cordless or motorized.
How Do Solar Shades Work?
Solar shades work by screening rather than blocking. The mesh reflects and absorbs a large share of the sun's energy before it enters the room, which does three things at once:
- Cuts glare so screens, monitors, and TVs stay readable and the room isn't blinding.
- Blocks UV rays (about 95–99% depending on the weave), which protects floors, furniture, and artwork from fading.
- Reduces solar heat gain, so sun-facing rooms stay more comfortable, especially in summer.
Because the weave is open rather than solid, all of that happens without shutting out daylight or your view. That's the entire point of a solar shade, and the reason it behaves so differently from a blackout shade.
What Is the Openness Factor?
The single most important spec on any solar shade is its openness factor, the percentage of the fabric that is open weave versus solid fiber. It decides the trade-off between sun control and view:
- Lower openness (1%) = a denser weave = the most glare, UV, and heat control, plus the most daytime privacy, with a softer view.
- Higher openness (5%) = a more open weave = the clearest view and brightest room, with a bit more light and glare getting through.
Curtarra's Leo Solar Shades come in 1%, 3%, and 5% openness. If you want the full breakdown of which number fits which room, see our deep dive: 1% vs. 3% vs. 5% vs. 10% solar shades.
What Solar Shades Do: The Benefits
| Benefit | What it does | Best openness |
|---|---|---|
| Glare control | Tames harsh sun on screens and TVs without darkening the room | 1–3% |
| UV protection | Blocks ~95–99% of UV to reduce fading of floors and furniture | 1% (most), any (a lot) |
| Heat reduction | Reflects solar heat to keep sun-facing rooms cooler | 1% |
| Keeps the view | See-through weave preserves your outdoor view and daylight | 5% |
| Clean, modern look | Flat fabric and slim roller, no pleats, folds, or bulky hardware | Any |
Can You See Through Solar Shades?
Yes, from the inside during the day you can see out through a solar shade, that's the whole appeal. From the outside during the day, it's harder to see in because the exterior is brighter than the interior, which gives you reasonable daytime privacy (more so at lower openness like 1%).
At night, this reverses. Once it's dark outside and your interior lights are on, people can see in through a solar shade, especially at higher openness. So solar shades are a daytime solution. If a room needs privacy after dark, plan to pair them with a blackout shade or drape.
Do Solar Shades Block UV Rays?
Yes. Blocking UV is one of solar shades' core jobs, they screen out roughly 95–99% of ultraviolet rays depending on the openness factor, with a 1% weave blocking the most. That significantly slows the fading of hardwood floors, rugs, upholstery, and artwork, while still letting you enjoy daylight and the view. (A blackout shade blocks 100% of UV, but it also blocks 100% of your view.)
Cordless and Motorized Options
Solar shades come in the same lifts as other roller shades. Cordless is the safest choice for homes with children or pets, there are no dangling cords, which is why it's our default. Motorized solar shades are ideal for large or hard-to-reach windows and integrate with smart-home routines (raise them at sunrise, lower them in the afternoon). Learn more in our guide to how cordless roller shades work.
Solar Shades vs. Other Shades
Solar shades are a type of roller shade, the difference is the screen fabric. Here's how they compare to the other common roller options:
| Type | Light & view | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Solar shades | Screens light; keeps the view | Glare, UV, heat while keeping the view |
| Light-filtering | Diffuses light into a soft glow; obscures the view | Soft daylight + daytime privacy, no clear view |
| Blackout | Blocks all light and view | Full darkness + round-the-clock privacy |
Want the detailed head-to-head? Read solar shades vs. blackout roller shades, or if diffused light is what you're after, our guide to choosing light-filtering roller shades (featuring Lillian). For nighttime darkness, see our blackout roller shade guide (featuring Derick).
Where to Use Solar Shades
Solar shades shine anywhere you have a sun problem but want to keep the light and view, home offices (screen glare), large and view windows, west- and south-facing rooms, and bright living rooms, kitchens, dining rooms, and sunrooms. For a room-by-room breakdown with the right openness for each, see solar shades for every room.
How to Choose and Measure Solar Shades
Choosing is straightforward: pick your openness based on the room's main problem (1–3% for glare, UV, heat, and privacy; 5% to prioritize the view), decide cordless vs. motorized, and confirm whether you'll also need nighttime privacy (if so, plan to layer). Then measure, an outside mount blocks the most edge light, while either mount works for solar. Our measuring guide walks you through it, and every Curtarra shade is made to your exact window with free color-card samples so you can test the weave in your own light.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are solar shades used for?
Solar shades reduce glare, block most UV rays, and cut solar heat while keeping your view and natural light. They're used in rooms where the sun is a problem but you don't want to lose daylight, home offices, large or view windows, west- and south-facing rooms, and bright living areas. They are not meant for full room darkening or nighttime privacy.
How do solar shades work?
Solar shades use a tightly woven mesh fabric that screens sunlight instead of blocking it. The weave reflects and absorbs much of the sun's energy, cutting glare, UV, and heat, while its tiny openings let you see out and keep the room bright. The openness factor sets how much view versus sun control you get.
Can you see through solar shades?
During the day you can see out from the inside, and it's harder for others to see in because the outside is brighter, giving reasonable daytime privacy. At night, with interior lights on, the effect reverses and people can see in, more so at higher openness. Solar shades are a daytime product; layer a blackout shade for nighttime privacy.
Do solar shades block UV rays?
Yes, solar shades block roughly 95–99% of UV rays depending on the openness factor, with a 1% weave blocking the most. This helps protect floors, furniture, and artwork from fading while you keep the view and daylight.
Are solar shades the same as roller shades?
Solar shades are a type of roller shade, they roll up and down on the same slim tube. The difference is the fabric: solar shades use a see-through screen mesh, while standard roller shades use light-filtering or blackout fabric that obscures or blocks the view.
What openness factor should I choose?
Choose 1% for maximum glare, UV, and heat control and the most daytime privacy; 5% when the view comes first; and 3% as the balanced all-rounder. Curtarra's Leo Solar Shades come in 1%, 3%, and 5% openness.
Keep Reading
Ready to tame the sun without losing your view? Curtarra's Leo Solar Shades are custom-made in 1%, 3%, and 5% openness, cordless or motorized. Order free color-card samples to test the weave in your own light.
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