Summer Window Coverings to Keep Heat Out
Reflect solar heat, reduce glare, and keep your home cooler without changing the thermostat.
Unprotected windows are the biggest source of summer heat gain in most homes. The sun comes through the glass, heats the room, and your air conditioner works harder to compensate. The right window coverings block that heat before it enters the room, keeping your home cooler without touching the thermostat. One Stop Decorating has been helping Kansas City homeowners solve this problem for over 30 years.
How Window Treatments Block Summer Heat
Heat enters your home through windows in two ways. Radiant heat comes directly from sunlight passing through the glass. Conducted heat transfers through the glass itself, even when the sun is not shining directly on it. The right window treatment addresses one or both, depending on the product.
Which Window Treatments Block the Most Heat?
Solar shades
The most effective interior solution for blocking summer heat gain. The fabric is engineered to reflect solar radiation before it enters the room while still preserving your view. Openness factor matters here. A tighter weave blocks more heat and more glare. Best on south and west-facing windows that take direct afternoon sun.
Cellular shades
The best option for insulation in both directions. The honeycomb cell structure traps air between the glass and the room, reducing heat transfer significantly. Double and triple cell configurations offer the highest performance. Hunter Douglas Duette Honeycomb Shades are the benchmark in this category.
Roller shades with solar or blackout fabric
A clean, minimal option that works well in rooms where aesthetics matter as much as performance. Solar fabric blocks heat and glare while maintaining the view. Blackout fabric maximizes heat blocking but eliminates the view entirely.
Sheer shades and shadings
A middle-ground option that diffuses harsh sunlight without blocking it completely. Hunter Douglas Silhouette and Pirouette Shades soften direct sun while keeping the room bright and the view intact. Not the strongest heat blocker, but significantly better than bare glass.
Lined drapery
Floor-to-ceiling drapery with a thermal or blackout liner adds meaningful insulating value, especially when panels extend beyond the window frame on all sides. Best used in combination with a shade for maximum heat blocking performance.
Where Summer Heat Enters Your Home First
Not every window contributes equally to summer heat gain. Focus here first:
South-facing windows
Receive direct sun for most of the day. Solar shades or cellular shades make the biggest impact here.
West-facing windows
Take the harshest afternoon sun when temperatures are already at their peak. The most common source of late-day overheating in living rooms and bedrooms.
Large windows and glass doors
More glass means more heat. Sliding glass doors, picture windows, and floor-to-ceiling openings amplify the problem and benefit most from sun-blocking shades.
What to Expect When You Get Heat-Blocking Window Shades
Lower cooling costs
Blocking solar heat gain before it enters the room reduces the load on your air conditioner. The savings are most noticeable in rooms with large or south and west-facing windows.
Improved comfort year-round
Rooms with large unprotected windows are often uncomfortable regardless of what the thermostat says. The right shade eliminates hot spots and makes the room actually feel like the temperature it is set to.
Glare reduction
Harsh sun on screens and surfaces makes rooms difficult to use during peak hours. Solar and sheer shades reduce glare without darkening the room or blocking the view.
Automated heat control
Motorized shades on a schedule close automatically during peak afternoon heat and open again in the evening, every day, without any input from you. Hunter Douglas PowerView Motorization lets you program this once and forget it. The energy savings add up quickly, and the comfort difference is immediate.
UV protection
Sun-blocking shades reduce UV exposure inside the room, protecting furniture, flooring, and artwork from fading over time.
Product Options We Recommend
Hunter Douglas
Hunter Douglas solar shades, Duette Honeycomb Shades, Silhouette Shades, and Designer Roller Shades are our most recommended products for summer heat control. Many are available with PowerView Motorization for automated scheduling. The combination of the right fabric and an automated schedule delivers the best results for energy efficiency and comfort.
Alta by Hunter Douglas
Alta offers solar shades and cellular shades at a more accessible price point, backed by the same parent company. A practical choice for homes with multiple south or west-facing windows where the budget per window is a consideration. Solid heat blocking performance without the premium price tag.
How Our Process Works
1
Free in-home consultation
2
Measure and quote
Precise measurements and a detailed quote before anything is ordered. No surprises.
3
Professional installation
4
Final walkthrough
We walk you through how to use your treatments for maximum summer comfort before we leave.
Why Kansas City Homeowners Choose One Stop Decorating
One Stop Decorating is a family-owned window treatment company based in Kansas City, Missouri. Brandon Roellchen has been in this industry his entire career and built One Stop Decorating on the belief that the right product, installed correctly, should make your home easier to live in. Summer heat control is one of the most common problems Kansas City homeowners bring to us, and it is one we solve every day.
When you work with us, here is what you can expect:
- Authorized Hunter Douglas Gallery Dealer
- Hunter Douglas Certified Motorization Specialist
- Free in-home consultation with no obligation
- Professional measuring and installation
- 1,469 five-star reviews from Kansas City homeowners
Verify our listing at hunterdouglas.com/locator.
Ready to Keep the Heat Out This Summer?
The right window coverings to keep heat out make a real difference in how comfortable your home feels and how much you spend on cooling. One Stop Decorating carries Hunter Douglas and Alta by Hunter Douglas sun blocking shades and heat control solutions for every window and every budget in Kansas City. Give us a call or stop by our showroom to see your options in person.
Frequently Asked Questions About Window Coverings to Keep Heat Out
What window treatments block the most heat?
Solar shades are the most effective interior option for blocking radiant heat from direct sunlight. Cellular shades are the best option for overall insulation, reducing heat transfer through the glass in both directions.
Do blackout shades keep heat out?
Yes. Blackout fabric blocks virtually all light and the solar heat that comes with it. The trade-off is that you lose the view and natural light entirely. For rooms where that is acceptable, blackout shades are one of the most effective heat-blocking options available.
What is the best shade for west-facing windows?
Solar shades with a tight openness factor, typically 1 to 3 percent, are the most effective for west-facing windows that take direct afternoon sun. Cellular shades are a strong alternative if insulation is the priority over view preservation.
Do window treatments actually reduce cooling costs?
Yes. Solar shades are engineered to reflect solar radiation before it enters the room, and cellular shades are widely recognized as one of the most effective options for reducing heat transfer through glass. The savings are most noticeable in rooms with large or south and west-facing windows.
Can heat-blocking shades be motorized?
Yes. Hunter Douglas PowerView Motorization lets you schedule your shades to close automatically during peak afternoon heat. Automated scheduling is the most effective way to get consistent energy savings without relying on remembering to close your shades every day.