5 Window Treatments that Make Your Home More Comfortable Year-Round

Colorado is known for extreme weather. Winter brings high winds, snow, and subzero temps while summer brings heat and lots of sun. For Colorado homes, the best window coverings balance intense sun, wild temperature swings, and the arid high-plains desert climate. 

Insulating Window Treatments are the Best for Colorado Homes

In order to balance the extreme weather cycles in Colorado, you want a window covering that is going to insulate from summer heat and winter cold. Insulating treatments can make your home more comfortable year round. 

Insulating window treatments can also help you reduce your energy bills. Insulating treatments can block heat from the summer sun and keep the chill out during the winter, keeping the inside of your home at a more stable temperature year round. This means that your heater and AC don’t have to work as hard to keep your home comfortable. 

When shopping for insulating window treatments, there are a few key designs that can help provide the highest insulation possible. These key features that are perfect for Colorado homes include:

• Pocketed design that traps hot/cold air
• Solar material that reduces intense sunlight
• Real wood, which is naturally more insulating
• Gapless installation that minimizes space between the edge of your window frame and your window covering
• Linings that provide an extra barrier to sunlight and hot/cold temps

The Top 5 Window Treatments for Colorado Homes

Let’s get into our top recommendations for window coverings for Colorado homes!

1 | Cellular Shades

Cellular shades, also known as honeycomb shades, are the most insulating window covering out there. Their pocketed/cellular design traps both hot and cold air, keeping your home comfortable year round. 

These shades aren’t what was in your grandmother’s home. These updated, modern versions come in a variety of colors and fabrics to choose from that give you endless chic and stylish options. Opt for a solar lining on the back for even more insulating properties. We recommend going cordless, especially if you have a home with pets or small children. 

2 | Blinds and Interior Shutters

Blinds and shutters both offer a louvered design that gives you full light filtering and privacy control. There are many options to choose from for both of these highly-popular window treatments, from slat width to color/stain. Interior shutters also give you choices for moulding around your window frame, hidden tilt, independent control of the top and bottom slats, and more. 

If you have a window with really strong and direct sunlight or a room with high humidity (like a bathroom or kitchen), we recommend opting for faux wood. While it’s not as naturally insulating as real wood, you won’t have to worry about your window covering cracking, fading, or warping. For blinds, we recommend opting for cordless, especially if you have a home with pets or small children! 

Because shutters are installed to fit the entire opening of your window casing, it minimizes the gaps that hot and cold air can seep through, making it very insulating (no matter the material you choose). Plus, they are so desirable by home buyers that they are willing to shell out more money for them, making interior shutters the only window covering that add value to your home. 

Love the look of blinds or shutters but want something a little softer? Ask our design experts about Dual (Zebra) Shades! 

3 | Solar/Roller Shades

Solar and roller shades can help block intense sunlight and are ideal for sunny exposures. We do not recommend installing solar shades in rooms that require privacy, such as bedrooms and bathrooms. Because of their design, they block your view entirely during the day, but at night, you can see through them when the lights are on in your home. Because of this, we recommend installing solar shades in rooms such as kitchens, media rooms, and living rooms. 

Solar shades are made from a material that reduces or blocks harmful UV rays. Roller shades come in a variety of materials, including natural materials like bamboo or reed grass. We recommend opting for a cordless mechanism for homes with small children and pets. 

4 | Fabric Shades with a Lining

If you love soft window treatments over hard or modern window treatments, you can make other fabric shades, such as roman shades, more insulating with a lining. These are great for bedrooms and nurseries, especially with a blackout lining. Not only does it make your room more cozy year round, but it can help reduce light and noise at night or during nap times. 

5 | Motorized and Smart Shades

You can instantly make any window treatment more insulating by making it motorized or smart! This is also great for any hard-to-reach window, like story windows, oversized windows, and skylights. Simply touch a button on a remote, use voice command with your smart home assistant, or create a schedule in a coordinating app to close and open your window covering when you want. 

The Colorado Window Covering Experts

Elevated Views is dedicated to improving your living and working spaces with beautiful, functional, and insulating window coverings. We service homeowners and businesses in Colorado Springs, the Front Range, and nearby areas. We are locally and family owned, so we understand what it is like to live, work, and play in Colorado! Our trained and experienced staff are here to help you select the perfect insulating window treatment for your Colorado home. 

Request a free in-home consultation today and we’ll bring the showroom to you!