Window treatments are coverings that sit over or around a window. They control light and privacy. They can reduce heat gain in summer and heat loss in winter. Common options include shades, blinds, shutters, and drapery. Exterior options like awnings and screens can block heat before it reaches the glass.
Windows account for 25 – 30% of a home’s heating and cooling energy use. Exterior awnings can reduce summer solar heat gain by up to 65% on south-facing windows and 77% on west-facing windows. Tight-fitting cellular shades can reduce winter heat loss by 40% or more and reduce unwanted summer heat by up to 60 percent. Exterior solar screens, such as SunTex 90, block approximately 90% of UV at the window. These numbers help you choose coverings that keep your Prescott or Yavapai County home cooler in summer and warmer in winter.
What Window Treatments Do
- Reduce cooling load on hot afternoons, especially on south- and west-facing windows.
- Improve winter comfort by adding insulation at the glass.
- Reduce glare and UV that fades floors and fabrics.
- Add privacy and finish the room.
The U.S. Department of Energy field studies report 15 to 25% cooling savings in summer with optimized high-efficiency shades (both interior and exterior), and 12 to 14% heating savings in winter. Exterior products block the sun before it enters the home and can be more effective for solar control in hot environments.
Northern Arizona’s monsoon season runs from June 15 to September 30. Gust fronts can arrive fast in the afternoon. Exterior products and wind sensors help you protect awnings and large exterior shades during sudden winds.
Window Covering Types and When To Use Them
Shades
Shades use fabric that rolls, folds, or stacks. They deliver a clean look and precise control.
- Roller shades. Simple, reliable, and slim. Good in most rooms.
- Solar shades. Reduce UV and glare while keeping your view. Choose an openness that fits your needs. Many living rooms achieve a balance of 5% for a view and control. Openness is a fabric metric that describes the amount of direct light that passes through the weave.
- Cellular or honeycomb. Best for insulation. With a tight fit, interior cellular shades can reduce unwanted solar heat by up to 60% and lower total solar gain to approximately 20%. In winter, tightly installed cellular shades can reduce heat loss by 40 percent or more. Side tracks improve performance and darkening.
- Roman, pleated, sheer, layered, or zebra, and woven wood. These give you a style range from tailored to natural. Add a privacy or blackout liner if you need darkening.
- Exterior roller or solar screens. Stop the heat before it reaches the glass on large west and south windows or patios. Exterior devices are highly effective for solar control in sunny climates.
Blinds
Blinds use hard slats that you tilt to adjust the amount of light that enters. Wood brings a warm look. Faux or composite handles moisture in baths and kitchens. Aluminum and vinyl are durable and budget-friendly. Vertical blinds are ideal for wide sliders and patio doors.
Shutters
Shutters are framed panels with operable louvers. They provide strong privacy and light control, and add a built-in look that many buyers value. Choose wood for rich finishes or composite for high-humidity spaces.
Curtains and Drapery
Drapery softens the room and pairs well with shades. Use sheer fabrics for a glow, and use room-darkening or blackout fabrics for bedrooms and media rooms. Seal edges with returns to prevent light leaks on the cut side. The Department of Energy notes that well-fitted shades and lined drapery increase comfort and performance.
Performance Basics You Should Know
Light and Privacy Terms
Opacity tells you how much light a fabric blocks. Sheer allows light, blackout blocks it. For solar fabrics, openness is shown as a percentage. Lower numbers, such as 1 to 3 percent, block more glare and improve daytime privacy. Higher numbers, such as 10% keep more views and daylight. Mermet defines openness as the component of visible transmission that passes directly through the fabric.
Solar shades are great during the day, but they can be uninviting at night with interior lights on. Layer with drapery or add a second shade for night privacy. Manufacturers advise this choice in buyer guides.
Energy and UV
The Energy Saver program lists interior coverings, such as cellular shades and drapery, and exterior options, like screens and awnings, as proven ways to reduce summer heat and winter loss.
Mounting Choices That Affect Results
Inside Mount
An inside mount fits the product within the frame for a clean, seamless look. It needs enough frame depth. Expect thin light gaps at the sides. Layer with drapery or add side channels for a darker room effect.
Outside Mount
Outside mount covers the frame and trim. It hides gaps, improves darkening, and can make a window look larger. It is also useful when the frame is shallow or out of square.
Controls, Safety, and Smart Options
Choose cordless when you can. A federal safety standard for operating cords on custom window coverings took effect on May 30, 2023. The rule treats hazardous cords as a substantial product hazard. Cordless and motorized options are the safest picks in homes with kids and pets.
Motorization adds convenience and protection.
Use a remote or app and set schedules by time or the sun’s position. For awnings, add a battery-powered wind sensor that automatically retracts when it detects motion from gusts.
Room by Room Picks for Prescott and Yavapai County
Bedrooms
Use blackout cellular or blackout rollers. Consider side tracks or wider outside mounts to seal edges. Pair with lined drapery for fewer light leaks and better noise control. DOE notes that tight-fitting shades and lined drapery increase comfort in sleeping areas.
Great Rooms With Views
Use solar shades at approximately 5% openness to reduce glare while maintaining the view. If the room still overheats in the late afternoon, consider adding exterior screens to the areas that are most exposed to the sun. Exterior shading prevents heat from entering the home.
Kitchens and Baths
Use faux or composite blinds that resist moisture. If you prefer fabric, choose light-filtering rollers with wipe-friendly textiles.
Media Rooms
Use blackout cellular or blackout rollers. Add side channels or go outside mount to reduce light gaps.
Patio Doors and Large Sliders
Use vertical blinds for their practical side-to-side operation. Consider panel tracks or wide rollers for a sleeker look that matches modern interiors.
Care and Upkeep
Vacuum interior fabrics with a soft brush and spot clean with mild soap and water as allowed by the fabric guide. Exterior solar screens + with mild soap and water.
Simple Buying Checklist
- Select the style that suits your room.
- Set your light level. Choose from sheer, light-filtering, room-darkening, or blackout options.
- Plan by orientation. Treat the west and south windows first, since the roof overhangs do little to block light at low sun angles. Awnings can cut solar heat on west windows by up to 77 percent.
- Select inside or outside mount options based on the frame’s depth, squareness, and gap control requirements.
- Select cordless or motorized controls and verify that any corded products comply with the current standard.
Local Factors To Consider
Afternoon winds during the monsoon can stress exterior shades and awnings. Use side retention tracks where gusts are common and add a wind sensor on motorized units. Clean exterior screens a few times a year to remove dust and pollen and maintain airflow and clarity.
Ready for expert help
Get advice in your home. See fabrics in your light. Get a precise quote. Made In The Shade Yavapai is a locally owned and family-operated window treatment company based in Prescott. Owner Dan Yost brings more than 20 years of experience in construction and launched the Yavapai location in 2018 after relocating to Prescott. The team serves homes and businesses across the county, bringing the showroom to you, measuring precisely, and handling professional installation.
You can choose a complete line of shades that includes roller, solar, cellular, Roman, layered, and woven styles, plus motorization for app or remote control. Blinds include wood, faux, aluminum, and vertical. Shutters include wood and composite. For hot exposures and patios, the team installs exterior screens and awnings as an authorized Rainier Shading dealer.
Why local homeowners book us
- Free in-home consultation, we bring the showroom to you. We measure and install.
- Access to industry-leading brands and generous manufacturer warranties, many with limited lifetime coverage.
- Listed as an authorized Rainier Shading dealer for premium exterior screens and awnings.
Book a free visit with Made In The Shade Prescott. Tell us your goals for light, privacy, and comfort. We will recommend options, show samples on site, and provide a clear quote the same day in most cases.
FAQs
Are solar shades private at night?
No. They reduce glare by day but allow silhouettes at night when lights are on. Pair with drapery or add a second shade for night privacy.
What saves the most energy at the window?
Interior cellular shades perform well when tightly installed. Exterior shading and awnings reduce solar heat before it reaches the window. Use both where budgets allow for the most effective results.
Inside or outside mount.
Use an inside mount for a clean look when you have depth. Use an outside mount to hide gaps or when frames are shallow or out of square.
