How to Choose Roller Shade Fabric

When you're ready to hang your own roller shade, you need to follow a few simple steps. First, you'll need to find the exact location of your roller shade. Then, you'll want to determine which side of the shade's fabric will roll up. The fabric's direction will either reveal the roller or hide it. This is dependent on the material used to make the roller rod.

The fabric you choose will depend on a number of factors. These include the color, weave/construction, openness factor, and mounting position. Of these, color is probably the most important, as it will have a direct impact on how well the shade performs in a window. Light and dark screen fabrics both have their strengths and weaknesses. Darker shades reduce glare and improve visibility from inside, but they also absorb more solar energy than light-colored fabrics, decreasing energy efficiency.

You can choose from a number of fabrics for your roller shade, including blackout and sheer fabrics. These fabrics are great for keeping heat out in summer and warmth in during winter. Moreover, they are available in various patterns and colors. If you live in the Arizona Valley, duotone fabrics are best for blocking summer heat.

Another factor to consider is the total solar transmittance, which is the percentage of solar energy absorbed by the shade fabric. This value should add up to 100 to determine the fabric's effectiveness.