Trying to figure out how to get more daylight into my living room, but not end up with a sauna every afternoon. My windows face west, so I get blasted by sun for a couple hours and it’s bright, but honestly kind of uncomfortable in summer. I’ve heard about light shelves and special glass coatings, but I don’t really know what actually works. I’d rather avoid adding a bunch of blinds or blackout curtains if I can help it—just want it to feel open and airy without sacrificing comfort. Anyone have luck with specific window films, or maybe those exterior shades? Or maybe something I haven’t thought of? Curious to hear what’s worked (or totally flopped) for other folks.
Had the same issue with my west-facing living room—brutal in the afternoons, especially in July. I tried a low-e window film that claims to block heat but let light through. It definitely helped with the temperature, but honestly, it made the light a bit cooler (almost bluish) and not quite as “natural” feeling to me. I’ve heard about exterior solar shades too, but never pulled the trigger. Has anyone compared those to films? Or maybe tried adjustable awnings? Curious if it’s worth the investment or just another thing to maintain...
Tried both—window film first, then switched to exterior solar shades last summer. The shades made a bigger difference for heat, and the light feels more natural, not weirdly tinted. Yeah, they need occasional cleaning, but honestly, worth the hassle over that bluish film effect.
I’ve seen a bunch of folks go back and forth between films and shades, and honestly, I get the appeal of both. That bluish tint from some films can really mess with the vibe indoors, especially in older homes where the natural light is a big selling point. I helped install exterior shades for a client last July, and it was wild how much cooler their living room stayed—even on those brutal afternoons. The cleaning part’s not too bad if you’re already up there doing gutters or windows anyway. Did you notice any difference in your AC bill after switching?
Exterior shades are definitely a solid option for west-facing windows, especially if you’re trying to keep that open feel. I’ve seen them cut heat gain by a surprising amount—sometimes 60% or more, depending on the fabric and how tight they fit. The tradeoff is you’ll lose a little bit of your view when they’re down, but it’s not as closed-in as blackout curtains. Window films can help too, but you’re right about the tint; some of the cheaper ones really do mess with the color of the light. I usually recommend looking for spectrally selective films—they block infrared heat but let most visible light through, so you still get that daylight without the “oven” effect. Not the cheapest fix, but less intrusive than big shades or heavy drapes. If you ever try light shelves, let us know how they go—I’ve only seen them in commercial spaces, but I’m curious if they’d work in a regular living room.