We installed window film on our big front window last winter—honestly, wish we'd done it sooner. It did slightly darken the glass, but nothing drastic or gloomy. Still plenty bright, just softer somehow. UV protection was a bonus too; our sofa fabric stopped fading noticeably. Maybe try a lighter film first if you're worried about losing brightness...worked well for us.
"It did slightly darken the glass, but nothing drastic or gloomy."
Glad you mentioned this, because I've been debating window film myself. Our living room windows are massive—great for views, terrible for bills. Right now, we basically have a love-hate relationship with them: love the sunlight, hate the heating costs. Did you notice any real difference in heating bills after installing the film? I'm all for softer lighting if it means not having to wear three sweaters indoors all winter...
We put film on our big south-facing windows last fall, and honestly, it helped more with glare than heating bills.
sums it up well...noticeable comfort improvement, but still needed extra blankets on colder days. Maybe thicker curtains for winter nights?"nothing drastic or gloomy"
We moved into our first place last year, and the big windows were honestly one of the selling points for us. But yeah, winter was a bit of a wake-up call. We tried some insulating film too, and I agree with you:
"nothing drastic or gloomy"
It definitely cut down on glare, but we still felt chilly drafts on colder days. Ended up getting thicker curtains for nighttime, and that helped noticeably more than the film alone. The curtains seemed to trap heat better overnight, especially if we closed them just before sunset.
One thing I've been wondering about though—has anyone tried cellular shades? I've read they're supposed to be pretty effective at insulation without blocking too much natural light during the day. They're pricier than regular blinds or curtains, so I'm curious if they're actually worth it in terms of energy savings or comfort improvement.
Also, a friend mentioned something about thermal liners you can add behind existing curtains...anyone have experience with those? Seems like a cheaper alternative to replacing all our window treatments again.
We actually installed cellular shades in our living room last year, and honestly, I'm still a bit on the fence about them. They definitely help with drafts—way better than regular blinds or thin curtains—but I wouldn't say they completely transformed our heating bills or anything. Comfort-wise, they're pretty decent; you can feel less cold air near the windows for sure. But as far as energy savings go...it's hard to tell if they've paid off yet.
My sister-in-law went the cheaper route and got thermal liners behind her existing curtains. She swears by them, says they're just as effective at keeping heat in overnight. I've been over there a few times, and it does seem cozy enough without feeling heavy or dark during the day.
So yeah, cellular shades are nice, but if you're mainly looking to save money and already have curtains you like, thermal liners might be worth trying first.
We went with thermal liners behind our curtains a couple winters ago, and honestly, they've been surprisingly effective. Our windows are pretty big, and before the liners, you could literally feel the cold radiating off the glass. Now it's noticeably warmer near the windows—though I wouldn't say our heating bills dropped dramatically either. Still, for the price and ease of installation (no drilling or measuring nightmares!), I'd say they're worth a shot if you're unsure about investing in cellular shades right away.
"Our windows are pretty big, and before the liners, you could literally feel the cold radiating off the glass."
Interesting you mention that—I had a similar issue with our large living room windows. We went the DIY route and added thermal liners too, but I ended up noticing condensation build-up between the liner and the window glass. Have you noticed anything like that at your place? I’m wondering if it’s just my older windows or if this is a more common issue.
Also curious about your point regarding heating bills not dropping dramatically. Makes me think maybe the liners help mostly with comfort rather than actual energy efficiency. Has anyone tried combining thermal liners with other solutions, like weather stripping or film insulation kits? Wondering if layering these methods might make a bigger difference in heating costs.
I’m still debating whether to bite the bullet and upgrade to cellular shades next year. They’re pricier, but I've heard they can significantly improve insulation. Has anyone here actually compared thermal liners directly with cellular shades in terms of noticeable warmth or cost savings? Would love some firsthand insights before making that investment...
We had the condensation issue too when we first put up liners—pretty common, especially with older windows. The liners trap moisture, and without airflow, it just sits there... not great long-term. We ended up adding weather stripping around the frames and using those cheap shrink-wrap film kits on coldest months. Honestly, the combo worked better than liners alone. Cellular shades are tempting though; heard they're a noticeable upgrade comfort-wise.
I've seen similar moisture issues with liners, but I'm not fully convinced about those shrink-wrap kits. Sure, they help short-term, but aren't you essentially sealing moisture in again? Seems like you're trading one condensation problem for another. Cellular shades might be promising, though I'd be curious how well they really manage moisture compared to airflow improvements or even investing in better glass. Maybe upgrading the windows themselves could pay off more in comfort and energy savings down the line...
I've been down this road myself—big windows look amazing until winter hits and suddenly you're wearing three sweaters indoors. Tried the shrink-wrap kits once, and yeah, they helped a bit, but my cat decided it was her new scratching post...so that didn't last long. Plus, you're right about the moisture thing; I ended up with some funky condensation trapped behind the plastic.
Cellular shades were a decent upgrade for me. They definitely cut down drafts and made the room feel warmer, but moisture-wise, they're not miracle workers. Honestly, the best improvement I ever made was biting the bullet and upgrading to double-pane windows. Hurt the wallet at first, but man, what a difference. Heating bills dropped noticeably, and no more indoor fogging or puddles on the sill.
If you're planning to stay put for a while, I'd seriously consider investing in better glass. Short-term fixes are tempting (and cheaper), but sometimes you gotta think long-term comfort...and sanity.