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What Are The Three Levels of Light-Blocking Window Treatments?

The top window treatment brands have light-blocking down to a science. If you’ve ever been awakened by bright sunlight or faced constant computer screen glare when working, that science can make your life much easier. The Discount Best Blinds and Shutters design team knows how it all works—we’re happy to explore these levels and identify ideal treatments for every room.

A media room or living room with room-darkening window treatments at Discount Best Blinds & Shutters near Santa Rosa, California (CA)

Level One: Light-Filtering Window Treatments

Light-filtering treatments soften natural light, creating a warm, diffused glow. These options reduce glare and offer privacy without entirely blocking sunlight; we recommend them for interior spaces needing brightness with subtle shading.

Examples:

Best Rooms:

Level one window coverings work well in living rooms, dining rooms, and kitchens. They maintain an inviting ambiance with enough privacy to feel comfortable. Outsiders can’t see inside, and there’s enough light to keep plants thriving.

Level Two: Room-Darkening Window Treatments

These options reduce light significantly but don’t block it entirely. They create a dimmed atmosphere, perfect for rooms requiring quieter and restful environments. Unlike blackout window treatments, room-darkening solutions leave a small amount of illumination to filter through.

Examples:

Best Rooms:

Room-darkening treatments benefit kitchens, bathrooms, offices, and media rooms. They create a tranquil setting for working and immersive movie viewing. We also recommend them for living rooms and dining rooms.

Level Three: Blackout Window Treatments

This is the highest level of light control, blocking nearly all sunlight and outside glare. These treatments create pitch-dark environments, ideal for people who need them to sleep well.

Examples:

Best Rooms:

Nurseries and primary bedrooms are the most popular locations for blackout window treatments. Total darkness also enhances screen visibility and overall viewing quality in home theaters.

Which Level is Right for Your Space?

The answer depends on your daily activities and the ambiance you need. Think about how you use each room, the direction it faces, and the amount of natural light it receives throughout the day.

  • When privacy and soft light are priorities, light-filtering treatments are ideal.
  • Room-darkening options are the way to go to balance privacy and reduced light.

Finally, blackout window treatments can help you and your family get more shut-eye and let in the light at other times

Our Design Team Will Level Up Your Window Treatments

Now that you know the answer to the question, “What are the three levels of light-blocking?” you can get down to business. The Discount Best Blinds and Shutters team will help you select gorgeous Hunter Douglas window treatments and customize them for your home. We proudly serve clients in the Santa Rosa area, including Windsor, Healdsburg, Sebastopol, Occidental, Cotati, Rohnert Park, Petaluma, Novato, San Rafael, Saint Helena, Calistoga, and Kenwood, California, areas. Contact us today for a consultation!