With temperatures set to rise, it can be tempting to assume that less is more when it comes to keeping cool. But while it can work with clothes, dressing your windows requires an entirely different approach.
While it is fairly common knowledge that closing your curtains can prevent Overheating In your home, it seems that building a ‘window stack’ may be more successful in the warmer months.
Our window experts say that’s actually a very rare case.
What is window stacking?
However, the Type of windows While what you have in your home will go some way to defining your choice of window coverings, window stacks aren’t limited to just one type of material or fabric.
Instead, it’s about properly layering products so they help keep your home cool.
Helen O’Connor, Product and Trends Manager 247 blinds explains. “A window stack is essentially a strategic combination of window dressings, curated into a ‘stack’ to give homeowners additional control over elements such as light, temperature, privacy and the overall feel of their home.”
It’s about choosing three different layers of covering, each with its own set of features that, when combined in the right order, give you maximum control over heat coming in in summer and heat out in winter.
“Applying different layers to your windows makes your space more dynamic,” adds Helen, “playing a definite role in your home’s ‘ecosystem’, and preparing your home for those moments where you want to let in sunlight, or keep cool.”
How to make a window stack
Helen O’Connor says there are three main steps to building a window stack.
1. Start with a controllable base level
Consider the first layer of your window stack, “the first line of defense when it comes to managing sunlight,” says Helen, recommending Venetian or slatted blinds as the best starting point.
Adjustable slats mean you can tilt and redirect sunlight away from the room, as it were. Adjusting your shutter slats Will help prevent heat loss in winter. When homeowners often ask Do blinds keep heatGiven that they keep it out in the winter, how you tilt it makes the window stack work.
“Tilting your blinds slats helps reduce glare and prevent rooms from overheating, especially in south-facing rooms where sunlight is more intense throughout the day,” explains Helen.
2. Add a medium layer that filters light
“Your second level should soften the light and help regulate the temperature without making the room feel dark and heavy,” says Helen. The goal is to make your home feel light and airy rather than dark and stuffy.
“For this, sheer or lightweight curtains or drapes work perfectly without compromising the overall style of the room,” she recommends.
“Lighter fabric will help diffuse harsh sunlight and reduce hot air circulation, while still allowing daylight Ideal for keeping a room bright but comfortable during peak hours of the day, to flow through the space.”
Try this technique in a south-facing living room or bedroom where the heat can rise during the day, making it uncomfortable to spend time after you come in for the evening.
3. Finish with your ‘heaviest’ layer
“For your final layer, it’s all about insulation,” says Helen. And while it’s easy to associate the word insulation with warmth, it’s a common mistake to forget that it also helps keep homes cool.
“A thick, thermal or blackout curtain is a great addition when the temperature really rises,” advises Helen. “Closing these curtains during the hottest parts of the day will help block excess heat and sunlight, and act as a thermal resistance barrier that keeps the room cooler for longer.
“I would recommend going for a lighter shade of curtain,” he adds, “to block light and heat rather than absorb it.”
Shop for window stacks
accommodation
Housing Wooden White 50 mm Slate Venetian Tape Blind – 60 cm
Start with an adjustable slat blind like this white wooden one with stylish fabric tape.
Debehams
Zanzibar woven stripe voile curtain panel
Add a lightweight voile with a semi-transparent finish, like this fashionable striped voile panel, as your mid-layer.
Debenhams
A pair of thermal ready eyelet blackout curtains
Complete your window stack with a pair of blackout curtains in a light color for thermal protection.
Window stacking errors
Of course, as with any measure to prevent overheating or keep warm, there’s a fine line between too much and too little that can lead to problems. So what should and shouldn’t you do with a window stack?
“A big mistake is not giving your curtains, blinds, and shutters physical space to breathe and move. If your layers are too tight, different pieces can sag, and you’ll lose functionality,” warns Helen.
“For example, if your blind brackets stick out too far, your curtains won’t be able to slide smoothly against them, and if bunched up curtain fabric blocks your blinds or shutters during the day, you won’t be able to open them properly.
“To prevent a messy and frustrating setup, always map out the exact spot when each level is pushed back, and keep your handles and control cords on opposite sides so they never get tangled,” recommends Helen.
Try a double bracket window pole like this one Pack of 3 from Dunelm Make sure there is enough space between your end and mid-level of curtains.
But make sure you choose the right material
While each layer plays a role in your window stacking system, making sure you use the right material in the right place is also fundamental to the success of this concept.
“Stacking two blackout-coated items is something I would avoid,” cautions Helen. “You’d think that using two blackout layered window dressings would double the efficiency, but in extremely hot conditions, the fabric can become slightly sticky and stick together, which can tear the blind when stretched.
“If you don’t want a full three-layer window stack, a blackout blind as the first line of defense followed by a traditionally lined curtain is usually a better pairing,” she recommends.
Find out A range of blackout blinds To start your stack at Blinds247.
FAQ
Will stacking windows cause ventilation problems?
“As long as your window stack leaves a gap of one to two inches between the glass and your first layer and the dressing is well maintained, you shouldn’t have any problems with heat build-up or ventilation,” says Helen. “Generally speaking, I would also advise’house to house‘ – the process of opening all your windows and window dressings for at least ten minutes a day, whatever the weather. This promotes ventilation, and eliminates the risk of heat getting trapped between each layer,” she adds.
“It’s also a useful habit to make sure your window dressing is part of your weekly cleaning regime,” she adds. “Often, they require a gentle and regular wipe with a microfiber cloth. This will help you avoid any dust build-up, which will help you maintain your window stack throughout the summer.”
If you’re considering a more permanent means of keeping your home cool in a heatwave or during the summer months, you might want to consider Installing air con in your home.
Alternatively, we rate Meikofan Sept 10″ Pedestal Fanas well Dukes Whisper Flex 2 If you want a more portable means of lowering the temperature.
