You’ll almost always have south or west windows if your living room gets very hot in the afternoon, your bedroom blinds get hot to the touch by 3 PM or your couch fabric fades. The windows on these orientations get the most direct sun throughout the day and year. In Maryland, Virginia and Washington DC, where summer temperatures often soar above 90 degrees F and sun angles are high in the afternoon, the wrong window treatment is not just ugly, it is expensive in energy bills and a potential long-term furniture care nightmare.
This guide will detail what to purchase, what to skip and how to consider window treatments for south and west facing windows.
Why South & West Facing Windows Are Different
To grasp why these windows differ from north or east facing windows, it is important to understand how they are affected.It is good to first understand why these windows differ from those that are exposed to the north or the east before making product recommendations.
South facing windows get direct daylight from mid-morning until late afternoon. During the summer months, the greater angle of the sun means that the direct light in the room is reduced, but that reflected heat and diffused light are greater. That same south-facing orientation is a plus in the winter as it provides passive solar heat. Ideally, any treatment you pick for a south facing window will be good for both seasons.
West facing windows are more extreme. They get the highest, most intense heat of the day in the afternoon between about 1 PM and sunset. By late afternoon, west-facing rooms can be 5-10°F warmer than the rest of the house, which can make air conditioning use much more expensive. West windows are not particularly advantageous in winter because the low winter sun angle still provides a lot of glare at eye level, as compared to south windows.
The common problem for both orientations: you need a treatment that lets in the intense, direct sunlight and heat in, but doesn’t make the room dark, or take away the view completely during the time of day when the sun is not an issue.
The 5 Best Window Treatment Options for South & West Facing Windows
1. Solar Shades – The Top Recommendation
Solar shades are specially designed for this. Solar shades are different from black out shades or standard roller shades because they are constructed from an open weave mesh fabric that filters out the UV rays, blocks glare and still let in enough light for you to see through during the day.
The one thing you have to remember is the openness factor, which refers to the percentage opening in the fabric. Ideal window openness for south and west facing windows is 1 – 3%. It will prevent about 97-99% of the UV rays, and it will offer some heat and glare reduction without total loss of view. Less intense exposures are better suited with a 5-10% openness factor.
Why solar shades work so well for these orientations:
- They filter up to 99% of UV rays to prevent furniture, floors, and art from fading
- They contribute greatly to reducing solar heat gain, which can save as much as 20-30% on cooling costs in sun-exposed rooms
- They offer privacy during the day but don’t obstruct the view
- They sit flat and clean-profile against the window making them easy to layer with drapery panels, if necessary
Solar shades are especially beneficial for west facing rooms that also serve as home offices or TV rooms, as they can help reduce screen glare while still allowing daylight to shine through the window.
Best pairing: Solar shade (1-3%) on base with linen or sheer drapery panels on sides for a complete and rich layered look.
2. Cellular (Honeycomb) Shades – Best for Energy Efficiency
The other big issue with south and west facing windows is the heat transfer through the window itself, and this is where cellular shades come in. Single-pane or older double pane windows will allow heat to transfer into the room even if they are shaded from visible light.
Cellular shades have the honeycomb shape that captures air in separate pockets, which form an air cushion between the glass and the inside. Double-cell or triple-cell shades are recommended for windows that are consistently heated in the afternoon on the west side of the house and are the most insulating.
If solar gain is a desired feature on south-facing windows in winter, consider top down/bottom up cellular shades, which can be pulled down to block the high angle summer sun rays, but pulled up on the lower part to capture the low angle winter sun rays. This is one of the most functional window shades available for a south facing window.
Warm white or cream coloured light filtering cellular shades diffract incoming light, creating a pleasing, ambient light for the south facing rooms, without blocking it completely.
3. Faux Wood Blinds with 2-Inch Slats – Best for Precision Light Control
Homeowners that prefer to move the blinds in a certain direction instead of a set shade position will find 2-inch blinds the most flexible. The slats are sloped upward, not downward, so that incoming sunlight is reflected up to the ceiling, as diffuse ambient light rather than focused straight into the room at the user’s eye or onto furniture surfaces.
Real wood is prone to warping, cracking, and discoloring and is not recommended for south and west facing windows, even though faux wood is recommended. Faux wood is able to handle high-heat applications without losing the finish or structural integrity.
Slat angle tips for south and west facing rooms:
- Face slats upwards (convexity towards your ceiling) to focus sun onto ceiling during hot times of day
- Fully open in the morning and evening when sun angle is not an issue
- Seal fully in the 1-4 PM timeframe in west facing rooms in summer
Here, cordless or faux wood blinds with motor control would be great – especially west facing windows require a lot of moving around all day to get right and motorized control makes it easy to get them where they need to be, anywhere in the room.
4. Motorized Roller Shades – Best for Convenience and Consistency
The problem with south and west facing windows is that the best shade times vary from morning to evening. A perfect shade position at 10am will be a wrong position at 3pm. This is not a desirable situation either for most homeowners, since they are happy with less than ideal light or are constantly getting up to make manual adjustments.
With scheduled automation, motorized roller shades address this. You can set up shades to automatically lower when the sun is at its peak at a window and to go back up when the sun has passed. The shades are compatible with a smart home system (Alexa, Google Home or Apple HomeKit) so that they move with you throughout the day rather than you having to move them.
A practical set and forget set for west facing rooms is to have a programmed drop at 1 PM and a raise at sunset, as this does a lot to reduce afternoon heat gain without any thought being put into it.
Select a light filtering and/or room-darkening fabric for the appropriate room use. Light filtering is best used in living spaces and kitchens where you would like to keep some ambiance. Teaming up with a room darkening material is best in bedrooms and media rooms where afternoon sun forms a truly cumbersome situation.
5. Plantation Shutters – Best Long-Term Investment
Plantation shutters are the top choice for south and west facing windows for homeowners who are looking for a long-lasting investment. Interior shutters with 3.5″ or 4.5″ louvers are more durable, have an architectural style, and have a high resale value, while providing the same directional light control as blinds.
South facing window shutters are an excellent choice for angled lighting for the following reasons: The wide louvers make it easy to direct light toward a specific angle, which keeps the light out of the window during peak daylight hours and lets in the maximum light when the shutters are open. Shutters are not subject to fading, yellowing or UV damage like fabric shades.
There is a cost and trade-off. Generally, custom plantation blinds are the costliest window blind choice available. The energy savings and long life make them the best option over 10 years in the majority of cases except when you use the air conditioning system more heavily in the summer in south and west-facing rooms.
What to Avoid on South & West Facing Windows
Standard fabric curtains alone – Deep color heavy decorative curtains absorb heat from the sun at the window and give off heat to the room. For those who want the aesthetic appeal of curtains, make them an additional layer over a functional outer solar shade or cellular shade.
Blackout shades as a daytime solution – Blackout shades eliminate the light problem altogether, but they eliminate the window too. The largest windows that have the best views are often South and West facing. Blackout only should be used as a last resort and not a first choice.
Light-colored sheer curtains without a backing layer – Sheer curtains let light in but they are not very effective at blocking UV rays or heat. Sheers are not enough in the height of the sun, particularly on west-facing windows.
Cheap vinyl mini blinds – Standard 1″ vinyl mini blinds warp, yellow and deteriorate easily in extended direct sunlight. On the west facing window, slats will lose shape in 1-2 seasons. This is the only case where the quality of goods directly affects their durability more than in any other.
Smart Buying Tips for Sun-Exposed Windows
Measure carefully and buy custom. Windows on buildings that receive natural light should be fitted correctly to ensure there is no gap around the outside of the window, especially on the low angle side of the window in the afternoon when the sun strikes at an angle. Unlike stock sizes, custom-measured window treatments do not have to deal with the side-gap of the window.
Consider outside-mount installation. If you’re hanging your shade or blind right on the edge of the frame and a few inches up and on either side of it, light bleed around the edges will be significantly decreased. In the case of the west side where the afternoon sun strikes at a low angle, it is obvious that the outside mounting works more efficiently.
Pair UV protection with interior protection. Despite high-quality window coverings, the sun’s rays will still scatter and diffuse throughout the room during the hottest parts of the day. If you have valuable furniture, artwork, or hardwood floors in a south or west facing room, install the UV blocking window film on the glass as a basic level, and then apply window treatments to the film to control the light.
The Bottom Line
The windows that have the greatest difficulty being treated well – and the windows where the right treatment can make the most difference in your energy bills and comfort – are south and west facing windows. In almost all situations, it’s best to layer a functional base layer (solar shade, cellular shade, quality blinds) that blocks the UV rays and heat, and then use a decorative outer layer (drapery or shutters) to complete the appearance and provide full light control when necessary.
We build each window treatment to your exact window dimensions at BuyHomeBlinds, not guessing, no trimming and no gaps for light. Installed solar shades, cellular shades, motorized treatments, faux wood shades, plantation shutters and complete layered systems for homeowners in Maryland, Virginia and Washington DC on quick turnaround and with our satisfaction guarantee.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best blinds for west facing windows?
The best solar shades for west-facing windows are those that offer between 1–3% openness. They block 97–99% of the UV rays and markedly lessen the amount of glare without sacrificing daylight. When using double cell cellular shades or motorized roller shades, programmed to drop during the hottest afternoon hours for maximum heat control.
Do solar shades really reduce heat from the sun?
Yes – solar shades prevent solar heat gain from reaching the glass wall. A well-made solar shade that has a low solar openness will cut heat gain in south and west facing rooms by 20-30%, directly cutting down summer air conditioning costs.
What window treatments are best for UV protection?
The best UV protection on any fabric window covering is provided by solar shades which block up to 99% of the UV rays at a 1% openness factor. Cellular shades offer significant UV protection as well. Ideally use a solar shade in conjunction with UV blocking window film attached to the window glass.
Are plantation shutters good for south facing windows?
Yes – plantation shutters are a great long-term option for south facing windows. The large louvers provide a way to control light direction and shutter materials will not fade or degrade from UV exposure unlike fabric shades. They also enhance the architectural appeal and the value of resale.
How do I stop the afternoon sun from heating up my west facing room?
Ideally, a solar shade or a light-filtering cellular shade would be used to reduce the heat, combined with motorized operation that would allow the shade to drop automatically when the sun is at its strongest – usually between 1 PM and 5 PM in summer. Light gaps on the side can be closed by installing outside. In severe cases, low-e window film can be installed on the window glass for an additional permanent barrier.
What's the difference between light filtering and room darkening shades for south windows?
Light filtering shades offer ambient light to all south facing rooms, particularly south facing living rooms and kitchens, and are perfect for anyone who wants light, but not the glaring kind. Room darkening shades block most light and are ideal for south facing bedrooms or home theaters where afternoon sun would be a comfort or sleep problem.
Can I use blackout curtains on west facing windows?
You may, but blackout curtains are not always the most effective for west-facing windows. They are effective at blocking light, but not at blocking heat conducted through warm glass. Instead, a recommended solution is to layer the cellular shade to control the heat and include blackout drapery panels as an additional layer for rooms that require complete darkness during specific times.
Do cordless blinds work well on large west facing windows?
Cordless blinds are suitable for standard-sized west facing windows. Motorized blinds are a great option for very large or wide windows – they offer uniform performance, and can be programmed or controlled by voice commands during the day without the strain of holding a heavy cordless blind.