Window Treatments for South Facing Windows
Trying to work on a computer, relax, or enjoy a meal shouldn’t be a struggle. But if you have a south-facing window, the cold air, excessive heat, and strong UV rays coming through can be unbearable. Not only does it create discomfort and screen glare, but many people actually wear sunglasses inside their homes!
The challenge is finding window treatments that control these issues without sacrificing views or making rooms too dark. It doesn’t have to be that way: At Nest Expressions, we help homeowners solve this problem with Hunter Douglas south-facing window treatments.
Interior Design Trends 2026: Sheer Window Treatments
Your kitchen probably needs bright overhead lights while you're making breakfast, but when you're relaxing with family after dinner, softer lighting feels so much better. Using sheer shades on your windows mixes sunlight with your lamps and fixtures to create rooms that change their look with your day.
Silhouette® Sheer Shades are hybrid window treatments with elegant sheer panels and integrated, soft fabric vanes. Tilt the vanes as needed to control light and privacy; the sheer fabrics filter light gently and obscure inside views from the outside.
The South-Facing Window Challenge
The sun follows a southern path all day long, hitting south-facing windows with direct, relentless sunlight. And in winter, the low sun angle creates worse glare than in summer; it streams straight in for hours. Summer brings its own misery when these rooms turn into greenhouses and your AC can't keep up. That’s why energy bills swing wildly with the seasons.
South-facing window treatments have their work cut out for them: soften the harsh light and heat while not blocking the outdoor views. Regular blinds and curtains can help, but must be constantly adjusted, or you'll keep them closed and keep artificial light on all day.
Hunter Douglas Solutions for South-Facing Windows
We’ve selected four luxurious Hunter Douglas south-facing window treatments that show that intense sunlight who’s boss. These types of shades are ideal for light management and UV protection from your south-facing windows.
- Silhouette® Sheer Shades have adjustable S-shaped vanes suspended between two layers of sheer fabric, for precise light control without sacrificing outdoor views. The shades filter up to 88% of harmful UV rays while the white rear sheer keeps neighbors from seeing in during the day — even with vanes open.
- Pirouette® Sheer Shades feature fabric vanes attached to a single sheer backing and move together as one smooth unit. The whole shade disappears into the headrail when you want a completely open window. With the vanes open, you block 81% of UV rays; close them, and you're at 99%. You can pick from semi-opaque to room-darkening fabrics.
- Duette® Cellular Shades are the original honeycomb shades and are still the best at energy efficiency. The cellular pockets trap air and insulate windows against heat and cold, which means your HVAC system doesn't have to work as hard. This style offers the industry’s widest selection of pleat sizes, colors, and textures, all made with fade-resistant fabrics.
- Designer Banded Shades are those zebra shades everyone talks about. It’s a fresh take on roller shades, with alternating sheer and solid fabric bands. You can align the bands to get a striped, filtered view, or close them tight for complete privacy. Select small, medium, or large band widths, plus light-filtering or room-darkening opacities in different colors, textures, and geometric patterns.
If you want to take your south-facing window treatments to the next level, consider automating them with PowerView® Automation. This optional enhancement allows you to motorize your shades, blinds, and shutters and set them on a schedule to cover your south-facing windows during the hottest, sunniest parts of the day.
What About Southwest-Facing Windows?
These windows get the worst of both worlds: southern exposure plus intense afternoon and evening sun when temperatures are at their peak. The low angle of late-day sun also creates longer, more penetrating rays that reach deeper into your space.
Treat Your Home to South-Facing Window Treatments
Nest Expressions features Hunter Douglas window treatments and custom draperies, and will make your sun-drenched rooms more comfortable. Visit our showroom or contact us for an appointment in Wexford, Gibsonia, Allison Park, Fox Chapel, Sewickley, Cranberry Township, Mars, Pennsylvania, and the surrounding areas.