Large areas of glass lose heat faster than solid walls. If the windows are not dressed well, warm air from your radiators reaches the glass, cools down and makes the whole room feel uncomfortably cold. The good news is that you can improve things without new windows or major work. The right blinds, fitted properly, can make rooms feel much more usable in winter.
This guide looks at how made to measure blinds can help with three common problem areas in Medway homes: conservatories, skylights and awkwardly shaped windows.
Why conservatories and skylights feel so cold in winter
Conservatories, roof lanterns and loft skylights add light and space to a home, which feels great in spring and summer. But in winter, the same glass can be a weak point that allows frigid air into your rooms.
There’s a few simple reasons why.
- Glass does not hold heat as well as a solid wall
- Warm air rises and gathers at the top of a conservatory or roof window
- Heat escapes through any bare glass, especially at night when it is much colder outside
- Gaps around poorly fitted blinds let cold air flow into the room.
If you walk into your conservatory on a winter evening and feel a sudden drop in temperature, you’re experiencing this phenomenon. A good set of blinds adds an extra layer between the room and the cold glass. And when the blinds are made to measure, that layer is neat, close-fitting and much more effective.
How to use blinds to make your conservatory comfortable in all seasons
Cellular shades
These are very popular because they fix the classic problem all conservatories have: being too warm in summer and too cold in winter.
Cellular shades have small pockets inside their fabric that trap air and help to reduce heat loss and heat gain through the expanses of glass on your conservatory.
When fitted to your roof panels and side windows, they help your room feel warmer in winter and more comfortable in summer. If they are made to measure for each pane, the coverage is neat and close, which limits draughts.
Perfect Fit and no drill blinds for doors and frames
Many conservatories have French doors or sliding doors to the garden. Perfect Fit and no drill blinds sit inside the frame of the door, so you don’t need to drill into the frames.
They also move with the door, so you can open and close it without the blind swinging about. The snug fit helps to cut down gaps around the glass, which is useful when the wind picks up outside.
Light control for winter glare
If you have a south-facing garden, you probably love it in the summer. But in the winter, low morning and afternoon summer can cause glare on your screens and make rooms hard to use. Made to measure roller, vertical or Vision blinds can soften the light, protect your soft furnishings and help you enjoy the space without closing it off completely.
How to make your loft room warmer with skylight and roof window blinds
Loft conversions and attic bedrooms are common in older homes, especially terraces. These rooms often rely on Velux or other roof windows. The glass brings in lots of light, but it can also let out a lot of heat.
A well chosen skylight blind can make a big difference.
Blackout and thermal options
Blackout blinds are a strong choice for loft bedrooms and nurseries. They keep early morning light out and help the room feel more cosy in the evening. Many also come with a thermal backing, which adds another layer between the room and the cold night air above the roof.
Because we only stock made to measure skylight blinds, the fabric sits close to the frame and fits perfectly in the space. This keeps cold draughts to a minimum and prevents most light from leaking around the edges of the blind for deep, uninterrupted sleep.
Motorised and smart skylight blinds
Skylight windows can be hard to reach. In some homes, you need a pole to open and close the blind. Motorised and automated blinds are a neat answer to this problem.
With a motorised roof blind, you can:
- Open and close blinds with a handset or wall switch
- Set blinds to close automatically at sunset to help keep heat in
- Control tall windows safely without leaning or stretching
Your motorised blinds can be linked to a wider smart home system, allowing you to control your window coverings and many other elements of your home from your smartphone – even when you’re out and about.
Awkwardly shaped windows and gable ends
Not every window is a simple rectangle. Modern homes and some extensions often include angled windows on stairwells, roof lanterns, triangular gable windows and large areas of glazing. Standard blinds don’t work well in these spaces. They can be hard to reach and any gaps around the edges make your fresh new windows look unfinished.
We can measure every angle and create blinds that match the shape of your windows precisely. The result is a clean look and much better coverage.
Why made to measure blinds matter for warmth
You can buy ready-made blinds, but they are manufactured to fixed sixes. In real homes (especially older ones) the window opening is often not a perfect rectangle, and you end up with thin gaps at the sides or along the bottom. Even small gaps can let in cold air and allow warm air to escape.
Made to measure blinds are designed and created specifically for each of your windows. The frame is thoroughly checked, with any quirks recorded and measures taken in detail. Then the blind is made to fit that exact space.
Motorised blinds as a winter upgrade
Motorised and automated blinds are often seen as a luxury, but they can be very practical in winter.
For conservatories and big glass walls, motorised blinds make it easy to close several blinds at once when the temperature drops. For roof windows and tall gables, they remove the need for ladders or poles. You can also link them to routines, so blinds close at dusk and help keep warmth inside.
Visit our showroom in Medway
If your conservatory feels too cold to enjoy, your loft room loses heat through its skylights or you have an unusually shaped window that needs a smarter solution, J P Knight & Sons can help.
Visit our Rochester showroom to see our blinds in person & speak to the team or get in contact to arrange a home visit. A well fitted, made to measure blind could be the simple winter upgrade that makes your favourite rooms comfortable again.
