What Opacity Should I Choose for My Window Shades?

So what exactly is opacity? Opacity refers to the amount of light that passes through a fabric. Sheer fabrics allow for the most light to enter a room, but they offer the least amount of privacy. On the other end of the spectrum, blackout fabrics block nearly all light from entering a room, and they provide the most privacy.

Choosing the Right Fabric

Keep in mind that while every Hunter Douglas fabric provides some level of light control and glare reduction, the type of fabric and color you choose will have a significant effect on your window shade's opacity. Also, there are many additional options that can help you create more privacy no matter which fabric you choose — from liners and dual-roller systems to hardware features designed to block light.

Understanding the Different Opacity Levels

If you’re not familiar with fabric opacities, you might accidentally choose a fabric that doesn’t provide as much privacy as you had expected. So let’s look at each opacity level in more detail.