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Best Window Treatments for West Facing Windows in Seattle
- Aug 14
- 11 min read
There is a defining time of day when a west facing window reveals its true character.
All morning, everything is peaceful.
The house feels great, there is just the perfect amount of light, nothing particularly bothers you.
And then it hits.
The sunlight comes pouring in, right at the television.
The rooms feels hotter, you have to move to a different part of the couch so that the glaring sun isn't beaming right at you.
If there is a computer in the room, you can't seem to find the right angle to view it from.
By early evening, you're just glad to have everything closed to block it out.
That, is the oddity of west facing windows.
They really can be spectacular.
They fill the rooms with lovely afternoon light, especially during the longer Seattle summer days.
However, without the right window treatments to control it, that same sun may just drive you nuts.
The key to managing west facing windows is control, not a complete blockage.
And we're not just talking about having to close the blinds to watch TV either, there are plenty of treatment options to make that easier.
If you're just starting from square one trying to figure out what you need for your west facing windows, Ultimate Shutters and Blinds can help you sort through the options and find the perfect custom window treatments for the sunlight, room, and furniture in your Seattle home.
Why are West Facing Windows So Odd?
It comes down to timing.
East facing windows will typically get their strong sunlight earlier in the day, while west facing windows get it later.
That west sunlight hits with a particular intensity because the sun is lower in the sky at that time of day.
It might not seem like it around Seattle during the cloudy winter months, but as soon as spring rolls around, that sun is going to start shining brighter and staying out later in the day, especially around summer.
That is when many people start thinking about their west facing windows and what they should do about it.
Start by Figuring Out What Annoys You Most
Before you decide between blinds, shutters, shades, or something else entirely, it is important that you figure out what it is you want to fix.
Perhaps it is more heat in the room, or maybe it is the bothersome glare the sunlight casts.
It could be that an especially lovely couch is getting taken advantage of by the sun and fading prematurely.
Or you might just love the afternoon light, but hate that it prevents any privacy as soon as the sun starts to settle in the evening.
These are all very different issues that require very different solutions.
This is why it can be so easy to fall in love with a fabric or style in the showroom, but then be thoroughly disappointed once it is installed and you can't actually see your television.
Solar Shades are Always Worth Considering
When it comes to west facing windows, solar shades are often near the top of the list when considering options for control.
They help reduce the strength of that pesky afternoon sun while still providing you with a view out the window.
That second part is always important, especially if you have a beautiful landscape or city view.
Many people don't want to completely block their west facing windows with blinds or opaque shades, especially not every afternoon, and solar shades are one option to help with that.
They provide just enough reduction of the sunlight without eliminating sight out the window.
Solar shades can really help large west facing windows, such as in living rooms, dining rooms, offices, or anywhere else you want to let in some afternoon sun while still having some level of privacy or control.
Light Filtering Roller Shades are Simple and Effective
Roller shades are a very popular treatment because they are both simple and effective.
They tend to be pretty minimalist as well, which means they won't add much in the way of extra decor around the window.
The big decision comes in the type of fabric.
Some let in more light than others, while some offer greater privacy.
Room darkening fabrics go a step further to eliminate almost all of the light.
For west facing windows, you need to think hard about what is right for the room.
A living room may appreciate a lighter fabric that doesn't make the room so dark, while a bedroom may want something more opaque to prevent light from creeping in in the mornings and evenings.
There is no reason you have to have the exact same fabric in every room, and that is where custom window treatments come in handy.
They allow you to decide on a room by room basis which fabric is right for you.
Solar shades are often a great option in west facing windows because they reduce the amount of light that comes into the room while still eliminating most of that pesky glare.
Cellular Shades are Great for Temperature Control, Too
Sometimes it isn't glare that is the issue, it is the temperature.
You walk into the room and you can tell right away that it is warmer than the other rooms in your Seattle home.
Large west facing windows are notorious for letting in too much heat.
That is where cellular shades come in.
They use unique construction to provide a layer of insulation against the outside temperature, which is especially helpful when it comes to large expanses of glass.
They also offer several levels of light filtering, so you can choose how much sun comes into the room.
It is not unusual for cellular shades to be lighter and provide less insulation in a living room, while the bedroom gets something that is more darkening for greater privacy and insulation.
Plantation Shutters Offer Unique Control Over Sunlight
Plantation shutters manage west facing light differently than many other window treatments.
Instead of raising shades or opening blinds, you can adjust the louvers on shutters to redirect sunlight.
If the sun tends to come in blindingly bright and directly overhead, you can adjust the louvers so that the light is sent upwards towards the ceiling rather than right into the middle of the room.
That way, the living room still gets plenty of afternoon sun, but it is much more manageable.
Another reason plantation shutters are a great option for west facing windows is because the louvers provide an additional level of privacy once the sun has gone down in the evening.
You can also choose custom shutters.
Faux Wood Blinds Offer Simplicity and Control
Sometimes the simplest window treatment is the best.
Faux wood blinds give you excellent control over the direction of light, which is paramount when it comes to west facing windows.
Once the bright afternoon sun starts becoming a problem, you can easily tilt the slats to adjust how much comes into the room.
When the sun moves away from the windows, it is easy to open the blinds and let in all the light you can get.
You can also raise or lower the blinds completely, which is especially useful during Seattle's darker months when you want every ray of sun you can get.
In addition to being simple, faux wood blinds are durable and can be a great addition in any room of the house.
Motorized Shades Become More Desirable in West Facing Windows
Motorized shades may seem like a luxury, but in west facing windows, they start to become a necessity.
Think about a room that has the sun coming in at the worst possible time every single afternoon.
It hits the television at the worst time, or causes glaring beams of light that you can't seem to avoid no matter where you move.
Someone lowers the shades, then a few hours later, they are raised again to let the light back in.
It is a simple task that is performed over and over again, but even then, it seems to be a chore.
That is where motorized shades come in to provide a much easier solution.
They allow you to open and close the blinds with the push of a button, or even to schedule them to open and close at designated times.
Some motorized options can be programmed to lower when the sun is at its brightest and then to raise again later in the day.
Motorized options are especially useful for large west facing windows since they can often be difficult to reach manually.
Do You Really Need Blackout Shades or Room Darkening Treatments?
Not necessarily.
It is tempting to go too far when trying to block out west facing sunlight.
The room gets too bright, so you decide you want to shut everything out and eliminate all the light.
That may sound extreme, but it really is often not necessary.
It does depend on the situation, and there are definitely some times when room darkening treatments are a great idea, especially in bedrooms.
However, those types of treatments are often too harsh for other rooms that would benefit from more natural light.
A solar shade or light filtering roller shade may be a better option in those cases.
It comes back to the problem you are trying to solve.
Solar shades are a great solution for west facing windows.
Don't Forget About Your Furniture!
Sunlight isn't just bothersome for the ambiance of the room, it can actually damage furniture, flooring, art, and other items as well.
Any surface that is exposed to direct sunlight for long periods of time has the potential to fade.
You likely won't notice the effects of fading right away, especially in the first few years.
It takes sunlight and time to do that, but eventually, you will be surprised at how much things have changed when you move a rug or piece of furniture to a different location.
If you have a west facing window that sends sunlight directly onto your favorite piece of furniture or flooring every afternoon, you might want to consider UV protection when choosing your window treatment.
That is another area where solar shades are a great option to help control harmful UV rays.
Which Window Treatments are Best for West Facing Living Rooms?
Living rooms call for style and comfort, and that means you want to get as much natural light as possible without sacrificing privacy or comfort.
West facing windows often mean that you want to open up the blinds to let the sun in, but the glare just isn't pleasant and it prevents any view out the window.
Solar shades are always a great option to help lower the amount of light coming into the room while still giving you that desirable view.
If you want to take control over the direction of sunlight, plantation shutters can be a great option as well.
For larger windows or simpler styles, motorized roller shades can help provide everyday convenience for west facing living rooms.
It is really all about the situation and the specific window.
West Facing Bedroom Window Treatments are Slightly Different
West facing bedrooms can become uncomfortably warm towards the end of the day.
That may not be a huge issue if it only occurs for a few hours in the late afternoon.
However, it can start becoming much more bothersome if you find yourself unable to cool the room again by bedtime, especially if you live in Seattle.
It is important to take temperature control into consideration when choosing window treatments for west facing bedrooms, especially if you want to eliminate the amount of light coming in as the sun sets in the evening.
Cellular shades or roller shades that offer room darkening properties can help manage both the light and temperature in west facing bedrooms.
Privacy is also an important consideration in bedrooms, especially as it pertains to west facing windows.
As mentioned earlier, daylight hours grow later and later throughout the summer.
That means your bedroom treatments need to function even as late as ten at night if that is when you tend to go to bed.
West Facing Home Offices Require Particular Consideration
The afternoon sun and computers are not necessarily meant to work together.
Having sunlight hit your computer screen can cause annoying glare, especially if you have a particularly bright display.
Closing everything up may seem like the best option, but that could cause you to work under artificial lighting for the majority of the afternoon.
Solar shades are a great option specifically for home offices as they reduce glare without eliminating natural light.
Blinds and shutters can also be useful in home offices since they allow you to redirect the sun away from your computer screen.
We also have an article dedicated to the topic of home office window treatments.
Large West Facing Windows Require Additional Consideration
Large west facing windows can be especially troublesome because the sheer amount of sunlight that comes into the room changes it in an undesirable way.
They tend to make the temperature much more intense, especially during the hotter parts of the year.
They also add to the brightness of the room, which can sometimes be too much.
It should also be noted that large windows require larger treatments, which can make certain options much heavier and harder to manage.
Custom sized options are always important for large west facing windows, especially when it comes to shading treatments.
The shade needs to operate smoothly and a blind shouldn't be so heavy that no one wants to raise it.
Shutter panels should be properly sized and consideration should be given to motorization if the window is especially large or hard to reach.
Don't Forget About Seattle's Darker Months
It really is tempting to completely block west facing windows during the darker Seattle months to keep as much light out as possible.
Unfortunately, that can severely limit your natural light intake for the entire year.
Remember that the same west facing window that was too bright for you during July is likely one of your best sources of natural light during November.
That is why it is important to make sure your window treatments offer you options.
You should be able to close the blinds when the sun starts bothering you, and then open them back up again when the sky turns gray later in the day or during the darker Seattle months.
The more flexibility you have, the more comfortable your west facing rooms are going to be year round.
There Isn't One Perfect Window Treatment for All West Facing Windows
A solar shade may be right for the living room while a cellular shade is a better fit for the bedroom.
Faux wood blinds may be ideal for the kitchen while plantation shutters could look great in the dining room.
That is completely fine.
The entire point of custom window treatments is to solve your particular issues while also looking nice.
Making sure that similar window treatments match one another can help make different rooms feel connected.
Working With A Local Seattle Window Treatment Professional
It is easy to fall in love with a certain sample window treatment at the showroom, however, it is important to remember that the direction of your window matters.
So does size, the buildings around it, trees, and even furniture.
Ultimate Shutters and Blinds helps Seattle homeowners consider the unique qualities of each room before making recommendations, which often leads to a much simpler process than ordering something blindly and then being surprised by the end result.
Final Thoughts
West facing windows may be some of the most challenging windows to deal with, but they aren't without their benefits.
They provide desirable afternoon light that warms up a room, and they can be especially nice during the longer Seattle summer days.
They just need a little help controlling that light, and the best window treatment for your west facing windows is the one that lets you decide exactly how much comes in.
Some afternoons, you may want the shades to be nearly closed, while other afternoons you would prefer them to be fully open, especially during Seattle's darker months.
That balance is what makes west facing rooms much more comfortable, and it helps you enjoy that lovely afternoon sun instead of battling it every day.
Call to Action
Tired of west facing windows causing glare or unwanted heat? At Ultimate Shutters and Blinds, we can help you sort through the options to find the perfect shades, blinds, shutters, or motorized treatments for your Seattle home based on how the sunlight interacts with your rooms.
See our selection of Custom Window Treatments
and Solar Shades.
