Design
How to make a west-facing room bearable in summer
Afternoon sun through western glass is the single biggest heat load in most Gold Coast homes. Not every fix is equally effective.
·6 min read
Why west is the hard one
A west-facing window takes the afternoon sun at a low angle, late in the day, when the building has already been absorbing heat for hours. The sun is coming in almost horizontally, which means it reaches deep into the room and lands on floors and furniture rather than being cut by the eaves.
That combination is why a west-facing living room can be uncomfortable at four in the afternoon even with the air conditioning running.
Stop the heat outside the glass
This is the single most important principle. Once sunlight passes through the glass it becomes heat inside the room, and an internal blind can only manage that heat, not prevent it. Shading on the outside of the glass stops the energy before it converts.
In practical terms that means external shading: outdoor blinds, awnings, or exterior screens. It is markedly more effective than any internal treatment, and it is the reason a shaded patio in front of a west-facing window transforms the room behind it.
In order of effectiveness
- External shading over the glass: outdoor blinds, awnings or screens. The most effective option by a clear margin.
- Aluminium shutters or exterior screens, which shade while still allowing airflow.
- Internal blockout blinds or curtains with a lined backing, which stop light and reduce radiant heat once it is inside.
- Sunscreen roller blinds, which cut glare and UV while keeping some view.
- Sheers alone, which soften light but do very little for heat.
The layered approach
Most west-facing rooms end up with two layers because the room has two different problems at two different times. During the day you want glare and heat controlled without living in the dark, which is what a sunscreen or mesh does. In the late afternoon you want the heat load stopped outright, which is what an external blind or a blockout does.
Layering sheers with blockout drapes achieves the same thing on a window where external shading is not possible, though it is managing the heat rather than preventing it.
A note on colour
Lighter fabric on the outward-facing side reflects more solar energy than dark fabric. Many blockout and sunscreen ranges are built with exactly this in mind, with a reflective backing and a colour of your choosing facing into the room. It is worth asking about, because it costs nothing and it works.
Good to know
Common questions
Do blockout curtains keep a room cooler?
They help, particularly with a lined or reflective backing, but they are managing heat that is already inside the room. External shading stops the heat before it reaches the glass and is substantially more effective.
Will outdoor blinds make my patio too dark?
Not with a mesh fabric. Mesh cuts a large proportion of solar heat and glare while keeping the space bright and the view intact. Blockout fabrics are available where you want the patio to become a fully enclosed room.
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