There’s nothing better than a well-lit living room, especially one made for entertaining or shared lunches on a hot New Zealand summer’s day. On paper, sun-facing rooms feel like the perfect space to spend time in.
That picture doesn’t always hold once the seasons roll through. Glare on screens, rooms overheating in sweaty Februaries, furniture fading, and blinds that don’t quite perform as expected once the sun hits them day after day.
From in-home consultations across New Zealand, this is one of the most common issues people ask about. Choosing the right blinds for sun-facing rooms isn’t about picking the “best” blind overall. It’s about understanding how that room behaves once the sun moves across it day after day.
What “Sun-Facing” Really Means in NZ Homes
In New Zealand, sun exposure isn’t just about direction on a compass. For most Kiwis, it’s a real part of everyday living, and where you position spaces like living rooms and kitchens matters. North-facing rooms get steady daylight, while west-facing rooms often take the brunt of harsh afternoon sun. East-facing rooms deal with early glare, especially in home offices or kitchens.
Add long summer days and strong UV, and the impact builds quickly. Rooms that feel fine in winter can become uncomfortable once the warmer months arrive. Here's where choosing the right blinds makes all the difference.
The Two Real Problems to Solve
When people talk about controlling the sun with blinds, it usually comes down to two things.
Heat build-up
Sun-facing rooms trap warmth, especially where there are large windows. Without the right blind type or fabric, the space can feel stuffy even when windows are open. Deciding early how warm you want a room to be matters. Some spaces, like home offices, work well with a bit of warmth, while others need better temperature control through the hotter months. The right blinds help strike that balance.
Glare and fading
Direct sunlight creates glare on TVs and laptops and, over time, fades flooring, furniture, and soft furnishings. This damage happens gradually, which is why it’s easy to underestimate at the decision stage. Effective sun control protects not just comfort, but also electronics and the pieces in your home you want to last.
Blind Types That Work Well in Sun-Facing Rooms
Different blinds handle the sun differently once installed.
Roller blinds
Light-filtering or sunscreen rollers reduce glare while keeping the room bright. They’re a popular option for living areas. Full blockout rollers work better in bedrooms but can make daytime spaces feel darker if used alone. This is where roller blinds often work best when layered.
Venetian blinds
Venetians allow precise control by tilting the slats, which helps manage glare without blocking all light. They suit rooms where sun angles change through the day. Materials matter here, especially in hotter spaces. This is why venetian blinds are often recommended after seeing how the room is used.
Honeycomb or cellular blinds
These provide insulation as well as light control. They help keep heat out in summer and warmth in during winter, making them useful in rooms that get the sun year-round. For those extra hot areas across New Zealand, like sunny Gisborne, cellular blinds can truly help beat the heat.
Curtains paired with blinds
Layering blinds with blockout curtains gives flexibility. Blinds manage the daytime sun, while curtains help with evening heat retention and privacy. Get the best of both worlds with this solution, opting for an intuitive approach to reflect the needs of the time of day. You can shield your eyes from the harsh sun rays during the day and take advantage of peace in the evening.
Fabric and Material Choices That Matter
Colour alone doesn’t solve sun issues. Fabric structure and backing play a bigger role.
Light-filtering fabrics reduce glare while maintaining daylight. Blockout fabrics stop heat and light more effectively, but can feel heavy if used everywhere. UV-resistant and reflective backings help protect interiors over time, especially in rooms with large windows. This is where thinking about UV protection window furnishings early can prevent regret later.
Room-by-Room Considerations
Living rooms
Often benefit from light-filtering blinds or layered options that balance brightness and comfort. As one of the most active spaces in the home, this approach helps keep the room feeling relaxed and usable, especially for unwinding at the end of a busy day.
Bedrooms
Blockout blinds or curtains help manage early morning light and summer heat, particularly in north or west-facing rooms. For those who enjoy a sleep-in on the weekend, blockout options create the kind of darkness that makes an extra half hour actually possible.
Home offices
Glare control is critical as adjustable blinds that respond to changing sun angles usually work better than fixed solutions. On work-from-home days, reducing screen glare makes a noticeable difference to comfort and focus, without having to close the room off completely.
Open-plan spaces
Consistency matters. Using the same blind style with different fabrics can help manage the sun without breaking the flow of the room.
Common Mistakes Homeowners Make
Few patterns come up regularly:
- Choosing blinds based only on how they look in the showroom. As much as a showroom can give instant inspiration, it is the knowledge of room requirements that will truly help provide the best blinds for your home.
- Ignoring how harsh the afternoon sun can be in west-facing rooms. In living rooms, for example, you may want to prep the room for a break from full-on sun exposure.
- Treating all sun-facing rooms the same, even though they’re used differently
Function should be an absolute non-negotiable when it comes to kitting out your individual rooms and their sun exposure. And further than this, what works for one kiwi might differ completely in another household. Think of the location of your home and ensure you plan for your unique lifestyle.
These choices often feel fine at installation, then start to frustrate people once the seasons change.
What Homeowners Say After Installation
“Easy to organise consultation. Friendly, clear communication with several options offered, taking into account our desired look and practicalities.”
– Katherine Ravenswood, Google Review
Feedback like this usually reflects good planning rather than any single product choice.
When Blinds Are Chosen Right
When blinds are chosen with real sun exposure in mind, they stop being something you think about. The room stays usable, glare is manageable, and the space feels comfortable year-round. From rainy days to sun-heavy summers, what matters is a considered choice when it comes to the blinds in your home.
At Harrisons Curtains & Blinds, we focus on how each room actually behaves, not just how it looks on install day. A free in-home curtain consultation helps match blind types, fabrics, and layouts to the way your home is lived in, especially in sun-facing rooms.
That’s often the difference between blinds that look good at first and blinds that still feel right years
