The shade-fabric library
The fabric decides the light — here’s how to choose.
Solar screen, light-filtering, room-darkening and blackout each behave differently for glare, view, privacy and heat. We help you match fabric to each window’s exposure and your goals — independent of any one brand.
Start with the basics
Solar screen vs light-filtering vs blackout (and the light-gap trap)
Solar screen, light-filtering, room-darkening and blackout — what each does, how openness factor works, and why blackout shades still leak light without side channels.
Read →Choosing window treatments for the Southwest Florida coast
What actually matters for shades in SW Florida — solar heat gain, glare, UV fading, salt-air corrosion, humidity and exterior/hurricane-region considerations, with sources.
Read →Fabric brand overviews
Mermet
A US manufacturer of vinyl-coated-fiberglass and PVC-free polyester solar-screen, blackout and exterior shade fabrics for roller, screen and zip systems.
Read the overview →Phifer SheerWeave
A broad, technically-driven line of interior solar-screen, light-filtering and blackout roller-shade fabrics from a long-established US screening manufacturer.
Read the overview →Serge Ferrari (Soltis)
Précontraint composite membranes for solar protection — predominantly exterior screens, zip shades, pergolas and façades — prized for dimensional stability.
Read the overview →Sunbrella (Glen Raven)
A US performance-fabric brand (solution-dyed acrylic) spanning exterior awnings, pergolas, shade sails and marine fabrics plus interior solar/roller-shade and drapery fabrics.
Read the overview →Verosol
A Netherlands-based inventor of metallised (aluminium-backed) fabrics, making high-performance indoor solar-screen roller and pleated blind fabrics that reflect solar heat while keeping outward view.
Read the overview →Twitchell Textilene
A US (Made-in-USA) manufacturer of Textilene PVC-coated polyester solar-screen mesh for exterior shading, hurricane/zip screens and interior roller-screen shades.
Read the overview →Louvolite
A UK designer and manufacturer of interior roller-blind fabrics and components, spanning sheer/voile, light-filtering, solar-screen (Perspective) and blackout ranges.
Read the overview →No pressure, just expertise
Compare fabrics for your home
Openness, privacy, view and heat all trade off. Tell us your rooms and priorities and we'll recommend the right fabric — from any maker. We reply within one business day.
- Independent, whole-system advice
- Somfy & MotionBlinds motorization & smart-home
- No obligation — we reply within one business day