How tightly the fabric is woven, that is what we call Fabric Openness. The tighter the weave, the more sunlight it blocks.
Conversely, a looser weave will allow more sunlight to come in through the window.
The openness factor is expressed using a percentage, with lower numbers representing a higher level of opacity.
For example, a window shade with a 1% openness factor will provide more shade than one with a 5% openness factor.
Different openness factors offer different benefits. One level is not inherently better than another; it all comes down to what you want from your window shades. Consider these things when selecting the openness factor of your window shades:
Window Location
Desired Level of Privacy
Desired Amount of Sunlight and Visibility
The most common openness factors are 1%, 3% and 5%, but can occasionally go higher.
Low Openness Factor
Window shades in the 0% to 1% range have a low openness factor. Because they block more sun from coming in, they offer the highest levels of privacy. They are a good choice for people looking to maximize their home’s energy efficiency – the more sun you keep out, the more heat you keep out, which prevents your A/C unit from having to work as hard. This is also ideal for rooms where you want less light, like the bedroom.
High Openness Factor
High openness factor is generally above 10%. 5% would be the most common, but some may go up to 10% or even as high as 32% in rare cases. These significantly reduce the sun’s glare in your home while also allowing for great visibility. This is the perfect choice when you want to preserve the view out of a window or allow plenty of natural light into a space. But more light means more heat, which means more work for your A/C unit and a higher energy bill.
Medium Openness Factor
5% is the typical medium openness factor. These shades offer a balance between the benefits of low and high openness factors. They provide protection from the sun’s UV rays without making the room too dark.
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