You're probably well-versed on best practices for protecting your skin from UV rays, including applying sunscreen and donning long sleeves and a hat.

And while protecting your skin from UV rays is essential, it’s also important to protect your home's interiors. That’s because UV rays can cause furniture, flooring, photos and artwork to fade.

One solution? Window treatments. All window treatments, from blinds and shades to shutters and drapery, provide some form of protection from UV rays coming in from the window—protection that increases when they are fully closed.

Don’t want to sacrifice natural light by closing your window treatments? Consider window treatments that can block UV rays while still letting light into a space. That way, you can balance protection from harsh rays with the beauty and mood-boosting effects of natural light.

UV-Blocking Sheer Shadings

Sheer window shadings are an innovative marriage of a blind and a shade. Pieces of fabric, called vanes, are encased on one or both sides by an elegant sheer. You can tilt the fabric vanes open and closed like blind slats.

Hunter Douglas offers two unique sheer shadings that multi-task: they block UV rays while letting natural light into a room and preserving your view.

S-shaped fabric vanes that elegantly float between two sheer panels are the hallmark of . This innovative design lets light filter into a space while providing daytime privacy even when the vanes are open.

A modern spin on traditional shade fabrics, feature soft, contoured fabric vanes attached to a sheer backing. Simply adjust the vanes, which move gracefully, for a serene, comforting space.

Solar Shades - UV-Blocking Window Treatments

For more of a traditional-looking style of shade that delivers UV protection, consider solar shades. Solar shades are designed to specifically block UV rays, and are available in varying levels of opacity, or openness factor. (Openness refers to how tightly the fabric is woven. A lower openness/tighter fabric weave better blocks the sun; just keep in mind that you’ll have less visibility to the outdoors than with a higher openness level.)

Designer Screen Shades are a beautiful way to protect interiors from UV damage. They’re ideal for all spaces within a home, but work particularly well in sunrooms and patios.