By Jason Donlon, Millennium Blinds
Winter in most of South Africa is not about heavy snow, it is about that sharp evening chill that settles in once the sun drops. Homes here are often built for summer heat rather than winter cold, so a lot of expensive warmth slips straight out through the windows. A honeycomb blind is one of the simplest ways to hold onto it.
How a honeycomb blind works
Look at a honeycomb blind from the side and you will see rows of little cells, a bit like the honeycomb it is named after. Those cells trap a layer of still air against the window. Still air is a poor conductor of heat, so that trapped layer acts as a buffer between the cold glass and your warm room. It is the same idea that makes double glazing effective and you can read more about how heat escapes through windows on the Department of Energy site.
Comfort you can feel
The difference shows up in two ways. First the room holds its warmth for longer after the heater goes off, which matters a great deal during load shedding when the heating is not always on. Second the cold draught you often feel sitting near a window in winter is softened, because the blind slows the movement of chilled air off the glass. A living room that used to feel cold by the window becomes a room you actually want to sit in.
Good in winter and summer
The clever part is that the same trapped air works in reverse during summer. It slows heat coming in through the glass on hot days, so a honeycomb blind earns its keep all year rather than for one season. For a room you use daily this all round performance makes it one of the better value choices you can make.
Where it works best
Honeycomb blinds suit bedrooms, living rooms and any window that faces the cold side of the house. They come in light filtering and blockout fabrics, so you can keep a lounge bright while still cutting the chill or make a bedroom properly dark and warm. Paired with a curtain for the coldest windows the effect is even stronger.
See it before you buy
As with any fabric it pays to see the colour and weight in your own light first. Order a few swatches through our sample service and hold them against the window before you decide. When you are ready our configurator will size and price a honeycomb blind for your exact window, and you can see the rest of the range on our shop page. A warmer winter really can be this straightforward.