If you have ever tilted a laptop screen around the room trying to dodge a bright reflection, you already know the problem. Home offices are often set up in a spare bedroom, a dining room corner or a conservatory, where the window was not planned with screen work in mind. A good blind helps, and placement and the type of light matter too. This guide goes through it in the order that tends to pay off.
Start by spotting where the glare comes from
It can help to spend one sunny morning and one sunny afternoon at the desk and note what is happening. Glare usually falls into one of three types:
- Reflected glare: a bright window behind you reflects in the screen.
- Direct glare: the sun hits your eyes when you look at the screen.
- Contrast glare: you work in a dim room with one very bright window in your side vision, so your eyes keep readjusting.
Each has a different fix, and the third is why a blackout blind does not always help.
A small desk move can help first
If you can, it can help to turn the desk so that the window is to one side of the screen rather than in front or behind. Side light is the easiest to control. It also helps on video calls, because a window behind you turns you into a silhouette. A blind that evens out the light behind you makes for a more pleasant background.
Comparing blinds for office use
Roller blinds in a light-filtering fabric
A simple, flat, uncluttered look, and many ranges offer fabrics that soften sunlight while still letting daylight through. A matt finish is a good choice, as it avoids secondary reflections. It is either up or down, with no tilting, so it suits best where glare is a seasonal or time of day issue. See the roller blinds page.
Venetian, wooden or faux wood slats
Slats give you the finest control. You can tilt them to bounce light up onto the ceiling instead of down onto the desk, and adjust as the sun moves. They are the most flexible choice if your glare changes through the day. They do take a little more dusting. Look at venetian or wooden blinds.
Vertical blinds
Good for wide windows and patio doors, which are common in garden rooms. Rotating the vanes angles light away from the screen, and you can slide them aside for a clear view. See vertical blinds.
Day and night blinds
Two fabric types in one, so you can move between softened light and full cover on the same window. A useful choice if the room doubles as a spare bedroom. See day and night blinds.
Roman blinds and pleated blinds
Pleated blinds can be fitted to awkward shapes, and some can be adjusted from the top as well as the bottom, so you can shade the glare zone while keeping light overhead. Roman blinds add warmth to a room that otherwise feels very much like an office. Ask us what each range offers.
Keep some light in the room
A darker fabric can seem the obvious answer, though a bright screen in a dark room can be tiring on the eyes, so it helps to aim to reduce the peaks rather than remove the daylight. A light-filtering or slatted blind that you can partly open often works well. You might still want a blackout for a room used for night work or sleeping, in which case, see the blackout blinds page.
Small details that make a difference
- Fabric finish: matt and slightly textured fabrics reflect less than smooth glossy ones.
- Fit: a blind fitted inside the recess looks neat, but light can leak at the edges. A fit outside the recess covers more.
- Controls: a cordless or chain blind is easy enough, but if you'll be adjusting during the day, a motorised blind saves you leaving the desk.
- Cords: keep cords and chains away from where cables run and out of the reach of children and pets. See blind controls explained.
- Screen angle: tilt the monitor slightly down or add a matt screen filter if reflections persist.
Conservatory and garden room offices
Glass on several sides means glare from changing angles through the day. A combination can work well here, such as roof blinds plus a side blind. Our conservatory guide covers the roof and side options.
Quick decision guide
- Glare changes through the day: slatted blinds.
- Glare is steady and from one window: light-filtering roller.
- Wide glazing: vertical blinds.
- Dual-use room: day and night blinds.
Not sure which suits your room? Book a free measure and we can look at the window and the desk position together, then give you a quotation before you commit.
