Conservatory Curtains: Managing Sun and Heat
A conservatory overheats in summer because its glazed walls and roof capture the sun through the greenhouse effect. Anti-heat thermal curtains on the walls, combined with roof protection, limit overheating without giving up the light.
This guide explains why a conservatory heats up, which solution suits which wall, which curtain to choose, and how to hang it at extra-long heights.
Why a conservatory overheats
A conservatory is fully glazed: walls and often the roof. The sun passes through the glass, heats the interior, and the heat stays trapped, that is the greenhouse effect. The midday rays, almost vertical, mostly strike the roof. The result: a room that quickly becomes stifling in summer, and conversely cold in winter when the glass lets the heat escape.
The roof, the main source of heat
Most of the solar gain comes through the roof. It is therefore the first surface to protect. On the roof, specific blinds (roof blinds, pleated blinds, slatted blinds) do the job, because a curtain cannot be hung there. The vertical walls, on the other hand, are very well suited to curtains.
Curtains or blinds: which solution for which wall
The two are complementary. The blind, especially on the roof and outside, blocks the radiation before it enters. The curtain, on the vertical walls, creates a thermal barrier on the inside and dresses the space. For the large windows of a conservatory, the principle is the same as for blocking the heat of a patio door in summer.
Which curtain for conservatory walls
On the walls, aim for an anti-heat thermal curtain, dense and covering. It slows the heat in summer and limits heat loss in winter. Since conservatory walls are tall, the made-to-measure extra-long curtain is often the right answer: it covers the whole surface, from rail to floor, without leaving any gap. A fabric that also protects against UV preserves your furniture as well, as we explain for the anti-UV curtain.
Summer and winter: the same barrier
A good thermal curtain works all year round. In summer, it slows the heat coming in. In winter, it keeps the heat inside a room that would otherwise cool down fast. The conservatory thus goes from a room that is hard to live in for part of the year to a genuine living space. For the cold, see the anti-cold thermal curtain range.
Hanging and dimensions
In a conservatory, curtains are most often hung on a ceiling rail or at the top of the walls, to cover extra-long heights. The unusual dimensions (angles, cut corners, significant height) make made-to-measure almost essential: a curtain at the exact size covers without a thermal bridge. Remember to ventilate too, early in the morning or in the evening, to clear the built-up hot air.
Frequently asked questions
Which curtain for a conservatory that overheats?
An anti-heat thermal curtain, dense and covering, on the vertical walls. Made-to-measure and extra-long to cover the whole glazed surface.
Should you protect the conservatory roof?
Yes, it is the main source of heat. The roof is protected with roof blinds, which a curtain does not replace.
Does a thermal curtain also help in winter in a conservatory?
Yes. The same barrier that slows the heat in summer keeps the heat inside in winter, when the conservatory cools down fast.
How do you hang curtains in a conservatory?
Most often on a ceiling rail or at the top of the walls, for extra-long heights. The unusual dimensions make made-to-measure almost essential.
Curtain or blind for a conservatory?
The two are complementary: a blind on the roof and outside, a curtain on the vertical walls.
Does the curtain protect furniture from the sun?
A fabric that filters UV limits the fading of furniture and floors exposed to the light of the conservatory.
To dress the large walls of a conservatory without a thermal bridge, explore Kurtens made-to-measure extra-long curtains, made to your exact dimensions in several fabrics.
To cool the other rooms of your home without air conditioning, read our complete guide on how to cool a room without air conditioning.
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