South or east-facing glazing can be glorious in winter, providing you with plenty of daylight and a little passive warmth. But the low winter sun can also be blinding, making it uncomfortable to sit near your windows. The slats on external venetian blinds (EVBs) can be angled to welcome low winter sun, diffuse glare, and keep spaces beside big windows usable. The trick is control: open where there’s useful sun, modulate the angle of the slats for comfort, and retract at dusk.
Benefits of external venetian blinds in the winter
With the right amount of tilt, the slats on EVBs can allow light into your room while reducing glare at eye level and on screens. That keeps your desks, sofas, and dining tables near large windows comfortable throughout winter days.
Tilting the slats to allow in some of the low sun can also allow a modest amount of solar heat gain during the day, without the visual discomfort you’d get from bare glass.
How to use your external venetian blinds on winter days
- Morning (east-facing windows): Start more open to catch the low sun, then increase the tilt as the sun rises to avoid glare.
- Midday (south-facing windows): Angle the slats to bounce sunlight up towards the ceiling while blocking direct views of the sun.
- Cloudy spells: Open the slats further or lift all the way up to maximise the available daylight.
- Dusk: Retract or raise the blind; there’s no sun to harvest. By lifting the blind, you’re also set up for morning sun the next day.
Having your EVBs motorised and setting them to work on an automated schedule is the easiest way to keep your blinds at optimal positions all day without any micromanagement.
By smoothing light and reducing some of the radiant cold near large windows, they can also make it more comfortable to sit near the window in winter.
However, EVBs are not the most effective night insulators available on the market. They are much better at preventing solar gain in the summer. If retaining heat after dark is a priority for you, consider pairing your external blinds with an interior window treatment like thermal curtains or cellular shades.
Where it’s not worth having external venetian blinds installed
- On north-facing windows that receive no direct sun
- On windows surrounded by lots of trees or other buildings
- The exception to this is if you are having your external venetian blinds fitted for privacy purposes.
External venetian blinds make winter spaces easier to live in. They let low sun in, knock out glare, and keep seats by the window usable all day.
Book a free home consultation to find out whether these blinds are right for you. We’ll come straight to you to check the exterior of your home, take measurements, recommend the right sizes, and show you colour and finish options.
Take a look at our gallery to see examples of EVBs we’ve installed on homes in and around Suffolk.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, by letting in low winter sun for daylight and heat. They also cut through glare so that window-side seats feel comfortable.
There isn’t one particular angle. The general rule of thumb is: open them more when you want heat gain, tilt them to a steeper angle when the sun is visible to your eye or causing glare on your screens.
Most systems integrate via an app, wall switch, or remote.
With many smart home systems, you can set up multiple profiles. You can set a winter profile for harvesting daylight and controlling glare, and a summer profile for keeping heat out of your home.
Always use a wind sensor. In extremely strong winds, your blinds will be able to raise to protect themselves before damage can occur.
If your slats or guides are frozen, don’t operate them until they have thawed. When external venetian blinds are motorised, they can include a temperature lockout to avoid damage.
Quality external venetian blinds with side guides or rails are quiet in normal levels of wind. If they are installed to a high standard, this will keep them from moving around and causing rattling noises.
Yes, it’s possible as long as there is space for the cassette and side guides. A free home consultation will confirm this.
Keep the slats & guides clean and free of debris. Check the sensors work, and we recommend scheduling an annual service if your blinds are motorised.
Usually not for homes, but check with your local authority, especially in flats or conservation areas. Commercial buildings may have additional requirements, especially on high streets.
