How Solar Shades Help Beat the Harsh Minnesota Heat
Minnesota summers are lovely, but the heat can be harsh. The sun climbs early, sits high through the longest days of the year, and pours through south and west-facing glass for hours at a stretch. That kind of exposure heats interior surfaces, fades upholstery and floors, and forces the air conditioner to work harder than it should.

Thankfully, our team at Little Blind Spot understands how to keep the heat out of Minnesota homes. Our selection of custom solar shades will not only keep your home cooler, but also give you peace of mind all summer long that your home’s windows are covered with the best window treatments in the area.
What Custom Solar Shades Do Differently
Solar shades use a tightly woven mesh fabric that filters incoming sunlight while preserving the view through the glass. The fabric is rated by the openness factor, which measures how much light passes through. A lower openness percentage blocks more sunlight and provides greater privacy during daylight hours. A higher percentage keeps the view crisper and is well-suited to rooms where the scenery outside matters.
Custom-sizing is one of the standout reasons to order our solar shades. Factory-cut roller shades from other dealers leave gaps along the sides of the frame, and gaps let direct sun bypass the shade entirely. A made-to-measure fabric panel covers the full opening cleanly, making the heat reduction noticeable rather than marginal.
Solar Shades for Windows That Face the Afternoon Sun
West-facing rooms take the most intense heat of the day. By mid-afternoon in July, the room’s temperature and a furniture group set near that window can become uncomfortable to sit in. Living rooms, home offices, and primary bedrooms that face west are usually the first places homeowners notice the difference after installing solar fabrics.
Glare is the second piece. Screens become hard to read, dining tables wash out, and indoor photography becomes a hassle. The mesh weave cuts harsh light to a soft, even cast across the room while keeping the outdoor sightline open.
Why Choose Hunter Douglas Solar Shades from Little Blind Spot
As a Hunter Douglas Dealer since 1978, we carry the full range of Hunter Douglas window treatments, including Designer Solar Shades.
Here is what we walk through during an in-home appointment:
- Sun exposure is noted by room and by window orientation.
- Openness factor recommendations based on view priority and heat load
- Fabric color and weave selection coordinated with existing interior finishes.
- Motorization options for high windows and rooms with multiple shades
- Hardware and mounting style chosen to suit the trim and ceiling height.
Each piece of the conversation feeds into a recommendation built around your house, not a generic product spec.
Get Solar Roller Shades for Any Room
Bedrooms, patios, sunrooms, kitchens with sun exposure, and finished walkout basements all benefit from solar fabrics chosen with the room's daily light pattern in mind. Layering options are available for full blackout overnight, with the solar shade handling daytime heat and a separate panel for sleep hours.
Schedule Your Consultation Today in the Twin Cities Metro Area
Find solar shades near you that are right for your home with the help of our team.
Little Blind Spot serves homeowners across Hopkins, Woodbury, Edina, Minnetonka, Plymouth, Eagan, Lakeville, Stillwater, the wider Twin Cities, and Hudson, Wisconsin. Call us at
(952) 935-4353 or
reach out online to book your in-home design consultation.












