Introduction
Since the Middle Ages, louvres have been used in many households. Today, louvres are made from more robust materials and are much more sophisticated and practical. You will find louvres made of wood, aluminium, steel, and more. Although louvres are still used for the same purposes as in the past, they also have many other uses.
Five common but unique ways to effectively use Louvres in your home:
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Sun shading
This is the most common use for louvres in your home. While it is nice to have the sun beaming in your living room during the cold winter months, it is not that suitable in the summer and increases your energy usage.
Louvres can shade your home in many ways: shade net louvres, window awnings or gutters, outdoor louvre screens, fixed shade louvres, or motorised louvres. It is important to consider the orientation and location of your home to choose the most efficient solution. This will also determine whether vertical or horizontal louvres would be more effective and even the angle at which they will sit.
Awnings are great if you require minimal shading, while motorised louvres allow you to maximise both solar gain and shading as needed. If you are unsure what solution and style best suits your needs and property, it is best to discuss this with an architect or louvres supplier.
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Ventilation
Another effective way to cool your home in the summer is to allow natural ventilation in your home. While louvres keep your home shaded, they also open up your home and let in the fresh air. Many homes near the sea have made the most of this feature as the sea breeze can help cool their homes during the day and reduce the need for excessive air conditioning. This is also a great choice for damp areas where louvres can increase airflow and reduce humidity in the home.
The best thing about using louvres for ventilation is that you don’t have to install an entire wall of louvres for them to be effective. Instead, consider where the wind usually blows from and which rooms would be most effective. Then, you can use small sections of louvres or even larger ones for a bigger impact. They can even ventilate specific rooms such as a kitchen, bathroom, or outdoors.
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Privacy
While most of us love a home that provides maximum privacy, in some cases, maximum privacy can feel slightly claustrophobic. Louvres are a great way to provide much-needed privacy in your home while allowing you to connect to the outside world and not block out too much natural light.
To maximise the effectiveness of privacy, you need to consider the level of privacy you’re aiming for, the direction you want privacy from (e.g., neighbours on the balcony below, the school across the street, etc.), the amount of natural light you’d still like inside, and so on.
As with a sunshade, you’ll have the option of using vertical or horizontal outdoor louvre screens, and you can choose from motorised, fixed, or even bifold or sliding louvres.
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Roof Louvres
Louvre roofs are a trendy choice for outdoor living spaces as they allow you the freedom to enjoy the outdoors during the wind and summer. By using a louvred roof system that can be opened or closed depending on the weather, you can adapt the space to your needs.
But don’t think you can only use a louvred roof for outdoor spaces. Many architects incorporate louvred roofs into a home’s design to increase openness and light in a space. The key is to consider what you ultimately want from your space and whether a louvred roof can help you achieve that.
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Architectural element
Using striking elements to create an architectural statement for a home has been around for a long time, but combining it with functional applications is becoming more popular nowadays. For example, shutters are a great option to create a bold architectural feature in your home while providing some practical benefits (such as shading or privacy).
Conclusion
Louvre screens can be utilised in various spaces in your home, each with a different function. It’s always great to bring your unique ideas and work with a shutter supplier or architect to create a sustainable solution – the sky’s the limit!
