Most people think about blinds after the room is finished.
But what if that is exactly the problem?
This week, the British Blind and Shutter Association AGM was held at Loughborough University and the location mattered.
The university is currently carrying out a real-world research project looking at how shading products affect modern homes during warmer weather.
Not in a laboratory.
Not through computer simulations.
But inside two identical south-facing houses where researchers are monitoring:
• internal room temperatures
• heat build-up throughout the day
• when people open and close windows
• how rooms are actually used
• and how shading affects comfort and wellbeing
And honestly, this research could not come at a better time.
Because overheating in homes is becoming a genuine issue particularly in:
south-facing rooms
new builds with large areas of glass
roof lanterns
bifold door extensions
garden rooms
and open-plan living spaces
We see this regularly on home visits.
A customer invests heavily in a beautiful new living space with lots of glass and natural light.
Then the first spell of warm weather arrives.
By mid-afternoon, the room becomes too hot to comfortably sit in. The glare is unbearable. The blinds suddenly stop being a finishing touch and become part of how the room actually functions.
And honestly, this research could not come at a better time.
Over the last few summers, we’ve all felt it.
Hotter days. Warmer nights. Rooms that become uncomfortable by mid-afternoon.
With modern homes now featuring larger windows, bifold doors, roof lanterns, and open-plan spaces, overheating is becoming a much bigger conversation than many people realise.
For years, blinds were treated as decoration.
An afterthought once the paint was dry and the furniture was in place.
But the conversation is changing.
The early findings from the testing already reflect something we see every week:
👉 The right shading at south-facing windows can make a huge difference to comfort inside the home.
And importantly, this research is not just looking at products.
It is looking at behaviour too.
Because one of the most overlooked parts of overheating is simply how people live inside their homes.
When should blinds be closed?
When should windows be opened?
Which rooms heat up first?
What happens overnight?
How does glare affect the way a space gets used?
These are real-life questions.
And that is exactly why independent research like this matters.
At Barlow Blinds, we have always believed blinds should do more than just look good at the window.
The best blinds can help:
• reduce overheating
• improve sleep
• reduce glare
• improve privacy
• retain warmth in winter
• and create a more comfortable home overall
That is also why we continue working closely with the BBSA and use their research and guidance to help customers make informed decisions — not simply choose products based on trend or price.
Being part of the BBSA Management Committee also means I stay closely involved with the latest research and developments within the industry.
For our customers, that matters.
Because it means the advice we give is grounded in current research, real-world testing, and the latest thinking around comfort, shading, and modern home design.
This is also part of a much bigger national conversation around overheating in UK homes, with organisations like CIBSE and the Climate Change Committee now warning that modern homes face increasing overheating risks as summers continue to get hotter.
The testing at Loughborough University will continue throughout the summer, with full results expected in July 2027.
But one thing already feels clear:
The future of blinds is no longer just about style.
It is about creating healthier, more comfortable homes.
About Phil Coleman
Phil Coleman is the fifth generation of his family to run Barlow Blinds, a Leicester business that has been making blinds since 1887. With over 30 years of hands-on experience, Phil has played a leading role in shaping industry standards including being part of the team that wrote the only NVQ qualification for blind and shutter installers. He also serves on the Management Committee of the British Blind & Shutter Association (BBSA), helping to set best practice across the trade. Under his leadership, Barlow Blinds has remained true to its founding principle: “It’s not our job to find customers for our blinds, it’s our job to find the right blinds for our customers.”
