Buying Guide · November 2026

Sunscreen Fabrics Explained: What Openness Percentage Means for View, Glare and Privacy in Singapore

One small percentage on a fabric swatch decides whether your balcony feels bright and open or shaded and private. Here is what openness really means and how to pick the right level for your Singapore home.

What “Openness” Actually Means

Shop for a sunscreen blind and you will meet a number: 1%, 3%, 5%. That number is the openness factor, the share of the fabric surface made up of tiny gaps in the weave. A 5% fabric is 95% solid thread and 5% microscopic holes; a 1% fabric is 99% solid. You cannot see the holes from a metre away, but together they decide how much daylight, view and heat gets through.

The key idea is that lower openness means a tighter weave. That gives you more privacy, more glare and UV reduction, and a darker, more muted view out. Higher openness gives you a brighter room and a clearer view of whatever is outside. Neither is “better”; they solve different problems, and Singapore windows have plenty of both.

The Three Openness Levels We Offer on Outdoor Zip Blinds

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The 1% fabric blocks up to 98% of UV, which is why it is the pick for balconies where sofas, timber flooring or plants take a beating. It is also the darkest from inside, so it suits balconies you use as an extension of the living room less as a viewing deck.

A Common Misunderstanding: Daytime vs Night-Time Privacy

Sunscreen fabrics work on a simple principle: it is easier to see from the dark side to the bright side than the other way round. In the day, the outside is brighter, so people outside see a fairly solid surface while you can still see out. At night, with lights on indoors, the situation reverses and silhouettes and movement can show from outside.

This matters for HDB corridor-facing windows, ground-floor units and condos with close neighbours. If you need real night-time privacy, do not rely on a sunscreen alone. Layer it with a curtain, or use a blackout or combi blind inside. Our guide on

Indoor Roller Sunscreens: Choosing by Fabric Type

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For a living room with a view you love, Fabric D is the practical sunscreen choice. For a softer, more decorative look where you still want daylight, Fabrics C and E trade a little view for texture. If you need darkness as well, a blackout roller (Fabric A at $60/sqm) can sit on the same window as a second blind, or you can step up to a

Matching Openness to Singapore Conditions

West-facing balcony: afternoon sun is the main enemy, so lean towards 3% or 1%. Our

East-facing living room: morning sun is gentler, so 5% or a sheer roller keeps the room bright while taking the edge off. See the

Wet-season balconies: openness does not make a blind rainproof, but zip tracks hold the fabric edges firmly in the side rails so it does not flap loose in wind. For storms, haze and dust habits, read

Home office or TV wall: a sheer roller kills screen glare without plunging the room into darkness. Pair it with a schedule so it lowers itself when the sun reaches the window.

How Openness Fits With Heat Control

A tighter weave stops more sunlight at the window, which is what helps a room feel less harsh. We do not quote a specific energy saving, because it depends on your orientation, glass and how often the blind is closed, but the principle is covered honestly in

Adding a Motor and Scheduling

Sunscreens benefit more from motorisation than almost any other blind, because the sun moves. A motor on Tuya/Smart Life or Aqara lets the blind lower itself at 2pm and rise at 6pm without you thinking about it, and works with Google Home, Alexa and Siri. If you are weighing motor types, the

Quick Decision Guide

Want to keep the view above all? Go 5% on zip blinds or Fabric D on rollers. Fighting afternoon glare but still want to see out? 3% on zip blinds. Need maximum UV block and privacy outdoors? 1%. Need darkness at night? Add a blackout layer, because no sunscreen will do that on its own.

Frequently Asked Questions