Best Way to Cover Skylights: 5 Smart Solutions for Your Home

Skylights are amazing for bringing natural light into your home, but sometimes that light can be too much of a good thing. Whether you're dealing with unwanted heat in the summer, glare on your TV screen, or early morning sun waking you up, finding the best way to cover skylights can make a huge difference in your comfort and energy bills.

We've researched the top solutions to help you control light, improve energy efficiency, and add style to those hard-to-reach windows. From motorized options to budget-friendly DIY fixes, these five smart solutions will transform how you use your skylights.

Why You Need to Cover Your Skylights

Before we jump into the solutions, let's talk about why skylight coverings matter. Skylights offer great views of the sky and let in lots of natural light, but having the option to cover them with a shade or blind gives you full control over the amount of light at any given time. Since they directly face the sun when it's highest in the sky, skylights can create serious heat issues in your home.

The main benefits of covering skylights include:

• Better temperature control: Skylights facing the sun can overheat rooms in summer and let cold air in during winter
• Light management: Control when and how much natural light enters your space
• Energy savings: Proper insulation from skylight shades can lower your heating and cooling costs
• UV protection: Protect your furniture, floors, and artwork from fading
• Privacy: If you have neighbors with second-story windows, skylight shades can provide much-needed privacy
• Better sleep: Block out early morning sun in bedrooms for more restful sleep

Now that we know why skylight coverings are so valuable, let's explore the best solutions available.

1. Motorized Cellular Shades: The Top Choice

Motorized skylight cellular shades are widely regarded as the top choice for skylights. Their unique honeycomb structure traps air, providing excellent insulation that helps regulate indoor temperatures. This honeycomb design isn't just for looks—it creates pockets of air that act as a barrier against heat and cold.

Why motorized shades are worth the investment:

Motorized skylight shades are a more convenient option and can be operated via remote control, along with any matching motorized shades in your home. Since skylight windows are often difficult to reach, remote control is an ideal option. You can control multiple shades from up to 80 feet away, and many systems integrate with smart home devices like Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant.

The energy-saving benefits are real, too. These shades are excellent at blocking light (especially blackout skylight shades), but they also add an extra layer of insulation to your windows. Cellular skylight shades will help keep your home cool in the summer and warm in the winter, saving you on your monthly energy bill.

For the best energy efficiency, consider options with a honeycomb-within-a-honeycomb design that features more layers of fabric and insulating air pockets. You can also schedule them to open and close automatically throughout the day, maximizing natural light when you want it and blocking heat when you don't.

2. Manual Cellular (Honeycomb) Shades with Extension Poles

If you're looking for a more budget-friendly option that still offers excellent insulation, manual cellular shades are your best bet. Cellular shades are highly recommended for skylight windows due to their insulating and light-filtering properties. These shades are installed using a supportive sidetrack to keep your shade in place, helping it retain tension.

How they work:

Manual skylight shades operate with a handle on the bottom rail. For hard-to-reach skylights, you'll want to add a telescoping extension pole to your order. Extension poles are relatively cheap additions for your skylights shades and will make it possible to access these hard-to-reach windows. These poles are available in various lengths, typically ranging from 3 feet to 9.5 feet, so you can reach even the tallest skylights.

The side rails are crucial for keeping the shade taut and preventing sagging—a common problem with angled windows. They guide the shade smoothly as it opens and closes, ensuring it stays in the perfect position.

Fabric options to consider:

• Light-filtering: Allows soft, diffused natural light while reducing glare
• Blackout: Completely blocks light for bedrooms or media rooms
• Room-darkening: Blocks most light but allows a small amount through

For those interested in learning more about shade installation, check out our guide on how to install blackout roller shades for step-by-step instructions.

3. Roller Shades: Sleek and Simple

Roller shades are designed to reduce the friction of sliding, providing for an effortless transition to day and night time. Roller shades skylights are available in sheer, semi-sheer, and opaque fabrics to cover your skylights.

Roller shades offer a more contemporary, minimalist look compared to cellular shades. They roll up neatly when open, taking up minimal space and keeping your skylight view unobstructed. When closed, they provide a smooth, flat appearance that many homeowners prefer for modern interiors.

Key advantages:

• Clean, streamlined appearance
• Available in hundreds of colors and patterns
• Can be motorized for easy operation
• Work well with smart home systems
• Easy to clean and maintain

The fabric you choose makes a big difference. Solar screen fabrics block UV rays and heat while maintaining your view, making them perfect for rooms where you want light control without complete darkness. For bedrooms, blackout fabrics ensure complete privacy and darkness for better sleep.

At AOSKY, we offer a wide selection of roller shades that can be customized for skylight applications, giving you both style and functionality.

4. Pleated Shades: Affordable and Versatile

Pleated shades have crisp folds but lack the dual layer of cellular shades. While they don't offer quite as much insulation as cellular options, pleated shades are lighter weight and often more affordable, making them a great choice if you're covering multiple skylights on a budget.

These shades feature a single layer of pleated fabric that creates clean, consistent folds. Like cellular shades, they're installed with side rails to prevent sagging and ensure smooth operation. The cordless design with a bottom rail handle makes them easy to operate, even on angled skylights.

When to choose pleated shades:

• You're on a tighter budget
• You want a lightweight option
• Insulation isn't your top priority
• You prefer a simpler, more traditional look
• You're covering smaller skylights

You can add liners to pleated shades to improve their light control, privacy, and insulation against heat and cold. A blackout liner can transform a basic light-filtering pleated shade into a room-darkening solution without the higher cost of cellular construction.

5. Exterior Skylight Covers and Solar Films

For the ultimate in heat reduction, exterior solutions block the sun's heat before it even enters your home. Skylight Shades block up to 90% of sun's heat outside. Exterior skylight blinds cover all skylight shapes, sizes, brands like Velux.

Exterior mesh shades install on the outside of your skylight using a no-drill fastening system. They're made from non-fray material that can be cut to size on-site to fit any skylight shape or size. The mesh blocks heat and UV rays while still allowing you to see out and maintain natural light.

Solar window films offer another exterior option. Those who prefer to keep their space UV-protected can try tinting their skylight. This is a film that can be directly applied to the surface of the skylight to block out the majority of UV rays and the sun's heat. Films are permanent solutions that work 24/7 without any operation required.

Pros and cons of exterior solutions:

Exterior solutions work best when combined with interior shades, giving you maximum flexibility for light and temperature control.

How to Choose the Right Skylight Covering

Decide how much sunlight and heat you want to block. If you want adjustable light control with energy efficiency, motorized cellular shades are ideal. For constant heat reduction without blocking the view, solar films work well.

Here's a quick decision guide:

Choose motorized cellular shades if:

• Your skylights are very high or hard to reach
• You want the best insulation and energy savings
• You prefer smart home integration
• Budget isn't your primary concern

Choose manual cellular or pleated shades if:

• You want good insulation at a lower price point
• Your skylights are reachable with an extension pole
• You're covering multiple skylights
• You don't mind manual operation

Choose roller shades if:

• You prefer a modern, minimalist look
• You want more fabric and color options
• You need room-darkening but not necessarily insulation
• You may motorize later

Choose exterior solutions if:

• Heat reduction is your top priority
• You live in a very hot climate
• You want to maintain the view while blocking heat
• You're willing to invest in a more permanent solution

Also consider the room where your skylight is located. If it's a place for daytime naps or a home movie theater, choose a blackout shade to make it as dark as possible. If you're less concerned with blocking light and want to increase the energy efficiency, go with light filtering shades.

Installation and Operation Tips

Our skylight shades and blinds are all customized and built to your specifications and can be installed by anyone going down the DIY route. However, you are not alone! Our guides on How to Measure and How to Install for skylight shades and blinds are full of the information you need to tackle the project yourself and be confident in your choices.

Measuring is critical. Measure your skylight in three places—top, middle, and bottom for both width and height. Always use the narrowest width and shortest height measurements to ensure a proper fit. For angled skylights, you'll also need to measure the diagonals to verify the window is square.

For motorized options, check if you need an electrical outlet installed beforehand. Battery-powered motors are available and eliminate the need for electrical work, making installation much simpler. These rechargeable batteries typically last several months between charges.

Consider the ceiling angle. Most skylights are installed at angles between 15-75 degrees, but some are nearly horizontal or vertical. The angle affects which shade options will work best and what size limitations apply.

If you're not comfortable installing skylights yourself, especially for hard-to-reach or motorized options, professional installation ensures safety and that your shades function perfectly from day one.

FAQs

What is the most energy-efficient way to cover a skylight?

Cellular shades are great for insulating skylights as well as helping keep energy costs down. Cellular shades are great choices for skylights, and can provide insulating and light filtering benefits. Double-cell honeycomb shades with a blackout liner offer the maximum energy efficiency by creating multiple air pockets that block heat transfer.

Can I install skylight shades myself or do I need a professional?

Most skylight shades are designed for DIY installation and come with all necessary hardware and instructions. However, for very high or hard-to-reach skylights, or for motorized systems requiring electrical work, professional installation is recommended for safety and optimal performance.

Do motorized skylight shades really save money in the long run?

Yes! While motorized shades have a higher upfront cost, they often save money through reduced energy bills and increased usage. Because they're so easy to operate, you're more likely to actually use them to block heat in summer and retain warmth in winter. The energy savings can offset the initial investment over several years.

What's the best skylight shade for a bedroom?

If you want complete darkness, in a bedroom or nursery for example, then you want to think about getting skylight shades with blackout or room darkening. Blackout skylight shades will make sure you can get a comfortable nap during the day without having to worry about incoming light. Motorized cellular shades with blackout fabric are ideal since you can easily control them without getting out of bed.

How do I clean and maintain skylight shades?

Regular dusting with a feather duster or vacuum brush attachment keeps skylight shades looking fresh. For cellular shades, most stains can be spot-cleaned with a damp sponge and mild detergent. Avoid harsh chemicals that might damage the fabric or affect its insulating properties. Roller shades can typically be wiped down with a slightly damp cloth.