Make Intelligent Interior Design Choices with Smart Windows
by Kate McIntyrekate.mcintyre@interiordesignschoolreview.com
Interior Design School Review Columnist
Mini-blinds do a great job of controlling the amount of light coming into a room, but they often clash with a room's interior design. Other blinds options, such as Roman and roller shades, can complement interior decorating, but they block all light coming into a room. Smart window technology now offers the best of both worlds--attractive windows that allow a variable amount of sunlight to come into the room.
How Smart Windows Work
Smart windows are made of two panes of glass that encase a middle layer with embedded particles that behave differently in the presence or absence of electrical current. When there is no current, the particles are relaxed, and they are arrayed in a random pattern. This makes the windows opaque. When the current is turned on, the particles align, which allows light to pass straight through the window. The window glass looks clear.Interior Design Options with Liquid Crystal Glazed Windows
Liquid crystal glazed windows are best suited for interiors. Designers use the windows as walls in open interior decorating schemes. The windows provide the privacy of frosted glass when they are turned off, and they still let light through. Because they do not block solar rays, however, they do not offer any insulating benefits when they are used on outside windows.Suspended Particle Device Windows for Interior Decorating
Suspended particle devices work best in interior decorating when used on outside-facing windows. They can block some or all sunlight, so they can save energy during the hot summer months. Also, they are instantly adjustable, so you can customize the room's lighting. When there is no current, suspended particle device windows look black or dark gray.Window glass innovations give interior designers exciting new options for window treatments. The limits of smart windows have not yet been fully explored, and the future of this new technology looks bright and sunny.
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About the Author
Kate McIntyre is a writer in Portland, Oregon. She holds a B.A. from Harvard University and an M.F.A. in fiction writing from Oregon State University.
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