Window Treatments and Patio Shades for Lake Homes

Lake homes are built around the view: big windows facing the water, and porches and decks that get used every warm evening. I help lake homeowners control sun, heat, and bugs without giving up that view, from Lake Colchester a few minutes from our Norwalk shop to the private lake communities across central Iowa.

Motorized exterior patio shade lowered on a covered patio by Love Is Blinds

Glare and heat control that keeps the view

Water reflects sun back into the house, so the rooms facing the lake often get the most glare. Roller shades with solar fabric are my first recommendation for those windows. Solar fabric is rated by openness: a tighter weave cuts more glare and heat, and a more open weave keeps more of the view.

I bring samples to your home so you can hold each fabric against your own glass in your own light before you decide. My exterior solar shades guide covers openness in more detail.

Motorized patio shades for porches and decks

Motorized exterior and patio shades block heat and glare before they reach the glass. They also keep bugs and wind off the patio while you keep the view, which makes a lakeside porch usable from spring through fall.

Side channel: the fabric runs in channels on each side for a sealed edge.
Cable guided: cables hold the shade steady on big, tall, or windy openings.
Fabric openness: from a light sheer that keeps the view to a denser weave for deep shade and privacy.

Motorized shades lower at the touch of a button, and an optional wind sensor retracts them automatically if gusts pick up while you are away.

Exterior patio shade raised to open the view on a covered patio by Love Is Blinds

Tall windows and the view side of the house

Many lake homes have two-story glass facing the water. Motorized shades make those windows easy to run from a remote, a phone, or a voice assistant, and schedules can close the west-facing glass on hot afternoons. Motorized shades can also lower on their own while you are away, which helps at a second home. See tall windows and skylights for the options.

Bedrooms and rooms for cold months

For bedrooms, blackout honeycomb shades or blackout roller shades keep early morning sun off the water from waking anyone up. Honeycomb shades also trap a pocket of air at the glass, which helps rooms hold heat through an Iowa winter.

Lake communities we serve

Lake Colchester and the Lakewood neighborhood in Norwalk are minutes from our shop. We also serve private lake communities within about a two-hour drive of Des Moines, including Lake Panorama in Panora, Diamondhead Lake near Dexter, and Sun Valley Lake near Ellston.

Many lake associations have building rules, so check yours before adding exterior shades. My post on HOA rules for window treatments covers what to ask.

Frequently asked questions

Do you travel to Lake Panorama and other lake communities?

Yes. We serve communities within about a two-hour drive of Des Moines, which includes Lake Panorama, Diamondhead Lake, and Sun Valley Lake. The in-home estimate is free wherever you are in our service area.

Will shades block my view of the lake?

Not when the fabric is chosen for the view. A more open solar weave cuts glare while keeping more of the view, and a denser weave adds shade and privacy. I bring samples so you can compare them against your own windows.

Can exterior patio shades handle wind off the water?

Cable guided systems hold shades steady on big, tall, or windy openings, and an optional wind sensor retracts motorized shades automatically if gusts pick up while you are away.

Do I need my lake association's approval for exterior shades?

Many lake associations have building rules, and some review anything installed on the outside of a window, including exterior shades. For interior treatments, associations usually care most about the color facing the street, so a white or neutral backing is the safe choice. Check your guidelines before ordering.

Ready to see samples at your lake home? Call (515) 850-9700 or request your free in-home estimate.