The short answer for lake homes: you want treatments that preserve the view, block the intense UV that reflects off the water, resist humidity, and give you flexible privacy from the lake side. In practice that usually means solar shades or cellular shades for the main view windows, moisture resistant materials throughout, sheer or top down bottom up options for privacy, and motorization for the large or high windows these homes are known for. Here is how it all fits together.

Some of the most rewarding projects Haute House Design has taken on in more than twenty years across the Okanagan have been lake homes. Whether on Okanagan Lake, Skaha Lake, or one of the smaller lakes around the valley, waterfront properties have a character all their own, and they come with a specific set of window covering challenges that an ordinary home does not face. If you own or are building a lake property, here is what to think about, with the reasoning behind each recommendation.

Why Lake Homes Need a Different Approach

Lakefront living is defined by the view, and that view is usually delivered through large windows, walls of glass, and sometimes floor to ceiling expanses that capture the water. Those windows are the entire point of the home. But they also create four specific challenges that have to be solved together rather than one at a time.

• Intense, reflected sunlight. The sun does not only come from above at a lake. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency notes that water reflects UV and increases overall exposure, commonly cited at around 10 percent, which adds glare and ultraviolet load on top of the direct sun a home already receives.

• Fading from UV. All that extra light is hard on interiors. Floors, furniture, rugs, and artwork in a bright lake home can fade quickly without proper UV filtering.

• Humidity and moisture. Proximity to water means higher humidity, which can warp, swell, or encourage mildew on materials that are not suited to it.

• Privacy from the water side. A home that feels perfectly private from the road can be completely open to view from a boat, a dock, or a neighbouring property across the water. Privacy has to be considered from the lake side, not just the street side.

The art of dressing a lake home is solving all four of these without sacrificing the view that made you fall in love with the property in the first place.

The Best Window Treatments for Lake Properties

Solar Shades for the Main View Windows

For the big windows that frame the lake, solar shades are very often the answer. They are made from a tightly woven technical fabric that blocks a high percentage of UV and glare while remaining see through, so you keep your view of the water while protecting everything inside from fading. Manufacturer fabric ratings commonly list solar screen fabrics as blocking up to roughly 95 to 99 percent of UV depending on the fabric's openness factor. Because reflected light off a lake adds to the UV load, as the EPA notes, this protection matters even more on the water than it does inland.

Solar fabrics come in a range of openness levels, so the balance between see through clarity and light control can be tuned to each window and room. For daytime living spaces that face the water, they are often the perfect balance of protection and view.

Cellular Shades for Insulation and Comfort

Lake homes experience real temperature swings, hot sun off the water in summer and cold glass in winter, and cellular shades handle both. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, tightly installed cellular shades can reduce unwanted solar heat gain through windows by up to 60 percent in cooling season and reduce heat loss by 40 percent or more in heating season. Their honeycomb structure traps air to insulate the window, keeping rooms more comfortable year round and easing the load on heating and cooling. They are an excellent choice for bedrooms and any room where comfort and energy efficiency matter, and they come in light filtering and room darkening fabrics.

Moisture Resistant Materials Throughout

This is where lake homes really differ from inland homes. Near the water, we steer clients away from materials that are vulnerable to humidity, such as natural hardwood blinds that can warp, and delicate fabrics like silk that can be damaged by moisture over time. Instead we recommend moisture resistant options. Faux wood blinds give the warm look of real wood without the warping. Polysatin shutters, according to manufacturer specifications, resist moisture, mildew, and UV, holding their finish without cracking, fading, or peeling, which makes them genuinely well suited to waterfront conditions. Woven wood shades can add beautiful natural texture as well. Choosing the right material from the start is what keeps a lake home looking its best for years.

Sheers and Top Down Bottom Up Options for Privacy

Privacy on a lake is a balancing act. You want to feel secluded, but you do not want to block the view to achieve it. Two solutions work especially well. Sheer treatments soften the space and provide a layer of daytime privacy while still letting you see out and light come in. Top down bottom up shades, which can be lowered from the top or raised from the bottom independently, are excellent for waterfront homes because you can cover the lower portion of a window for privacy from the dock or the water while leaving the upper portion open to the sky and the view. It is the kind of flexible solution lake living calls for.

Motorization for Large and High Windows

Lake homes are known for dramatic windows, and many are large, tall, or simply out of easy reach. Motorization solves this elegantly. With a remote, an app, or a voice command, you can adjust shades across an entire wall of glass at once, and you can set schedules so the home manages its own light through the day. For a seasonal or vacation property this is especially valuable, because you can control the home's window coverings even when you are not there, and program them to protect interiors from the midday sun automatically. For high windows above a great room, motorization is often the only practical way to operate them at all.

A Quick Reference for Lake Property Windows

Planning Window Treatments for a New Build or Renovation

If you are building or renovating a lake home, the best time to plan your window treatments is earlier than most people think. Decisions about motorization often involve wiring, and concealed or recessed mounting needs to be coordinated at the time of framing.  Bringing window coverings into the conversation before or early during the build, rather than at the very end, produces cleaner results and more options. If your project is at the planning stage, we are always glad to consult early and coordinate with your builder or designer so everything comes together beautifully.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best window treatments for a lake house?

For most Okanagan lake homes, solar shades on the main view windows, cellular shades for insulation, and moisture resistant materials like faux wood blinds or polysatin shutters work very well together. Sheers or top down bottom up shades handle privacy from the water, and motorization is ideal for large or high windows.

How do I keep my lake view but still get privacy?

Top down bottom up shades are ideal, because you can cover the lower part of a window for privacy from the water while leaving the top open to the view and sky. Sheers also provide daytime privacy while preserving the outlook. Layering treatments gives you the most flexibility.

What window covering materials hold up best near water?

Moisture resistant materials are essential near a lake. Faux wood blinds give the look of real wood without warping, and polysatin shutters, per manufacturer specifications, resist moisture, mildew, and UV without cracking or fading. We generally steer clients away from natural hardwood blinds and delicate fabrics like silk in waterfront rooms.

Does sunlight off the water really cause more fading?

Yes. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency notes that water reflects UV and increases exposure, commonly cited at around 10 percent, on top of the direct sun a home already receives. That extra load makes UV filtering treatments like solar shades and cellular shades especially important for protecting floors, furniture, and artwork in a lake home.

Are motorized shades worth it for a vacation property?

For a seasonal or vacation home, motorization is particularly valuable. You can control your window coverings remotely and set schedules so the home protects its own interiors from the sun even when you are away. For the large or high windows common in lake homes, motorization is often the most practical option as well.