Help! How can I shade skylights? Light at 4.30am!

[Catabogus]

My house has 2 Velux skylights on each side of the loft bedroom. They have blinds on them that are fitted to the window - which work brilliantly to keep the light out when the windows are shut.

However, in the summer of course I don’t want the windows shut, as it’s boiling up there. When the windows are open, the light streams through very brightly and wakes me up around 4.30am. I have resorted to an eye mask but it’s not great as it tends to fall off in the night. Is there a better solution? Something I could fit over the windows that would keep the light out even when they’re open?

This would also help me work when WFH, since my desk is right under one of the south facing skylights. It’s much too hot to work with the window/blind shut, but with it open the sun streams through for most of the day and boils me. I tried tying an extra large muslin cloth over the window but it flew off into my face during a Zoom call, which was a bit embarrassing.

I can’t believe I’m the only one with this issue. Any suggestions please?

[Catabogus]

The blinds are like this, just in case anyone can’t figure out what I’m on about. You can see that they only cover the window when it’s shut. When it’s open, light/sun comes in at both top and bottom.

[Catabogus]

Hmmm… OK maybe no one else has this problem after all!

[SunnyEgg]

We have velux facing east with blinds, but open, and the sun is waking me early. I chatted to a friend who uses eye masks but not sure I can deal with those

No suggestions really

[Catabogus]

Yes, the eye mask is probably only useful if you lie really still while you sleep. Mine comes off and gets tangled in my hair!

[BCBird]

I was going to say eye mask. Could u perhaps keep the blinds shut and get some type of air conditioning unit?

[Catabogus]

I am really hoping to avoid air-con! Just for cost and environmental reasons, really. I keep thinking there must be some obvious solution I’m missing.

[IhearyouClemFandango]

Could you fix some of the plastic coated wire like used with net curtains at top and bottom, with blackout curtain fabric on? So the window can be open with the curtains drawn over the top.

[Catabogus]

@IhearyouClemFandango

Could you fix some of the plastic coated wire like used with net curtains at top and bottom, with blackout curtain fabric on? So the window can be open with the curtains drawn over the top.

Now that’s an interesting idea! I will investigate. Thank you!

[Soontobe60]

We have the same issue although as the windows are on the south facing side of the roof they’re in the shade in the morning. I find that if I leave the windows wide open all day, then just leave them open the tiniest crack when I go to bed, the heat still escapes and there’s less light coming in at dawn.
I did think about making some sort of blind from blackout fabric which completely covers the window by about 6” all the way round, sew channels across the top and bottom then slide it over the window at night.
I’ll have a go at drawing what I mean.

[Circethemagician]

You can get external blinds for velux windows. They stop the heat hitting the glass, so keep the room much cooler. They filter the light rather than block it (we have internal blackout blinds as well for that).

We have recently fitted the external blinds in the loft and the windows can be kept closed at night because the room is cooler (although admittedly we do have another side window for ventilation).

The external blinds are still fitted to the windows, so it won’t help block light when the windows are open, but because the room is cooler you might not need the windows open so wide.

[Soontobe60]

The blue line is the window recess, the green is a curtain rail and the yellow is the fabric (blackout) with channels either end for the curtain rail top and bottom

[SixOClock]

Yiu could get some blue tac and black paper and stick on the glass until you think of something permanent.

[Circethemagician]

These are the external heat proof blinds. They are really helping in this heatwave and I really wish we had got them last year.

https://www.veluxblindsdirect.co.uk/product/velux-blinds/awning-blinds?_gl=11qhx1a_upMQ.._gaMTU0NTczNzM3Ny4xNjg3MDM3OTYx_ga_JSTB51P5LEMTY4NzAzNzk2MS4xLjAuMTY4NzAzNzk2MS4wLjAuMA.._ga_ZQVSLTBW0K*MTY4NzAzNzk2MS4xLjAuMTY4NzAzNzk2MS4wLjAuMA..&gclid=CjwKCAjws7WkBhBFEiwAIi1681KgtQdTKQ8PO17H4OHzOlDm3Es2JepOLrObFS3R_lTCNoGjc3xihxoCRDgQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

[Kgold]

I know one trick for temporary blackout when travelling with kids is to spray the window with water and stick tinfoil on the window... I don't know how much that helps with the light coming in when you have them open though...

[frostyfours]

This is AMAZING. Cheap and very easy and works a dream. We have just done all our upstairs windows to deflect the heat and give blackout. They are fantastic.

MaximoLife® Ultimate 100%... https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08K95N9LR?ref=ppx%5D%5D%5B%5Bhttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.co.uk%2Fdp%2FB08K95N9LR%3Fref%3Dppx_pop_mob_ap_share&tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21 poppmobappshare

[DelphiniumBlue]

I suffer from exactly the same problem. I'm going to try rigging up some kind of thing that hangs over the gap/ I did try hanging a towel over the window rail, but there is a divider that stops this working properly .
I'm sure we can come up with something between us all!
Soontobe60's idea sounds good, but I can't quite visualise how it works.

[MumofSpud]

We have Velux windows in DD's room
I hate them!
They are so impractical- in the summer when they are open at night light streams in (as you said)
In the winter open then a little and rain might come in!

I have just bought some net vitamin material that she is going to stick around the window on the wall to stop mosquitoes!

[dinmin]

@frostyfours

This is AMAZING. Cheap and very easy and works a dream. We have just done all our upstairs windows to deflect the heat and give blackout. They are fantastic.

MaximoLife® Ultimate 100%... https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08K95N9LR?ref=ppx%5D%5D%5B%5Bhttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.co.uk%2Fdp%2FB08K95N9LR%3Fref%3Dppx_pop_mob_ap_share&tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21 poppmobappshare

We’ve done similar - came here to say this!