5 ways to use louvres on your home

The use of louvres on homes can be dated as far back as the middle ages. Nowadays, louvres are much more sophisticated and are made from much sturdier materials like aluminium, steel, timber and more. And while they are still used for their original intentions (in some forms), they are now used for a much broader range of purposes.

In this blog we discuss five common yet incredibly effective ways you can use louvres on your home – either new or existing. Consider how louvres could be used on your home in one of the ways below.

1. Sunshading

This is probably one of the most common ways to use louvres on your home. While it can be nice to have the sun streaming into your lounge room during cool winter months, during summer it can make your home slightly uncomfortable and increase your energy consumption.

Louvres can be used to shade your home in a number of different ways: louvre shade screens, window awnings or eaves, louvre shutters, fixed shade louvres, or motorised louvred blinds. It's important to consider the orientation and location of your home in order to choose the most effective solution. This will also determine whether horizontal or vertical blinds would be more effective, and even the angle at which they will sit.

Awnings are great if you're after minimal shading, whereas motorised louvres can allow you to maximise both solar gain and sunshading as needed. If you're unsure of which solution and style is best suited to your needs and property, it's best to discuss this with an architect or louvre supplier. They will be able to show you how certain louvres can shade your home, and draw detailed plans so you can see how they will look on your home.

2. Ventilation

Another great way to cool your home in summer is by allowing natural ventilation to flow through your home. And as you already know, while louvres can keep your home shaded they can also open up your home and allow fresh air inside. Many homes close to the sea have made the most of this feature, as sea breezes can help to cool their homes during the day and reduce the need for excessive air conditioning. This is also a great option for humid areas, where louvres can increase airflow and reduce the dampness of a home.

The great thing about using louvres for ventilation is that you don't need to install a whole wall of louvres for them to be effective. Consider which direction the wind usually comes from, and which rooms it would be most effective in. You have the option to use small sections of louvres, or larger sections for more impact.

You can even use them to ventilate specific rooms, like a kitchen, bathroom or an outdoor room (like the one below).

3. Privacy

While many of us love a home that provides ultimate privacy, in some instances maximum privacy can feel slightly claustrophobic. Louvres are a great way to provide much needed privacy in your home, while still allowing you to feel connected to the outside world and not block out too much natural light.

To maximise the effectiveness of louvres for privacy, you'll need to consider the level of privacy you're after, direction you'd like privacy from (e.g. neighbours on the balcony below, school across the street etc.), amount of natural light you'd still like inside and so on.

As with sunshading, you will have the option to use either vertical or horizontal louvres and can choose from motorised, fixed or even bifold or sliding shutters. Your supplier will be able to outline the options available to you and help you decide on the best solution for your needs.

Image: Using a louvred wall to provide privacy to a patio out the front of this home. 

4. Louvre roof

Louvre roofs are a very popular choice for outdoor living areas, as they allow you the freedom to enjoy the outdoors during both winder and summer. By using a louvre roof system that can be opened or closed based on the weather, you have the freedom to adjust the space to your needs.

But don't think that you can only use a louvre roof solely for your outdoor space. Many architects are incorporating louvre roofs into the design of a home to increase the openness and light in a space. The key here is to consider what you ultimately want from your space, and if a louvre roof can help you achieve that.

Image: home in Indonesia via Arch Daily

5. Architectural feature

Using striking features to make an architectural statement on a home has been happening for a long time, but combining this with functional applications is becoming much more popular. Louvres are a great option to create a bold architectural feature on your home, while still providing some functional benefits (like sun shading or privacy).

In this case, it's always great to bring your own unique ideas forward and work with a louvre supplier or architect to create a sustainable solution - the sky is the limit here!

Image: home in Czech Republic, via Arch Daily

If you're interested in discovering more practical applications for louvres on your home, view the gallery on the Aurae website here.