Garden Dome Privacy, Shading and Blackout Options

Privacy: keeping the open feel, on your terms

A dome's clear panels are its magic, but they naturally raise the question of privacy, and sometimes you want to control light too, whether to cool the space, darken it for a film or sleep in. Privacy is worth planning, especially if the dome is overlooked or close to neighbours. The solutions let you stay open by day and private when you choose:

• Sunshade privacy panels. Our own sunshade privacy panels are the simplest answer: individual panels for the back and both sides, fitted panel by panel where you want shade and privacy, so you can screen the side facing a neighbour and keep the view down the garden. They come in four colours (Slate Grey, Leaf Green, Midnight Blue and Sand Beige) and cost £199 for the Mini, £249 for the Standard and £699 for the Large.
• Internal blinds. Fitted to the panels, blinds are a flexible extra: open for the full view and light, closed for instant privacy. Choose the coverage and style to suit.
• Curtains. Soft, characterful and easy to draw, curtains add cosiness as well as privacy, and reduce heat loss at night.
• Tinted or frosted film. Applied to chosen panels, film gives permanent one-way-style privacy or a frosted, obscured finish where you always want it, while leaving the rest clear. Choose a film made for use on polycarbonate.
• Planting and screening. Tall plants, hedging, trellis or a screen positioned around the dome give natural, attractive privacy without touching the structure.
• Smart positioning. If you're siting from scratch, place the dome to face your own garden and away from overlooking windows: the simplest privacy of all.

Most people combine a couple of these (say, planting or sunshade panels on the overlooked side and blinds for evening privacy) and never give it another thought.

Shading: controlling heat and glare

Light control isn't only about privacy; it's about comfort on bright days:

• Sunshade privacy panels fitted where the sun hits block direct sun and cut glare. The same panels that give privacy double as shading.
• Internal blinds or shades do a similar job on whichever panels you want to cover.
• A shade sail or parasol over or beside the dome takes the edge off peak sun without darkening the interior.
• Tinted film reduces solar gain on sun-facing panels permanently.

Combined with the included roof vents, door and windows for airflow, shading keeps the dome comfortable through summer (see our guide to keeping a garden dome cool).

Blackout: bedroom and cinema use

Want to sleep past sunrise, or watch a film without daylight washing out the picture? Our sunshade privacy panels shade rather than fully black out, so for a much darker space on demand add blackout blinds or lined blackout curtains inside, over the panels you want dark. Together they take the dome from light-flooded to properly dim, which is what matters for:

• An outdoor bedroom: block early summer light for a proper lie-in (our outdoor bedroom guide covers the rest).
• A garden cinema or snug: a much darker space for a better picture (see our cinema guide).
• Shift workers or light-sensitive sleepers: a darker space whenever you need it.

With so many panels, a little daylight may still creep round the edges at midday, so expect properly dim rather than pitch black. Open everything again and the dome is bright: panoramic light when you want it, and a dim, private space when you don't.

Choosing what you need

• Overlooked garden, occasional privacy: sunshade privacy panels on the overlooked side, or internal blinds or curtains.
• Permanent privacy on one side: sunshade panels on that side, frosted or tinted film, or planting.
• Hot, sunny spot: sunshade panels where the sun hits, plus a shade sail and good venting.
• Bedroom or cinema: sunshade panels plus blackout blinds or curtains for the darkest result.
• Most people: a mix of planting for permanent natural screening, plus sunshade panels or blinds for flexible privacy and shading, and blackout blinds where you want darkness.

Frequently asked questions