My living room faces west and it gets terribly hot after 3 PM. I'm torn between blackout curtains, roller shades, or those Japanese panel blinds I saw in a store, but I don't know which one keeps the temperature down better. My apartment is small so I need something that doesn't take up much space.
You don't necessarily have to choose just one option, but if space is what's squeezing you, I'd go straight for Japanese panels - they take up less room when they're closed and they control light pretty well if you pick them in dark tones or with blackout material. Blackout curtains work well for blocking heat, but in a small apartment you end up losing useful space with all the folds, and roller shades are more practical but honestly they don't insulate temperature as much as you'd think. My advice is to go to a store before you buy and feel the materials in the sun, because the difference between a cheap panel and a quality one is noticeable, and you don't want to fix your problem for just a week.
Avoid regular curtains if space is tight, because when you open them they take up room on the sides. Japanese panels work well for temperature control and are compact, but if you want something cheaper and more efficient, try putting reflective film on the windows before hanging any curtains - that seriously cuts down the heat without blocking all the light. Blackout curtains work but they tend to create that cave feeling if you keep them closed for too long. With panels or roller shades combined with the film, you'll notice the difference in your AC bill and your living room won't look like a dungeon.
Japanese panels are going to give you the best balance between thermal control and space, but the important thing is that you specifically look for ones with double-layer or blackout fabric - those block way more radiation than single-layer ones. Truth is, in small apartments like yours, any traditional curtain when you open it eats up valuable space, so panels are your best bet. If you also want to maximize insulation, consider putting them as close to the window as possible, because the air that stays between the glass and the fabric helps keep so much heat from getting in.
If space is tight for you, combine Japanese panels with a reflective silver film on the window (those stickers or films you apply on the outside) and you'll notice the temperature difference almost right away. The panels alone work fine, but that combo is what really helps you keep the cool because you block the heat before it even gets into the room. Either way, when you go to buy the panels make sure they're thick fabric or have blackout backing, because the really thin ones don't do much against the western sun after three o'clock.
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