A practical guide to selecting the right perforation pattern for privacy, solar shading or decorative applications — from open area percentages to custom design.
One of the most common questions we get from architects and homeowners alike: which pattern should I choose? With hundreds of options in our catalogue, the choice can feel overwhelming. Here's a practical guide to help you narrow it down.
Before you fall in love with a particular pattern, establish what the screen needs to do. Is the primary purpose privacy? Solar shading? Decoration? Wind mitigation? Each function points toward a different open area percentage and perforation style.
The relationship between aperture size and viewing distance is counterintuitive: small apertures at close range look busier and more complex; large apertures at distance read as texture rather than pattern. For residential applications where you're viewing the screen from 2–5 metres, apertures of 10–25mm work well. For large-scale commercial facades viewed from the street, apertures of 30–60mm create more visual impact.
The pattern you choose will look different depending on the finish. A powder-coated screen in a dark colour like Charcoal or Monument will make the pattern recede, creating a more subtle effect. A lighter colour or metallic finish will make the pattern more prominent. If in doubt, request a sample in your specified colour before committing.
If nothing in our catalogue feels right, we offer fully custom patterns developed from your brief. This is more common than you might think — and there is no minimum order on custom patterns. Send us a sketch, a reference image, or a mood board and we'll take it from there.
If you'd like to talk through your project, get in touch with our team.
