Beat the Glare: Living-Room Hacks for Football Season

“Autumn sunlight plus glossy screens equals squinting during kickoff. Try these quick fixes before the first game.”

1. Know your sun path

Between September and November, Pensacola’s afternoon sun drops lower in the sky, perfect angle to bounce off a living-room window. Use a phone compass: if windows sit within 45° of due west, you’re in the glare zone from 3 p.m. on.

2. Tilt-mount magic

A 10–12° downward tilt cuts most reflections without wrecking neck comfort. Already mounted? Many fixed brackets accept a tilt adapter, saving re-installation time.

3. Matte-screen film

Peel-and-stick anti-glare film (about $30 for 65 in.) diffuses harsh light. Expect a slight drop in contrast, but playoff games remain watchable even with blinds cracked.

4. Curtain call

Two layers work best: translucent roller shade for daytime, blackout drape for early kickoffs. Mount rods 6 in. above and wider than the window frame to block side bleed.

5. LED bias lighting

Install an LED strip behind the TV (5000 K “daylight” setting). It lifts perceived contrast, making remaining reflections less noticeable and reducing eye strain during overtime.

Quick checklist

FixCostTimeTilt adapter$20–3010 minAnti-glare film$3020 minBias LED strip$155 minDual-layer curtains$60+30 min

Early-Bird Special: Schedule a mount or tilt-adapter upgrade before September 10 and save 10 %. We’ll dial in the angle and run a glare test while we’re there.