Different Types of Shades
Shades are soft window treatments without slats that are typically made of fabric. There are various levels of fabric opacity to provide adequate light blocking.
Shades can be upgraded with cordless lift or motorization to reduce risk for children and animals by keeping cords out of sight, as well as looking more streamlined.
Cellular Shades
Cellular shades (also known as honeycomb shades) offer energy savings through their unique honeycomb construction, trapping air within their cell structures to increase insulation properties of window coverings and provide winter/summer energy savings unavailable from other window treatments.
Cellular shades come in an assortment of fabric opacities from sheer to opaque for maximum privacy while still offering unobstructed views of the outdoors. Choose the fabric option best suited to your home decor and lifestyle for optimal results.
Closed, honeycomb cells expand and overlap to form a solid barrier between your window and any cold air trying to enter from outside during winter and any warm air trying to escape during summer. While single cell shades work great in most applications, double cell shades offer additional insulation performance for drafty windows.
Cellular shades offer more than insulation; they’re also available in an extensive selection of colors, designs and hardware systems for you to choose from. Cellular shades are suitable for most window shapes and sizes including arches, arched windows, French doors and other tilt-turn windows as well as LightLock technology which offers blackout capability.
Roller Shades
Roller shades feature an elegant yet simple style, making them a versatile complement to any window drapery or treatment. Unlike shutters, which obscure your view when closed, roller shades don’t block it out when closed – plus their wide variety of colors, fabrics, and finishes are sure to meet any decor style or taste! Roller shades make an excellent solution for homeowners seeking sunlight control and privacy!
Roller shades offer the ideal way to protect furnishings and preserve color over time with UV rays entering a room without blocking views. Blocking UV rays prevents furnishings from fading over time while protecting colors over time from being bleached by direct sunlight. They come in sheer and semi-sheer fabrics as well as opaque and blackout options for optimal UV protection and view preservation.
Based on your window frame and mounting location, you have two mounting options for window shades: inside mount or outside mount. An inside mount usually leaves a light gap around its sides while an outside mount allows more control of light and privacy management with larger openings for easier light control and privacy management.
Roller shades can be further customized with various accessories to complete their design and appearance. A valance can cover the tube and fabric to give a polished appearance; other choices could be fascia – a metal box across the top that adds sleek modern style – or cassette valance, which matches the fabric used on your shade for a minimalistic touch.
Solar Shade
Solar shades are an excellent solution for any room that receives sun. By blocking UV rays that cause fabrics and furnishings to fade, solar shades allow you to enjoy your favorite furniture longer while helping reduce energy consumption thereby saving on costs.
Solar shades can also help regulate interior temperatures, keeping spaces cooler and more comfortable. Their innovative materials are easy to maintain and have Microban(r) certification for antimicrobial protection, making these solar shades the perfect addition for homes or offices with beautiful views as they provide privacy while still allowing you to appreciate your surroundings.
These shades come in an assortment of fabrics and opacities to meet any window size or shape, making them the ideal solution for southern-facing windows that expose themselves to direct sunlight and are especially helpful in blocking its heat before it heats up your living or work space.
As with cellular shades, these types of blinds are often utilized in commercial spaces such as office buildings and classrooms. Their honeycomb-shaped structures not only improve thermal performance but also produce significant savings when it comes to heating and cooling energy use.
Woven Shades
Woven shades are made from natural materials like bamboo, jute, reeds and grasses to produce an earthy window treatment look. Woven shades help diffuse light while adding warmth and textural interest to any room in your home. Added layers can be created using drapery panels, valances or custom cornices for an layered and polished appearance.
These shades feature natural woven material to filter out harmful UVA and UVB rays, protecting furniture and artwork from color fading. Available in an array of styles – such as Roman shades – Hunter Douglas has developed its Alustra Collection of Woven Textures to add even more variety with weaves, colors and textures that adds premium touches.
If privacy concerns arise, adding a liner can add extra protection and light control. Choose either light-filtering or blackout lining options – each can offer increased privacy and light control.
Make your woven shades motorized, and operate them from any button or remote with ease. This option is an especially good way to ensure the safety of children or animals living in your Chattanooga-area home, since no long cords need be left dangling from them dangling around dangling cords, providing enhanced safety. When combined with motorization systems these shades can also be operated lowered or raised for full drape effect.
Pleated Shades
Pleated shades feature an accordion-style appearance that adds dimension and dimension to any window, whether used alone or combined with drapery panels. Furthermore, pleated shades can be motorized for additional light control and privacy control as well as cordless operation for convenience.
Pleated shades come in an assortment of fabrics and colors, from grass-look woven grass styles to silk crinkle silks. Sheer, semi-opaque and opaque options ensure there will be something suitable to complement your existing decor – with cord lock or continuous loop options as well as cordless designs providing maximum ease and convenience.
Another popular option is the day/night shade, which features two fabrics — one night for privacy and another day — that can be pulled all the way down for extra darkness; or up to reveal full length day shading. They’re available in multiple shapes and sizes – arches and angles included — making them easy to fit in RVs or boats with hard to access windows.
Add an extra bit of character to your shades with an attractive lining at the bottom portion of fabric. This will block out sunlight, keep your shade looking newer longer, and reduce glare inside your RV. Plus, these specially-treated fabrics resist dust bunnies & smudges – simply spot clean using cloth or blow dryer set on cool setting for instantaneous results!
Motorized Shades
Motorized window treatments take smart window treatments one step further by offering remote control with apps or voice command from anywhere in your home, as well as features like automated timers to limit sun exposure that could fade fabrics, furniture and artwork.
Motorized shades differ from traditional corded shades in that there are no looped cords that could pose a danger to children and animals, creating a safer environment in living rooms, playrooms and recreational areas. Furthermore, no looped cords provide sleeker design features suitable for contemporary and modern home styles.
Motorized shades come with several power sources available to them, from DC-Power adapters that plug directly into an outlet to advanced central control systems that hardwire into walls for consistent operation. Battery powered motorized shades are another popular choice and may feature either an internal battery tube on the shade itself or remote controls for easy access.
If your Motorized shades require batteries, they can be swapped out with either standard alkaline AA batteries or high-quality lithium ones for maximum longevity and consistency of charge. Lithium cells have longer shelf lives and provide more consistent charge than their alkaline counterparts; their battery life depends on factors like shade size and weight as well as frequency of adjustment – for optimal longevity it is recommended using high-grade batteries.