Window Treatments Blog

Looking for modern window treatments ideas?  Then read on…

Hunter Douglas Solar Shades

Though definitions may vary, there are a few window treatments that I believe fall into the modern category.  So without further ado, here are my candidates for modern window treatments.

First up are panel track blinds which are fairly new to the window treatments scene and offer sophisticated, contemporary looks.  They are similar to vertical blinds except they have much larger vanes; that’s why they call them panel blinds.  The blind itself operates on a wheeled track so they open and close very smoothly.  Panel tracks come in a wide variety of materials including solar shade, woven woods, weaves as well as patterned and solid fabrics.  The cool thing too about panel blinds is the panels can be swapped out with different panels if you wanted to redecorate.  They can also be used as a room divider.

Next up are vertical and horizontal aluminum blinds.  Not that aluminum mini blinds and vertical blinds are new but they do have a modern look in the right setting.  Both come in a wide variety of colors including silver.  For a unique look try micro blinds (1/2” slats) in aluminum on a larger window.  This offers a more striking visual. 

Another consideration, for that modern look, is sheer shades.  Not many people know about sheer shades, which is a shame because they are unique and elegant and offer more versatility than many other blinds or shades – that’s because they combine both.   Sheer shades, also know as sheer blinds come offer two main options:  horizontal sheer shades (for most window sizes) or sheer vertical blinds (for sliding glass doors or extra large windows). Sheer horizontal blinds (like mini blinds) feature two sheer fabric facings over soft fabric vanes, whereas sheer vertical blinds feature a light filtering material between hanging fabric or sometimes vinyl vanes.  As I mentioned, what makes them cool is their versatility.  When the slats or vanes are open the sheer fabric offers soft light-filtering and when closed offers privacy and room darkening.

Vertical Sheer shades which are meant for larger windows – including sliding glass doors, patio doors, etc – come in different slat sizes: 2”, 2 ½” and 3”.  As a rule of thumb, for larger windows, you should choose a larger slat size.  Larger slat sizes allow in more light when the slats are open, which is simply due to the fact that there’s more space between the slats.

Last but not least are solar shades, which are also known as solar screens.  Solar shades are made with a synthetic mesh fabric and come in a range of opacities, which is a fancy way of saying how much light passes through the shade.  This range is from 3% to 14% – the higher the percentage, the more light passes through.  If you wanted to get uber-modern, solar shades can be purchased with a motorized option.  Than you can open and close your shades with the touch of a button on a remote control.

For another perspective here’s a different post on modern window treatments.