Just to clear up any confusion, not all window treatments are blinds. Though this seems the default description for any window treatment. Window treatments can be categorized into a few main groups of products. One is window blinds, another is window shades. There are others but that’s not the point of this page.
So what constitutes a window shade? Shades are made from a continuous piece of fabric or other material. They either roll up on a spring loaded roll (roller shades, solar shades) or fold up (roman shades, cellular shades, pleated shades) or, sometimes both (woven wood shades). Woven wood shades come in a variety of styles and some of the simpler styles still roll up but usually not on a spring-loaded roller, but like the old outdoor bamboo shades. Cellular shades and pleated shades fold up like an accordion because they are both have crisp pleats.
Shades are a better choice for light control and generally offer better energy efficiency (click for more information on cellular shades and solar shades) than blinds. For example, if you want blackout, you want window shades, not blinds. Window blinds are generally not good for room darkening. Shades are better for light control because they come in a variety of opacities (the amount of light that gets transmitted through the fabric). The range of opacities includes sheer, semi-sheer, semi-opaque and opaque. You couple that with the precise fit of a custom (made to measure) shade and you’ve got a winning combination for light control, at whatever level you desire.
*Sheer is good for maximum view-through, but not good for privacy (people can see in from the outside). Examples: sheer cellular shades, sheer roller shades and solar shades
*Semi-sheer is good for gentle light-filtering but, again not so good for privacy. Examples: roller shades, roman shades
*Semi-opaque offers a higher degree of light filtering, plus privacy. A good choice for having privacy while still allowing in natural light. Examples: pleated shades, cellular shades, roller shades
*Opaque blocks all light. Great for maximum privacy and maximum room darkening when the shade is closed. The right shades with opaque fabric will provide true blackout. Common choices for blackout are cellular shades, roman shades and woven wood shades. Roller shades also come with opaque fabric choices but they are not as good for blackout.
Blindsgalore offers the full range of discount window shades from all the major brands in a wide variety of materials and styles.
We have a large window in our living room that has a spectacular view of the bay. Unfortunately because the window faces west the room can get hot in the late afternoon through the evening. Not wanting to loose the view we invested in a solar screen to try to block out some of the heat. The solar screen blocks a lot of the heat and we still can see out. The draw back is that it does not provide privacy. We mounted the shade as an inside mount and paired it with room darkening drapery. The combination gives us so much flexibility with privacy and light control. We can have a full view, partial view, and full block out.
The added bonus that I did not even think about when we bought them is the savings on my electric bill. Since my A/C is not longer cranked to the max these shades will probably pay for themselves over the long haul. AWESOME!!!
Hi Jim,
There’s also double roller brackets so instead of running drapery, you could have two roller shades in one window where one is the sun shade, and the other either blackout or a privacy fabric.