Shades Buying Guide
The beautiful simplicity of window shades makes them a practical yet stylish way of covering any window. These window treatments have a fabric panel that moves up and down to provide the perfect amount of light or privacy. One of the best things about shades is their versatility. Custom shades come in various colors, patterns, and materials. They range in transparency from sheer to opaque. Depending on your preferred material, the same basic shade design can look formal, bohemian, modern, or more. Order free color samples from American Blinds now to find the ideal shade for your needs.
Shades' Features
Shades for windows are available in many different designs and materials. Roller shades have a flat panel wrapped around a cylinder, while cellular shades have creased panels that bunch into pleats. Roman shades for windows use fabric that folds in graceful swags as the shade rises. The type of material used for a shade affects how much light enters your room. Sheer shades let soft, filtered light flow into the home, while blackout shades create a dark environment for sleeping. There's a shade that will match just about every interior color scheme. Soft almond, cream, and charcoal shades look natural and organic, while crisp white, black, and navy are modern and minimalist. Window shades even come in patterns or bold colors like pink, green, and teal.
Some window shade styles offer extra features that further enhance your home. Many models filter or block sunlight so that you can avoid harsh glare. Outdoor shades often include UV-resistant coatings to further block solar rays. Some styles, such as cellular window shades, even have multiple layers to insulate windows from drafts. These valuable features combine to make your home as comfortable and pleasant as possible.
Shades Upgrades
Since they're so versatile, you can do many things to upgrade your window shades. These optional add-ons let you create a custom shade perfect for your home.
- Cordless lifts: Instead of adjusting your shades with a cord, adjust them by gently pressing on the bottom rail of the shade. This upgrade helps make your shades safer for children and provides a more streamlined look.
- Top-down/bottom-up: Typically, shades attach to the top of the window, but this upgrade changes things up. You can lower them from the top or raise them from the bottom with top-down, bottom-up shades. This lets you adjust your windows more precisely to get the perfect blend of light and privacy.
- Light-blocking liners: Add an optional liner to your shade to adjust the amount of light that comes in. American Blinds offers many opacity levels, ranging from light filtering to complete blackout.
- Motorization: For the ultimate convenience, try motorized shades. These shades let you adjust your window treatment with the click of a remote.
- Decorative banding: Add a little additional flair to your drapes with decorative fabric banding. Depending on your design preferences, you can choose colors matching or contrasting with your primary fabric.
Shades Considerations
To select the right shades for your window, you need to take the time to explore all your options. Here are a few things to remember as you look at shades.
- When shopping for roller shades, you can choose to have the fabric panel hang over the back or front of the roll. Pick the back roll option for privacy and light control, or select the front roll option for a cleaner look.
- If you want pleated cellular shades that will insulate your home, pay close attention to cell size. Shades with larger cells or a double layer of cells block heat and cold better than smaller or single-layer cells do.
- For larger windows, consider split shades with two panels on a single headrail. These allow you to fine-tune your light levels while still enjoying your view.