Window Shades: Everything you Need to Know

Reading Time: 5 minutesHaving a hard time choosing the window covering that will best complement your décor and blend with your home’s interior? Learn all about the different types of window shades, so you make an informed decision.

Fabric Shades

For practical, stylish window treatment, fabric shades can either substitute draperies or work with them. They can be function or decorative, but you also have both if you so please! You can have them tailor-made or buy them from the stores. No matter what you decide, one thing is for sure: you won’t end up empty handed, considering the vast variety of different styles available. What you do need to determine when shopping for window shades is your needs. Do you want shades to dress up your windows or shades for light control and privacy? These are the key questions you should be asking yourself, to explore your options better and eventually find the perfect window dressings for your rooms.

Roman Shades

They are beautiful, they are a multi-purpose window treatment, they are stylish, they are majestic. Not only do Roman shades add vibrancy, texture, and color to a room, but are also practical and provide privacy, light filtration, and insulation* at the same time. They can turn a rather bland room into a fantastic room, whether flat or hobbled-styled. Depending on the look you want to create for your home, you can have flat Roman shades for an uncluttered, clean look (ideal for modern homes). Distinguishing features of flat roman shades are the pleats that lie completely flat and blend wonderfully with casual settings. When they shade is raised, they just stack up into each other. For a more formal setting, hobbled style fits like a glove. As it is more ornate, it is often used in dining areas and formal sitting areas to add texture and create a look of splendor. Besides the two styles mentioned before, there are also lesser-known but equally attractive styles, such as the:

• Reverse Fold Roman Shade– Flat when fully extended that create crisp folds as the shade is lowered or raised thanks to the built-in featured straighteners (dowels) that are missing from the flat Roman shades.
• Tuscany Natural Grass Roman Shade– Made from woven wood materials (i.e. sisal, rattan, bamboo, seagrass, and reeds) while maintaining the functionality of a Roman shade.
• Relaxed Roman Shade– A good pick for casual rooms and can work well in combination with side panels or as a stand-alone window treatment. It features a flat shade, only with rounded folds (permanent) at the bottom while its body is flat when entirely closed.

When considering your options, you can have roman shades that come with a “Top-down/bottom up” option, meaning you can choose to raise the shade like a normal shade or lower the shade from the top. Decide on the amount of light you want to enter a room and make your pick. Now, when it comes to selecting patterns and colors, bold, colored patterns for your Roman shades give energy and depth to a room filled with neutral colors. Not to mention that you can easily get rid of them should you feel it is time for a change. Finally, they are significantly less costly to replace that than brightly colored furniture or walls! For rooms filled with bright colors, go the opposite way. Meaning opt for neutrals. Prefer to alert your senses with a neutral fabric with texture (i.e. linen). The great thing with Roman shades is that they make a welcoming break from aluminum or wood blinds and can literally transform an entire room. They enchant with their simplicity and versatility and introduce fabric to a window, which makes them an excellent choice for cases when full-length curtains or drapes are not feasible (i.e. window seats in bathrooms or kitchen sinks). Tip#1: You can customize store-bought Roman shades by adding trim or ribbon. Just lay the shade on the floor (make sure it is fully lowered) and attach the trim with fabric glue. Alternatively, you can lay it on any flat surface and use fusible web, instead. Tip#2: For insulation and additional light blockage, you can also use Lined Shades. The extra material adds fullness to the folds, allowing you to hang the shades better.

Balloon Shades (or London Shades)

If you don’t want too much coverage, but you do wish for finish and softness, fixed balloon shades can bring you just that touch of a favored fabric you are looking for. That aside, balloon shades are perfect for concealing blinds or a shade that can be lowered if you desire more privacy and more light control. You can also use balloon shades that can be lowered or raised and cover either half the window or one-third of it (when raised). The only thing you should be mindful of when choosing fabric, is the gathers and tucks as they can make conceal the pattern, making it difficult to distinguish. Better choose fabric with a pattern on a small scale or a solid. Also, you can select a plan, so the pattern repeat is visible as it falls on each balloon and not hidden in the creases.

Roller Shades

Roller shades can provide you with an undisturbed view out the window since they can roll discretely out of the way, unlike Roman shades that you will have to put up with them standing in the way! They are an affordable option, especially vinyl ones that make the cheapest window treatment right now. However, they lack style and elegance but don’t worry. You can easily transform them from flat-in-style to a beautiful piece you want to have in your room, with just trim, fabric, and a few handy supplies, and here’s how. You will need: black pom pom fringe, fabric (enough to cover the vinyl roller shade, a hot glue gun (and glue sticks), decoupage medium, foam brush, clamps, iron on adhesive strips, and scissors (fabric and all-purpose).

Steps:

1. Cut the fabric to the length of your window and width of your vinyl shade. 2. Leave ¾ of an inch for the hem. 3. Fold the edge over. 4. Use the iron to create a hem. 5. Place no sew adhesive to the edge and iron it. 6. Peel off the paper backing and fold the hem over. 7. Iron again and repeat the same process on the bottom and both sides. 8. Attach the fabric to the roller tube with the help of decoupage medium (adhesive) and clamp. 9. Let it dry completely and, with a glue gun, attach the decorative trim to the bottom edge of the fabric. 10. Install like a normal roller shade.

Honeycomb Shades (or Cellular Shades)

These shades sport two layers of fabric that provide extra insulation and advanced protection from the sun, by folding in opposite directions. You can find them in two versions: (1) light-blocking and (2) light-filtering and you have to decide carefully, always minding your particular needs. Alternatively, they can be specially installed to rise from the bottom part of the windowsill, That way, you get more privacy on the lower part of the window and still can see the view outside, by looking above the honeycomb shade. Want some amazing tips for bay window treatments or arch window treatments? Aren’t you just dying to know the top window treatment trends for this year? Sure…be our guest!