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How to Make the Most of Free Fabric Swatches

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At The Shade Store, we have been committed to making the finest custom window treatments since 1946. From material and product selection to measurement and installation, our team of experts will take care of everything to simplify the process and ensure you achieve custom Shades, Blinds and Drapery that are just right for your home.

And it all starts with free fabric swatches! Our collections showcase more than 1,300 of the finest materials available, including exclusive textiles by world-class designers — all in stock and ready to sample for free.

To order free fabric swatches, all you have to do is visit our website or come see us at your local showroom — we recommend getting started with our most popular fabric swatch samples.

Find the Perfect Window Treatment Materials for Your Space


Once you have your fabric swatch samples, here’s what to do next:

  1. Hold each of your samples up to the window to see how they look in the sun (you may even want to tape them up for the next step!)
  2. Check how your samples look at different times throughout the day.
  3. Compare your samples to other paint colors and finishes in the room.

When you have decided — or if you’re having trouble deciding — on samples you feel would be great for your windows, request a complimentary design consultation. Our expert Design Consultants will help you transform those free fabric swatches into custom window treatments you’ll love for years.

Have questions about free fabric samples? We’re here to help.


If you have any questions about free fabric swatch samples The Shade Store or need assistance finding your dream window treatments, we’re here to help. The Shade Store offers expert services every step of the way — from inspiration to installation. Our team of Design Consultants is available to assist you with material selection, color coordination, measurement & installation scheduling and more, however you choose to shop. To get started, stop by your local showroom, visit us online or give us a call at 800.754.1455.

About The Shade Store


The Shade Store is a premium custom window treatment company with a rich heritage in luxury textiles and interior design. Its exclusive collection of more than 1,300 in-stock fabrics and materials provides customers with an unparalleled amount of style and customization options. Every window treatment is proudly handcrafted in the USA, hung and tested for quality assurance and ships free in 10 days or less. With showrooms nationwide, The Shade Store offers a complete range of in-person and virtual design services for consumers and design-trade clientele, including samples, complimentary professional window measurements and photo rendering. Additionally, the company is an advocate for environmental sustainability: For every purchase made, the company provides the ‘Gift of Shade’ by planting a tree in partnership with the Arbor Day Foundation. For more information about The Shade Store, please visit http://www.theshadestore.com.

 

A Guide to Sheer Drapery: From Fabrics to Styling

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Tailored Pleat Drapery — Victoria Hagan Sankaty Stripe, Sand

Let soft light filter into your home. Add luxurious depth and texture to the window. Elevate every space. Sheer drapery is one of the most elegant ways to adorn your windows, and in this post we’ll go over some of the best fabric to use and a few expert tips on how to style sheer curtains.

Selecting the Perfect Sheer Drapery Fabric


Inner Layer: Ripple Fold Drapery — Sheer Wool Blend, Cloud / Outer Layer: Ripple Fold Drapery — Wool Blend, Fleece

When selecting sheer drapery fabric, always consider form and function. We recommend asking yourself the following questions:

  1. What do I want my sheer curtain material to accomplish in my space?
  2. What aesthetic am I going for?

Solid-Color Sheer Curtain Material


Ripple Fold Drapery — Sheer Elegance, Winter

If you are looking to simply soften the natural light coming into your home and fill spaces with a gentle glow, we recommend a solid sheer drapery fabric. Explore a few of our favorites below:


Sheer Elegance is a sheer curtain material that’s soft and pliable with lovely texture — an affordable essential with a timeless look.


Wool Challis, part of our exclusive partnership with Holland & Sherry, is a 100% natural wool sheer drapery fabric woven with a melange of dyed yarns for an elegantly textured appearance and a soft hand.


Soft, lightweight and delicately woven with subtle texture, Linen Sheers is an ideal choice for filtering light while maintaining privacy.

High-Performance Sheer Curtains


Ripple Fold Drapery — SunbrellaⓇ Ventana CollectionⓇ
Inner Layer: Vitela, White / Middle Layer: Vitela, Ivory / Outer Layer: Sombra, Charcoal

If you would like to reduce glare in your home and prevent your furniture and artwork from fading, we highly recommend sheer drapery fabric from SunbrellaⓇ. In this high-performance collection, stylish design meets unparalleled performance in three beautiful assortments. Featuring subtle solids, rich textures and iconic patterns, these fade-resistant fabrics add softness and warmth to every interior.


A fade-resistant sheer drapery fabric, Vitela filters light beautifully and is very easy to clean.


Neblina is a elegant, durable and luxuriously sheer.

Patterned Sheer Curtain Fabric


Tailored Pleat Drapery — Victoria Hagan Harbor Stripe, Stone

The Shade Store offers a wide selection of sheer curtain fabric by our exclusive designer partners. These elegant styles are great options if you are looking to add a touch of pattern to your windows.


Harbor Stripe by Victoria Hagan is a tri-colored linen stripe that’s perfect for both traditional and modern interiors. A simple sheer decorative fabric with major impact, it serves as a dramatic backdrop to any space by providing structure and geometry.


Inspired by the nineteenth-century fascination of palm trees and palm design in interiors, Palmier by Martyn Lawrence Bullard celebrates the art of embroidery with a sophisticated vine-like palm design that captures a tropical flavor yet carries great elegance, adding a touch of the exotic to any room.


Made with a delicately embroidered zig-zag check pattern, Painted Check Embroidery is a soft linen blend that adds subtle sophistication and texture to the window. Part of the Novogratz Designer Collection.

How to Style Sheer Curtains

Here are a few tips on how to make sheer curtains look good:

Fill an entire wall of windows with sheer drapery fabric.

One of the ways to use sheer curtains is to fill a wall of windows with a soft sheer layer. This creates an elegant, ethereal effect by filling every corner of your space with calming natural light.


Ripple Fold Drapery — Sheer Elegance, Winter

Layer sheer drapery with designer patterns.

Layering drapery is a beautiful way to achieve dramatic depth on windows of all types.


Inner Layer: Pinch Pleat Drapery — Sheer Elegance, White
Outer Layer: Pinch Pleat Drapery — Nate Berkus Alejo, Willow

Floor-to-ceiling drapery works wonders.

Adorning your windows from the floor to the ceiling with sheer drapery instantly draws the eye toward the outdoors, creating a beautiful backdrop in your favorite spaces.


Tailored Pleat Drapery — Victoria Hagan Tidal Line, Slate

Have questions about sheer drapery? We’re here to help.

If you have any questions about sheer drapery at The Shade Store or need assistance finding your dream window treatments, we’re here to help. The Shade Store offers expert services every step of the way — from inspiration to installation. Our team of Design Consultants is available to assist you with material selection, color coordination, measurement & installation scheduling and more, however you choose to shop. To get started, stop by your local showroom, visit us online or give us a call at 800.754.1455.

About The Shade Store

The Shade Store is a premium custom window treatment company with a rich heritage in luxury textiles and interior design. Its exclusive collection of more than 1,300 in-stock fabrics and materials provides customers with an unparalleled amount of style and customization options. Every window treatment is proudly handcrafted in the USA, hung and tested for quality assurance and ships free in 10 days or less. With showrooms nationwide, The Shade Store offers a complete range of in-person and virtual design services for consumers and design-trade clientele, including swatches, complimentary professional window measurements and photo rendering. Additionally, the company is an advocate for environmental sustainability: For every purchase made, the company provides the ‘Gift of Shade’ by planting a tree in partnership with the Arbor Day Foundation. For more information about The Shade Store, please visit http://www.theshadestore.com.

 

6 Window Treatment Trends You’ll Be Seeing a Lot of in 2022

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Tailored Pleat Drapery —The Novogratz Family of Cranes, Waverly Blue

Keeping up with current window treatment trends can be a challenge. Whether you love to change your window treatments often, or just want to make sure what you have going on isn’t totally outdated, these are the top window decorating trends you need to know for 2022, according to our exclusive design partners. 

Trend 1: Window Treatment Patterns & Color


Tailored Pleat Drapery — Martyn Lawrence Bullard Palmier, Onyx

Neutrals may always be in style, but color and pattern are having a serious moment, giving everyone an opportunity to make their interior decor a bit more unique. Whether you tend toward bright and bold or more minimalistic, there are a variety of ways to work this window treatment trend into your home. 

For the more adventurous, picking a pattern that involves multiple eye-catching colors, like Family of Cranes by The Novogratz, will add unexpected appeal. But if you tend toward simplicity, layering your window treatments for a more subtle pop of color will do the trick, too. 

“Trends in window coverings moving into 2022 show the use of color and pattern playing a stronger role. Overall patterns in two or three colors seem very popular, bringing joy to the interior with unexpected twists,” said The Shade Store design partner Martyn Lawrence Bullard.

The Shade Store is here to help bring your vision to life. To learn more about how you can create the perfect custom window treatment looks for you home, request a complimentary design consultation or visit your local showroom.

Trend 2: Sustainable Window Treatments

Inner Layer: Solar Shades — SunbrellaⓇ 3% Sonoma, Charcoal / Middle Layer: Waterfall Woven Wood Shades — Atlantique, Espresso / Outer Layer: Ripple Fold Drapery — Wool Blend, Charcoal / Trim: Samuel & Sons Aristotle Greek Key, Classic White/Black

In today’s world, it’s almost impossible not to be faced with more sustainable choices everywhere you turn—and that includes window covering trends! “Sustainability has become a major issue for everyone, as it should,” said The Shade Store design partners The Novogratz. “Looking into the sustainability of everything is a must.”

Whether through sustainable, eco-friendly materials, like the Greenguard®, Microban® and Oeko-Tex® certified materials available for our Roller and Solar Shades, or through on-trend window coverings that increase energy efficiency, like Cellular Shades and UV-Blocking Shades, there are endless options for making your home a greener place—while staying current with the latest window treatment trends.

Additionally, our Wood Blinds are sourced from low-impact basswood, and our Woven Wood line contains all-natural fibers to minimize your environmental impact while still making a style statement with this window blind trend. Custom Roman Shades and Drapery can also be outfitted with lining to improve insulation and make your home more energy-efficient.

Trend 3: Earth Tones & Neutrals

Inner Layer: Waterfall Woven Wood Shade — Quogue, Ravenna / Outer Layer: Grommet Drapery — Velvet, Camel

There’s nothing new about neutrals, but there are always new ways to incorporate them into your home’s decor—and different reasons for doing so, too. “In the upcoming year, I expect to see lots of earth-toned colors and materials inspired by nature,” said The Shade Store design partner Sheila Bridges. “People are still spending a significant amount of their time indoors, so there is a desire to create environments that still connect us to the outdoors.”

So if the first colors that come to mind when you think of neutrals are black and white, it may be time to reconsider in favor of true neutral earth-inspired tones, like classic Linen in the aptly named color, Natural. 

In congruence with bringing the outdoors in through nature-inspired colors and window decorating trends, letting natural light shine through your window treatments can also help achieve this trend. Consider sheer window treatments, like the always-in-style Sheer Wool Blend, to achieve an even more natural look in any space. 

“People want to feel connected to the outdoors, so window treatments that allow natural light in will be highly desirable,” said Bridges. 

Trend 4: Rattan & Other Natural Window Treatment Materials

Standard Woven Wood Shade — Seaview, Shadow

Continuing the “bringing the outside in” window covering trend, Rattan, and other natural materials are the perfect addition to a sustainably styled home. “Neutral color palettes will always be on-trend, as well as things that have texture. I am loving Rattan finishes right now,” said The Shade Store design partner Nate Berkus.

Woven Wood Shades make achieving a rattan-inspired look easy for every window, but there are many other options when it comes to bringing natural materials into the home. 100% natural and untreated Raw Silk lends effortless elegance to any space with a unique, natural look, while warmer materials, like Wool Challis by Holland & Sherry, and delicately woven Linen will do just the trick. 

Trend 5: Details in Custom Window Treatments


Flat Roman Shade — Cotton, White

From adding custom tapes and trims to your selected window treatment materials to selecting the perfect hardware to tie the look together, 2022 is all about making your window treatment choices unique to you.  “There is a wide offering of hardware finishes, and that is a great accent,” said The Novogratz. “I am seeing a lot of gold, brass, and stainless steel choices.”

The Shade Store offers a range of Drapery Hardware selections, including the classic Steel Hardware Collection and more luxurious options, like the Swarovski Hardware Collection, ensuring a selection that’s just right for your home decor style.

Another way to add your own personal touch to your window treatments is through tapes, trims, and embroidery. The Shade Store’s exclusive Samuel & Sons Collection features a curated assortment of material finishes, designed to turn your windows into works of art. “Embroidery is a strong trend,” said Bullard. “Whether in a pattern or linen or on a sheer.” 

Trend 6: Smart Home Technology & Automation


Inner Layer: Automated Solar Shades — 10%, White
Outer Layer: Ripple Fold Drapery — Holland & Sherry Wool Flannel, Glacier

Set the mood with the push of a button. Create inviting ambiance with the sound of your voice. Achieve complete control over the natural light in your home.

Another important trend we’re noticing in custom window treatments is automation. That’s why we are proud to offer the ultimate in smart home solutions. Our advanced motors and automation by Lutron let you synchronize multiple window treatments, set your favorite positions and schedule timers with your remote, smartphone, tablet or home automation system. Motorization is available for nearly all window treatments and integrates seamlessly with all major home automation systems.

To find out how The Shade Store can help transform your home into a smart home with motorized and automated custom window treatments, request a complimentary design consultation or visit your local showroom.

Have questions about custom window treatments? We’re here to help.

If you have any questions about the latest window treatment trends or need assistance finding your dream window treatments, we’re here to help. The Shade Store offers expert services every step of the way — from inspiration to installation. Our team of Design Consultants is available to assist you with material selection, color coordination, measurement & installation scheduling and more, however you choose to shop. To get started, stop by your local showroom, visit us online or give us a call at 800.754.1455.

About The Shade Store

The Shade Store is a premium custom window treatment company with a rich heritage in luxury textiles and interior design. Its exclusive collection of more than 1,300 in-stock fabrics and materials provides customers with an unparalleled amount of style and customization options. Every window treatment is proudly handcrafted in the USA, hung and tested for quality assurance and ships free in 10 days or less. With showrooms nationwide, The Shade Store offers a complete range of in-person and virtual design services for consumers and design-trade clientele, including swatches, complimentary professional window measurements and photo rendering. Additionally, the company is an advocate for environmental sustainability: For every purchase made, the company provides the ‘Gift of Shade’ by planting a tree in partnership with the Arbor Day Foundation. For more information about The Shade Store, please visit http://www.theshadestore.com.

 

How to Choose Fabric Window Treatments: Everything You Need To Know

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When choosing custom window treatments for your home, choosing the perfect fabric is important. In this post, we’ll go over a few of our favorite fabric window treatments and how they can be used to elevate every space in your home.

Wool Favorites

Inner Layer: Waterfall Woven Wood Shades — Artisan Weaves Cove, Ash
Outer Layer: Ripple Fold Drapery — Holland & Sherry Andes, Castle Wall, with Bottom Border — Holland & Sherry Andes, Rye

Ultra-soft and luxurious, wool is a beautiful material for windows of all types. Our exclusive Holland & Sherry collection showcases a variety of designer fabrics for window treatments we’re sure you’ll love. With wool, their most celebrated natural fiber, they have pushed the boundaries of design and performance to create a collection defined by excellence and rooted in heritage.

Ripple Fold Drapery — Holland & Sherry Wool Flannel, Glacier

Wool is one of our favorite window treatment materials not only for its texture and timeless character, but also for its thermal properties, no matter the time of year. During cooler months, wool fabric window treatments help keep chilly air out and warmth in — and in the summer, wool fabric window treatments help keep air conditioning in and heat out!

Flat Roman Shades & Tailored Pleat Drapery — Holland & Sherry Emerson, Shea

Solar Essentials


Solar Shade — 1%, White

If you’re looking for stylish fabric window treatments that also provide UV protection, The Shade Store has a variety of options for you.


Chilewich Designer Collection

Our Solar Shades Collection showcases a wide assortment of styles that deliver UV protection and help prevent fading. We offer two types of Solar Shades: Basic Solar Shades and Designer Solar Shades, which include Chilewich and Sunbrella.

Chilewich
Crafted in the USA, each woven material in our Chilewich Designer Collection has a natural feel and exceptional durability, giving windows a modern, textured look you can’t find anywhere else.

Solar Shades — Sunbrella Solar Collection 3% Solistico, Ash

Sunbrella
Showcasing subtle solids, rich textures and iconic patterns, the Sunbrella Designer Collection is full of fade-resistant performance fabrics that add softness and warmth to every interior.

We recommend Solar Shades in rooms that get lots of sun, and in spaces that you would like to achieve an atmosphere of peace and calm.

More Designer Exclusives

Flat Roman Shades — Martyn Lawrence Bullard Sahara Stripe, Onyx

Iconic patterns, intricate weaves, timeless designs. The work of our partners stands out as the centerpiece of our material collections. Throughout the years, we have sought out the design world’s most recognized talents to collaborate on exclusive collections that are truly one-of-a-kind. Their unique taste, style and dedication to quality is exemplified in each material and we are proud to bring their visions to the window. Our collections include a wide assortment of designer fabrics for window treatments.

Martyn Lawrence Bullard
Sahara Stripe by Martyn Lawrence Bullard features a finely incorporated stripe — designed to let light filter in softly and create an air of comfort and sophistication.

Victoria Hagan
A simple fabric with major impact, Victoria Hagan’s Harbor Stripe serves as a dramatic backdrop to any space. We recommend it for both traditional and modern interiors.


Tailored Pleat Drapery — Victoria Hagan Harbor Stripe, Stone

To explore more of our exclusive designer fabrics for window treatments, visit our Designer Collections page or stop into your nearest showroom.

Have questions about fabric window treatments? We’re here to help.

If you have any questions about fabric window treatments at The Shade Store or need assistance finding your dream window treatments, we’re here to help. The Shade Store offers expert services every step of the way — from inspiration to installation. Our team of Design Consultants is available to assist you with material selection, color coordination, measurement & installation scheduling and more, however you choose to shop. To get started, stop by your local showroom, visit us online or give us a call at 800.754.1455.

About The Shade Store

The Shade Store is a premium custom window treatment company with a rich heritage in luxury textiles and interior design. Its exclusive collection of more than 1,300 in-stock fabrics and materials provides customers with an unparalleled amount of style and customization options. Every window treatment is proudly handcrafted in the USA, hung and tested for quality assurance and ships free in 10 days or less. With showrooms nationwide, The Shade Store offers a complete range of in-person and virtual design services for consumers and design-trade clientele, including swatches, complimentary professional window measurements and photo rendering. Additionally, the company is an advocate for environmental sustainability: For every purchase made, the company provides the ‘Gift of Shade’ by planting a tree in partnership with the Arbor Day Foundation. For more information about The Shade Store, please visit http://www.theshadestore.com.

 

How to Pick the Right Curtains for Your Basement Windows

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Ripple Fold Drapery — Jeffrey Alan Marks Netscape, Cloud

From maximizing the light in darker, more compact spaces, to making unconventional window sizes work with your design, there’s a lot to consider when choosing curtains for small basement windows. While basement curtains are an option — they are only one of many. Discover the perfect window treatments for your space with these tips from our experts at The Shade Store.

Window Treatments to Maximize Your Windows


Cubicle Drapery — Sheer Wool Blend, Grey Owl

Basements are notorious for small, unconventional windows — with less than spectacular placement when it comes to design. But that doesn’t mean you can’t make the most of them. 

Roman Shades offer a variety of style solutions to custom fit any window. From the refined look of Cascade Roman Shades to the traditional styling of Relaxed Roman Shades, these completely custom treatments fit seamlessly inside the window frame to maximize coverage and style, simultaneously.

To make your small windows appear larger, becoming more of a focal point to your space, Custom Drapery is the perfect solution. From Ripple Fold Drapery to Tailored Pleat Drapery to Rod Pocket Drapery available in hundreds of materials, endlessly versatile curtains can help elongate a small window, in any style that suits your decor.

Window Treatments to Maintain Privacy


Cellular Shades — 3/8″ Double Cell Light Filtering

If function is more important than style for your basement, custom window treatments that maintain privacy are key. 

Cellular Shades offer a modern, streamlined look while offering total privacy—and improving insulation and temperature control, which can be tricky in damp, old basements. 

Blackout Roller Shades offer total darkness, added UV protection, and increased energy efficiency, making them perfect for small crawl spaces, or places where keeping your belongings safely stored is essential.

Design Tips for Adding Style to Small Spaces


Relaxed Roman Shade — Highland, Sandstone

Regardless of which basement window treatments you choose, don’t shy away from letting your personal sense of style shine through—even in your home’s smallest spaces. To add a pop of personality, choose a material with color and pattern, or even finish your custom window treatments with a unique trim or border to give the look a little something extra.

If you’d like more help deciding on which basement window treatments are right for your space or to explore even more basement curtain ideas, reach out to your local showroom. Our Design Consultants are always happy to help.

Have questions about custom window treatments? We’re here to help.

If you have any questions about custom window treatments at The Shade Store or need assistance finding your dream window treatments, we’re here to help. The Shade Store offers expert services every step of the way — from inspiration to installation. Our team of Design Consultants is available to assist you with material selection, color coordination, measurement & installation scheduling and more, however you choose to shop. To get started, stop by your local showroom, visit us online or give us a call at 800.754.1455.

About The Shade Store

The Shade Store is a premium custom window treatment company with a rich heritage in luxury textiles and interior design. Its exclusive collection of more than 1,300 in-stock fabrics and materials provides customers with an unparalleled amount of style and customization options. Every window treatment is proudly handcrafted in the USA, hung and tested for quality assurance and ships free in 10 days or less. With showrooms nationwide, The Shade Store offers a complete range of in-person and virtual design services for consumers and design-trade clientele, including swatches, complimentary professional window measurements and photo rendering. Additionally, the company is an advocate for environmental sustainability: For every purchase made, the company provides the ‘Gift of Shade’ by planting a tree in partnership with the Arbor Day Foundation. For more information about The Shade Store, please visit http://www.theshadestore.com.

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