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Which Types of Blinds Block Light the Best?

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Light Blocking Window Treatments at a Glance

The Shade Store offers a beautiful selection of blinds that block light — for every window in the home:

Which Types of Blinds Block Light the Best?

Blinds that block the light are great for bedrooms, media rooms and spaces where you need complete darkness — and The Shade Store has a beautiful selection of options for you to choose from.

Inner Layer: Roller Shades — Cora Blackout, White / Outer Layer: Ripple Fold Drapery — Canvas, Natural

Blackout Roller Shades

Inner Layer: Roller Shades — Cora Blackout, Shell / Outer Layer: Rod Pocket Drapery — Shoreham Stripe, Oatmeal

Sleeky and stylish, our Blackout Roller Shades offer complete darkness from morning to night. They’re perfect for media rooms and bedrooms!

  • Our Blackout Roller Shades eliminate glare and provide full privacy.
  • We offer multiple control options: stainless steel chain, cordless and motorized.
  • A wide assortment of exclusive materials to choose from.

Wood & Metal Blinds

2” Wood Blinds — 2” Matte, Ivory

Add a timeless touch to your windows with our Wood and Metal Blinds. Showcasing sustainably sourced all-natural woods, sleek metal styles and versatile wood alternatives, this collection lets you block out light with unparalleled character.

  • Available in a variety of beautiful finishes to complement your home décor.
  • Eco-friendly and responsibly sourced woods.
  • Classic metal finishes.

Roman Shades, Drapery & Woven Wood Shades with Blackout Lining

Flat Roman Shade with Blackout Lining — Baldwin, Stone

Applying blackout lining to your Roman Shades, Drapery and Woven Wood Shades lets you achieve luxurious looks while also blocking out light completely. To get blackout lining on your window treatments, simply select “Blackout Lining’ during the online customization process or let your Design Consultant know at your local showroom.

  • Blackout lining blocks 99% of light for complete privacy, room-darkening and added insulation

Blackout Cellular Shades

Blackout Cellular Shades — 3/4″ Single Cell Blackout, Midnight

Elevate every space as you block light with our Cellular Shades. Clean and contemporary in light-filtering and blackout options, this collection is designed to improve insulation and help regulate interior temperatures.

  • Available in single and double-cell options.
  • Blackout Cellular Shades block 99% of natural light and provide insulation and full privacy.

Have Questions About Blinds That Block Light? We’re Here to Help!

Our Design Consultants are available to answer any questions you may have or help you find the perfect blinds that block light. Simply schedule a free design consultation or visit your local showroom to get started.

What are Cellular Shades?

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What Are Cellular Shades?

Cellular Shades — sometimes called Honeycomb Shades — are window shades composed of numerous fabric cells that expand and contract like an accordion when the shade is raised and lowered. The cellular shade cells are designed to trap air, providing great insulation, creating comfortable indoor temperatures and helping to lower energy bills. All of The Shade Store’s Cellular Shades are handcrafted in the USA.

What Is the Difference Between Cellular and Solar Shades?

Custom Cellular Shades are specially designed to soften the natural light or block it out completely, while offering excellent insulation with their unique honeycomb design. Solar Shades, on the other hand, are designed to filter out harmful UV rays, prevent fading and reduce glare — and are designed with a single layer of material, like a Roller Shade.

Customize Your Cellular Shades at The Shade Store

When you dress your windows with Cellular Shades from The Shade Store, you have a variety of options to choose from:

  • Cordless Cellular Shades — open and close your shades with a quick pull.
  • Motorized Cellular Shades — use our exclusive remote or app to control every window treatment in the home effortlessly.
  • Cordless Top Down Bottom Up Cellular Shades — easily lower the shade from the top or raise from the bottom for greater privacy and light control.
  • Continuous Cord Loop Cellular Shades — raise and lower the shade easily with a continuously looped side cord.
  • Cornices for Cellular Shades —  complete the look with meticulously handcrafted cornices by The Shade Store.

What Types of Cellular Shades Are Available at The Shade Store?

The Shade Store offers Honeycomb Shades in a variety of light-filtering, blackout and day/night materials — each available in single and double cell options.

Light Filtering Cellular Shades

Our Light Filtering Cellular Shades soften natural light and provide exceptional privacy. Pictured: ¾” Single Cell Light Filtering Cellular Shade, Lace — order a free swatch from The Shade Store today.

Blackout Cellular Shades

Our Blackout Cellular Shades block 99% of light and provide full privacy when lowered. Pictured: ¾” Single Cell Blackout Cellular Shade, White — order a free swatch from The Shade Store today.

Day/Night Cellular Shades

Our innovative Day/Night Cellular Shades are made with two types of materials — a sheer light-filtering material on top and a blackout material on the bottom. These Cellular Shades let you control the natural light in your home with a quick pull. Pictured: ¾” Single Cell Blackout Cellular Shade, White, with a Frost sheer top — order a free swatch from The Shade Store today.

Benefits of Honeycomb Shades

Light Control

Custom Cellular Shades, or Honeycomb Shades, come in light filtering and blackout options (or a combination of the two!), allowing you to let soft light into your home or block it out completely. Our Light Filtering Cellular Shades are perfect for gathering spaces or anywhere you would like to create a comfortable atmosphere. Our Blackout Cellular Shades are perfect for bedrooms, media rooms and anywhere you need complete darkness. Our Day/Night Cellular Shades give you the best of both worlds — designed with both blackout and light filtering abilities in one sleek shade.

Insulation & Energy Savings

All of our Cellular Shades are specially designed to trap air in their cells, providing excellent insulation and helping you to save on your energy bills.

Find the Perfect Cellular Shades for Your Windows

If you have any questions about Honeycomb Shades or need assistance finding the perfect custom window treatments for your home, 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 Cellular Shade 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.

Window Treatments for Tall Windows

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How to Dress Tall Windows

If you’re wondering how to dress tall windows, it may seem challenging to choose window treatments that will fit. Not only do tall window coverings need to be large enough to fit properly, but they also need to be structured to complement these bigger-than-average window sizes. So it’s important to choose window treatments for tall windows that highlight the height of the window, while also providing enough privacy for your home.

If you are struggling to find window covering ideas for high windows in your home, don’t worry — this post provides ideas and options for choosing window treatments for tall windows. So when you ask yourself, “How do I make my high windows look better?” you’ll know The Shade Store has excellent custom Shades, Blinds and Drapery options.

Curtains and Drapes for Tall Windows

Consider using drapery for your large windows. You can customize the length of your drapery and curtains to accentuate the window’s height. Long drapery panels make great tall window curtains because they help to draw the eye up to see the full height of a window, which creates a bold statement that highlights large windows, and can make your room look bigger, as well.

When choosing drapes for tall windows, it’s essential to get the correct measurements and choose sturdy, eye-catching drapery hardware that will support the weight of the drapery fabric. As you’d expect, tall window curtains carry some extra weight with them (especially if you choose a thicker material), so you need to make sure your curtain rods are up to the challenge of supporting them.

To get the perfect fit, we recommend letting our Measure & Install professionals hang your curtains on your tall windows. Request a free measurement today to get started!

Blinds for High Windows

Curtains and drapes aren’t the only options for tall window treatments. Blinds are also a great window treatment choice for covering a large window’s top or bottom half. It’s worth noting, however, that blinds for high windows are not the best choice if you need to open or close your windows frequently throughout the day, as their control mechanisms may be difficult to reach and operate.

On the other hand, blinds for tall windows are an excellent choice for consistent light control or privacy in kitchens or bathrooms – rooms where you can expect to leave your blinds open or closed for extended periods of time. So, if you’re wondering, “what is the best blind for a large window,” the answer is one that you don’t have to adjust or open and close frequently.

Shades for High Windows

Shades can also make great window treatments for high windows. Since shades come in a variety of styles and fabrics, they can be customized to fit the room’s style, location, or light coverage needs, as well as be modified to fit larger sizes. The Shade Store offers four great options of shades for high windows:

  • Solar Shades: Since large windows naturally let in more light due to their large size, extra protective solar shades are an excellent treatment idea. They are effective shades for high ceiling windows that receive a lot of sunlight throughout the day.
  • Roman Shades: Roman Shades are another popular option for high ceiling windows that provide a dramatic look and more coverage.
  • Top Down Bottom Up Shades: Top down bottom up shades provide excellent coverage without blocking the entire window. They allow you to block or let light in at the top or bottom of a high window.
  • Cellular Shades: Made with a unique honeycomb design, our Cellular Shades are some of the best energy-efficient window treatments you can find. Their cells trap air, providing excellent insulation and helping maintain comfortable temperatures. Available in light-filtering and blackout options, Cellular Shades can soften natural light or block it out completely, while providing complete privacy.

Motorized Shades for High Windows


One of the inherent issues with installing shades for high windows is that they may be hard to reach and manipulate. This is where motorized shades come in handy. Motorized shades are a popular choice for window coverings for high windows, or extra tall windows. Motorized window treatments are an excellent choice for tall windows, as the automatic control makes it easy to lower and raise the shades with the click of a button.

Energy-Efficient Window Treatments for High Windows

At The Shade Store, we also have several options of energy-efficient shades for high windows:

  • Our Cellular Shades provide excellent insulation and help reduce energy bills.
  • Our Solar Shades reduce glare, protect against fading and filter out harmful UV rays.

Many of our custom Drapery fabrics like Holland & Sherry Wool Flannel and Emerson are great for covering drafty windows.

Installing Window Treatments on Tall Windows

Installing window treatments can be difficult, but it can be even more challenging when dealing with tall or high windows, due to the height of the ceilings, weight of the drapery, and requirements for accurate measurements.

When measuring and installing window treatments for tall windows, we recommend having one of our Measure & Install Professionals complete the process to ensure an accurate and secure fit. Simply request a free measurement to get started today!

Visit Your Local Showroom to Find the Best Shades or High Ceiling Windows

Whether you need inspiration or some high window curtain ideas, or you would like to receive professional input on measurement and installation, The Shade Store is here to help. To get started selecting and installing your shades for high windows, find a showroom near you or request a free design consultation today. Our expert Design Consultants are happy to help you find the best window coverings for every room in your home.

How to Adjust and Operate Blinds

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How to Adjust and Operate Blinds

 

2” Wood Blinds — 2” Basic, Ebony

Blinds aren’t only a simple and sophisticated addition to your home décor, but they also let you effortlessly control light and privacy in every space. In this post, we’ll go over a few simple tips on how to adjust blinds for maximum privacy, light control and UV protection.

How to Adjust Horizontal Blinds

One of the most common questions homeowners have regarding how to adjust blinds is, “Should I close my window blinds up or down?” By design, window blinds’ slats fit snugly together when closed to prevent light from getting through the slats. How you close your window blinds depends on what you would achieve in your space.

For Privacy

2” Wood Blinds — 2” Exotic, Zebrano

To achieve maximum privacy, we recommend adjusting your window blinds down. This position offers the most coverage.

For Summer Heat

To prevent harsh sunlight and uncomfortable temperatures in your home, we suggest keeping your window blinds fully closed during warm summer days. This also helps to keep your furniture, artwork and surfaces from fading and maintains cooler temperatures.

For Winter Cold

2” Wood Blinds — 2” Faux, Teak

During chilly winter days, you should open your window blinds to let the sunlight in and warm the room. However, if the forecast is cloudy, turn your window blinds down to add insulation and help keep cold outside air at bay.

For Light Control

2” Wood Blinds — 2” Faux, Blanc

If you’re looking to control natural light in your home, you should open your blinds partially or fully — depending on how much light you would like to enter. Opening your window blinds allows more light to enter the room and lets you adjust for glare.

For Aesthetic Appearance

2” Wood Blinds — 2” Exotic, Zebrano

If temperature, privacy and light control aren’t your main concerns and you would like to achieve the best overall window blind appearance, we recommend keeping them only slightly open. Downward-facing blinds provide clean lines and a pleasing appearance.

Find the Best Blinds for Your Home

2” Metal Blinds, Champagne

If you’re looking for beautiful custom window blinds for your home or have questions about how to adjust blinds, we’re here to help. Simply visit one of our showrooms nationwide to meet with an expert Design Consultant or shop online.

Choosing Contemporary Window Treatments for Your Home

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Flat Roman Shade — Victoria Hagan Tidal Line, Moon

 

Contemporary design is a style that generally incorporates neutral colors, clean lines, and natural materials. It’s popular for its simplicity and classic elegance.

Contemporary vs. Modern Design

Often, “contemporary” and “modern” design styles are easily confused. While they bear some similarities (for example, both contemporary and modern styles are relatively minimalist), the major difference between the two styles is that “modern” refers to the design of a specific time or era, whereas “contemporary” refers to the aesthetic. This means “contemporary” design is constantly changing.

Home elements such as furniture, paint selection, accessories, and, of course, window treatments, can help to enhance your contemporary design look. For example, if you are looking to incorporate contemporary window treatments, you should choose white, grey and other natural colors, as well as lighter-colored wood finishes. These design choices naturally lend themselves to the signature look of contemporary windows. In this blog post, we’ll go over a few considerations for contemporary window treatments.

Contemporary Blinds

2” Faux Wood Blinds — 2” Faux, Blanc

Unbelievably versatile and available in a variety of styles, blinds are a great choice for contemporary window treatments. Gone are the days of plastic white blinds — you now have a wide selection of options to choose from to fit your desired aesthetic. To incorporate contemporary style in your blinds, we recommend choosing natural-looking materials and colors, such as wood (or faux wood) and complementing them with bright accents.

Wood Blinds

2” Wood Blinds — 2” Painted, White

Wood blinds are an excellent style of contemporary window treatments. Our natural finishes work well with contemporary homes, and pair with neutrals and bright colors alike — and we also offer a beautiful selection of painted styles. Wood blinds are available in neutral colors and natural materials, so you can easily find a style that not only works for you, but also fits your price range.

Contemporary Drapes

Tailored Pleat Drapery — Martyn Lawrence Bullard Nomad Stripe, Onyx

Drapery is another versatile option of contemporary window treatments. Despite having an “old-school” affiliation, there are many new styles of drapery that work perfectly in any contemporary home. When choosing drapery for a contemporary home, shoppers look for lighter fabrics and avoid dark, rich tones.

Grommet Drapery

Inner Layer: Waterfall Woven Wood Shades — Artisan Weaves Cove, Ash / Outer Layer: Grommet Drapery — Velvet, Camel

Grommet Drapery features strong features, clean lines and a symmetrical aesthetic — perfect for achieving a unique, modern and stylish look on the window. Grommet Drapery offers a welcome update to traditional drapery and can be the perfect window treatment solution for your contemporary home.

Ripple Fold Drapery

Inner Layer: Flat Roman Shades — Grassweave, Snow / Outer Layer: Ripple Fold Drapery — Sheer Wool Blend, Cloud

Ripple Fold Drapery is another excellent drapery option that complements a contemporary style. Ripple Fold Drapes feature clean, even lines and are available in simple, neutral colors.

Contemporary Shades

Flat Roman Shades — Victoria Hagan Sankaty Stripe, Sand

In addition to drapery and blinds, shades are an excellent window treatment option for contemporary homes. If you’re shopping for shades for your contemporary design, we recommend light fabrics to naturally brighten the look and feel of your space.

Woven Wood Shades

Inner Layer: Solar Shades — 5%, Black / Outer Layer: Waterfall Woven Wood Shade — Artisan Weaves Cove, Beige

Woven Wood Shades offer clean lines and are made from natural materials in a neutral color scheme. Many woven wood shades are made from eco-friendly materials and woods like bamboo. If you’re interested in adorning your windows in all-natural materials, we highly recommend our Artisan Weaves collection!

Roller Shades

Roller Shade — Sheila Bridges Florentine, Grigio

As the name implies, Roller Shades roll up for a neat and clean visual impact. Roller Shades offer simplicity and privacy, as well as the ability to choose sheer light fabrics, heavier dramatic prints and blackout styles. They are one of the most versatile window treatment styles, which makes them very popular for contemporary design aficionados.

Find the Best Contemporary Window Treatments for Your Home

Ready to find the perfect window treatments for your contemporary home? Reach out to The Shade Store’s Design Consultant team online or at one of our nationwide showroom locations to find the best window treatments for your home. You can also visit our website to view and order free swatches.

 

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