Pull Down Window Shades for Simple, Easy Use
Pull down window shades are simple shades that are easy to use and come in a wide range of styles. When you choose custom pull down shades, you also enjoy customization options to create the perfect window treatment to meet your functional needs and aesthetic preferences. So, what are your product options and how do you choose?
Pull down window shades typically refer to cordless Roller Shades but there are actually many other pull down shades that you can choose from. Learn about the different types of cordless, or pull down, shades as well as customization options to help you decide which is the right choice for your space.
Cover Photo: Roller Shade, Jackson in Sand, photography by John Bessler
Custom Pull Down Shades for Windows
Pull down shades for windows can refer to any shade or blinds that feature a cordless control type where you pull down the window treatment to adjust its height.
How Do You Make Window Shades Go Down?
How you make your window shades go down depends on the control type you have. For pull down shades, these are typically cordless shades where you simply pull the bottom part of the shade down. For some shades like cordless Roller, Solar and Roman Shades, you need to first release the lock in the headrail’s tension device. To do this, pull the shade slightly down and toward you to release the lock, adjust the shade to the desired position and then push the bottom of the shade back toward the window to re-engage the lock. Other control types include continuous loop, which features a looped chain that you pull down or lift up to adjust the shade, and motorization which only requires a press of a button on a remote, an app on your smartphone or the sound of your voice when paired with a smart home device.
A Brief Overview of Pull Down Window Shades
Get a quick look at all your product options for pull down window shades, and then explore more details for each below.
Cordless Roller Shades
Cordless Roller Shades are pull down window shades with a single panel of material that rolls around a tube at the top of your window. The tube features a tension lock device that allows for easy pull-down control. Roller Shades are available in light-filtering and blackout materials.
Pictured: Roller Shade, Sheila Bridges Florentine in Grigio, design by Sheila Bridges, photography by William Waldron
Cordless Solar Shades
Solar Shades are a type of Roller Shade made with unique material designed to block UV rays while still allowing natural light to flood your home. These pull down window shades feature the same tube and control system as cordless Roller Shades.
Pictured: Solar Shade, Sunbrella 3% Solistico in Ash, photography by John Bessler
Cordless Roman Shades
Made of soft fabric that falls off a headrail, Roman Shades are raised and lowered by folding into or out of themselves. These pull down window shades feature a tension lock device in the headrail and a metal ring sewn to the back of the fabric for you to grab when adjusting your shade.
Pictured: Flat Roman Shades, Baldwin in Stone with Samuel & Sons Flanders trim in Granite, photography by John Bessler
Cordless Woven Wood Shades
Made of natural fibers like grasses, reeds and bamboo, Woven Wood Shades come in four styles, three of which resemble Roman Shades and one which is a Roller Shade. These shades have a tension lock device in the headrail for Roman Shade styles and in the tube for Roller Shade styles.
Pictured: Waterfall Woven Wood Shade, Artisan Weaves Somerset in Cloud, design by Erin Fetherston
cordless cellular shades
Cellular Shades feature unique honeycomb cells that expand and contract like an accordion when raised and lowered. These pull down shades for windows give you easy functionality as you simply raise and lower the bottom bar. A tension device in the headrail ensures your shades stay at your desired height.
Pictured: Cellular Shade, ¾” Single Cell Light Filtering in Lace, photography by John Bessler
Cordless Blinds
Cordless slatted Blinds are made of 2-inch slats of either wood or metal. Both feature a cordless control option that operates similar to pull down shades for windows, where you simply adjust your blinds by raising or lowering the bottom bar. To tilt the slats, you’ll twist the wand.
Pictured: Faux Wood Blinds, 2-Inch Faux in Blanc, photography by John Bessler
Cordless Roller Shades
Cordless Roller Shades are a simple style of pull down window shades. They feature one panel of material around a tube at the top of your window, delivers a clean, chic look and easy functionality.
Benefits of Cordless Roller Shades
- Lots of material options from versatile neutrals to bold patterns for the right look for your space.
- Exclusive designer patterns available from Sheila Bridges, Nate Berkus and more.
- Available in light-filtering options for a soft, warm glow in your room with reduced glare and heat buildup as well as effective privacy.
- Available in blackout materials for a room darkening effect and excellent privacy, ideal for bedrooms and media rooms.
- Super versatile design that works in a wide range of aesthetic styles, types of rooms and install applications.
- Available in specialty designs including Double Roller Shades (also called zebra blinds) and Venetian Roller Shades.
see buying options
Explore product and customization options for Roller Shades.
Pictured: Roller Shade, Sheila Bridges Houndstooth in Cargo, design by Sheila Bridges, photography by William Waldron
Start with Material
Dive into materials to find the right color, pattern and level of privacy for your space.
Pictured: Roller Shade Swatches, Irving
Cordless Solar Shades
Solar Shades are a type of Roller Shade made with UV-blocking material that still allows light to filter into your home. Solar Shades are also unique in their transparency levels, ranging from 1% (the least transparency) to 10% (the highest transparency). The higher the percentage, the easier it is for you to see through your shade to enjoy your view, but the lower the UV protection. Still, even at the highest transparency percentage of 10%, your shades still block 90% of UV rays which is highly effective.
Benefits of Cordless Solar Shades
- Available in beautiful neutral tones from bright white to creamy warm tones to cool modern greys and rich black.
- Exclusive, highly textured designer patterns available from Chilewich and Sunbrella.
- Offers different percentages of transparency and UV protection so you can the right mix of both.
- Super versatile design that works in a wide range of aesthetic styles, types of rooms and install applications.
see buying options
Explore product and customization options for Solar Shades.
Pictured: Solar Shades, 5% Metallic in Copper, photography by Darina Todorova
Start with Material
Dive into materials to find the right color, texture and transparency level for your space.
Pictured: Solar Shade Swatches, Chilewich Basketweave
Cordless Roman Shades
Roman Shades are made of soft fabric that folds into itself when raised and unfolds in a cascading motion when lowered. Roman Shades come in six styles, but only two of them are compatible with cordless, or pull down, functionality: Flat Roman Shades and Cascade Roman Shades.
These pull down window shades operate similar to Roller and Solar Shades with a tension locking device in the headrail. But instead of grabbing the bottom bar to adjust your shade, Roman Shades have a metal ring sewn the back of the shade near the bottom that you can grab so your hands aren’t always touching the fabric.
Benefits of Cordless Roman Shades
- Lots of fabric options ranging in color and texture from versatile neutrals and soft textures to bold colors and patterns and lots of visual and tactile textures.
- Exclusive designer patterns available from Victoria Hagan, Nate Berkus, Martyn Lawrence Bullard and more.
- Available with lining, including privacy for excellent privacy with some light filtering through, blackout for excellent privacy and a room darkening effect and interlining which is a cotton flannel insert that you can add to privacy or blackout lining for a fuller look and better insulation.
- Modern, versatile designs that work in a wide range of aesthetic styles, types of rooms and install applications.
Flat Roman Shade
With a flat, unadorned face and clean lines when raised, Flat Roman Shades offer a simple, modern look with understated elegance.
Pictured: Flat Roman Shade, Nate Berkus Claude Stripe in Alabaster, design by Nate Berkus
Cascade Roman Shade
Featuring hand-stitched pleats with aluminum dowls sewn to the back of the shade, Cascade Roman Shades offer a refined look and crisp folds.
Pictured: Flat Roman Shades, The Novogratz Family of Cranes in Waverly Green, design by The Novogratz, photography by Anne Gattilia
Start with Material
Dive into your fabric options to find the right look and feel. Pay attention to not only color and pattern, but texture and weight as well.
Pictured: Roman Shade Swatches, Nate Berkus Collection, Lowell Tweed
Cordless Woven Wood Shades
Woven Wood Shades are unique types of pull down window shades made from natural materials like grasses, bamboo, reeds and even paper. These shades add a beautiful, warm, organic look to your space. Woven Wood shades come in four styles, three of which resemble Roman Shades and feature a ring sewn to the back of the shade for you to grab when adjusting it. The fourth style is just like a Roller Shade, with a tube at the top of your window and a bottom bar you can pull to adjust your shade. All styles of Woven Wood Shades are compatible with cordless, or pull down, control, so you can pick whichever one best suits your aesthetic.
Benefits of Cordless Woven Wood Shades
- Offers an organic, natural aesthetic that warms and adds character to your space.
- Many material options ranging in natural wood-toned colors and varying textures from supple and soft to raw and highly textured.
- Available with lining, including privacy for excellent privacy with some light filtering through and blackout for excellent privacy and a room darkening effect.
- Versatile, easy-to-use designs that work in a wide range of aesthetic styles, types of rooms and install applications.
see buying options
Explore product options and customizations for Woven Wood Shades.
Pictured: Standard Woven Wood Shades, Artisan Weaves Coastline in Muslin
Start with Material
Dive into materials to find the right natural color and woven texture for your space.
Pictured: Woven Wood Shade Swatches, Artisan Weaves Collection, Coastline
Cordless Cellular Shades
Cellular Shades feature unique honeycomb cells that expand and contract like an accordion when lifted and lowered. These types of pull down window shades are very easy to use. Simply move the bottom bar up and down to adjust your shade. A tension device in the headrails offers just enough tension to keep the shade in place, no matter what height you put it at.
Benefits of Cordless Cellular Shades
- Several material options, all in versatile neutrals that beautifully complement your space.
- Available in light-filtering options for a soft, warm glow in your room with reduced glare as well as effective privacy.
- Available in blackout materials for a room darkening effect and excellent privacy, ideal for bedrooms and media rooms.
- Specialty Day/Night Cellular Shades offer the best of both light filtering and blackout options by combining the two on one shade with independent functionality for both materials.
- Excellent insulation from the heat and cold so your interior temperature stays comfortable and temperate.
- Super versatile design that works in a wide range of aesthetic styles, types of rooms and install applications.
see buying options
Explore product options and customizations for Cellular Shades.
Pictured: Cellular Shades, ¾” Single Cell Light Filtering in Lace, photography by John Bessler
Start with Material
Dive into materials to find the right natural color and woven texture for your space.
Pictured: Cellular Shade Swatches
Cordless Wood & Metal Blinds
If you’re looking beyond pull down shades for windows, consider Wood and Metal Blinds. Wood and Metal Blinds feature 2-inch tiltable slats and you can also lift and lower your blinds with cordless control in a similar way to Cellular Shades. Only 2-inch Wood and Metal Blinds are compatible with cordless, or pull down, lift control, 1-inch Metal Blinds only have tilt control for their slats.
Benefits of Cordless Roman Shades
- Attractive finishes including wood grains from simple painted wood looks to bold exotic wood grain aesthetics, as well as sleek metal finishes like silver, black and gold.
- Suits a wide range of aesthetics, from traditional design to coastal aesthetics to modern and industrial styles.
- Easy functionality thanks to the ability to tilt the slats with a twist of the wand or lift and lower your blinds by adjusting the bottom rail.
Wood Blinds
Made with American basswood in many wood grains and finishes, Wood Blinds offer a warm, inviting aesthetic.
Pictured: Wood Blinds, 2-inch Bamboo in Black, design by Everick Brown
metal blinds
Made of aluminum, Metal Blinds are lightweight and durable. They come in several colors with a metallic sheen.
Pictured: Metal Blinds, 2-inch Metal in Champagne
Start with Material
Dive into warm, inviting wood finishes and modern, sleek metal finishes to find the right fit for your aesthetic.
Pictured: Wood Blinds, 2-inch Exotic in Zebrano
How to Buy Pull Down Window Shades & Blinds
When buying any type of window treatment, whether pull down window shades or blinds, or another type of treatment, it’s essential you learn how to measure your window properly. Measuring is especially important when ordering custom window treatments, but it can also help you choose premade products that are closest to your windows measurements.
Measuring steps are pretty much the same between pull down window shades and blinds, but they will vary slightly based on whether you plan to inside or outside mount your window treatment. Inside mount refers to your window treatment being installed inside the window frame, usually fastened to the top or “ceiling” of the window frame. Outside mount means your window treatment is installed on the wall or ceiling above your window. Learn the basics for how to measure for shades and blinds with either an inside- or outside-mount application.
Measuring for Inside Mount
Take three measurements each for length and width, measuring the inside of your window frame. The largest measurement for length will be your ordering length. The smallest measurement for width will be your ordering width.
Measuring for Outside Mount
Measure once for length, starting from the point above your window you want your blinds or shades to be fastened down to the bottom edge of your windowsill, and that is your ordering length. Measure once for width, going about 2-3 inches beyond your window frame on either side to ensure proper coverage. That number is your ordering width.
More About Measuring for Shades
Get more details about measuring for shades in both an inside- and outside-mount application.
More About Measuring for Blinds
Get more details about measuring for blinds in both an inside- and outside-mount application.
How to Install Pull Down Shades for Windows
Thinking of DIYing the install of your pull down window shades? Installation for most blinds and shades is relatively simple, and they share many of the same steps. Learn best practices for installation to decide whether you’re up for the task or you’d prefer to rely on professionals.
Best Practices for Installation
These are the basic steps for installing most styles of pull down window shades and blinds. However, always be sure to consult the full installation instructions for your chosen window treatment before starting your project.
- Step 1: Gather tools, including: a stepladder, pencil, tape measure, level, drill and screwdriver.
- Step 2: Measure where your brackets will go—this will vary slightly based on the type of window treatment, but generally, you’ll use the width and length you measured when ordering your shades or blinds.
- Step 3: Pilot-drill holes for your brackets for easier fastening.
- Step 4: Fasten your brackets with a screwdriver.
- Step 5: Mount the headrail of your shades or blinds, and you’re ready to operate your window treatment.
Place Your Order with a Professional
Now that you have a better understanding of your options for pull down window shades as well as a brief look at measuring and installation, you’re ready to consider your final selections. Visit a showroom near you to explore all your options for pull down shades for windows including cordless and motorized options. You’ll also meet our talented Design Consultants who can answer your questions, guide your selection and help you place your order.
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