Window shades can help prevent furniture and floors from fading and also save you money on energy costs. They also offer other benefits like style, privacy, and light control. Complex window treatments like blinds and shutters are highly durable against sun, rain, dust, and temperature changes. They look stylish and come with safe options for children and pets.
Energy Efficiency
Whether you want to protect your home from the harsh summer sun or maximize solar heat gain in the winter, a high-quality shade solution is an excellent choice. Shades with a higher shading coefficient will reduce heat loss, increase thermal comfort, and significantly lower energy bills. Tightly installed cellular (honeycomb) shades during heating seasons can reduce thermal losses by 40% or more. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, this translates to up to 20% in energy savings. Motorized shades such as Hunter Douglas Shades allow you to automatically raise or lower your window coverings based on the season, time of day, and schedule. This allows you to use natural light and minimize the need for electric lighting to set a desired ambiance.
Style
If you’re tired of the essential blinds and shades available from most home improvement stores, it’s time to upgrade. Choose a color and fabric that suits your style and needs. Cellular shades, for example, use honeycomb-shaped cells to trap hot and cold air, insulating the interior of your home. They also allow you to control how much natural light enters the room. Other energy-efficient window shade solutions include Roman shades and custom drapery. Reversible window shades with the white side facing out and the dark side facing in protect furniture and carpet from the sun’s damaging rays. And if you want to eliminate the unsightly slivers of light that come through when you lower a standard pleated shade, consider a no-holes pleated shade.
Privacy
The right shades, like the ones at Treaty Oaky Shade Company, can help conceal the interior of your home, preventing nosy neighbors and passersby from seeing into your living spaces. This is an excellent option for areas like the dining room and bedroom, where privacy can be challenging. Look for a shade with a blackout option or thermal liner to block out the sun’s harmful rays while maintaining privacy in the room. This is particularly important for skylight windows, which can easily let in unwanted heat and sunlight. Cellular shades are an excellent choice for insulating your home because of their little pockets of cells that trap air, keeping the house cool in the summer and warm in the winter. They’re also available in various colors and styles and cordless options that are safe for families with children and pets.
Light Control
Sunlight streaming through a window in the morning is a welcome sight. Still, it can also trigger overheating, create distracting glare on screens and surfaces and cause premature fading of furniture, art, carpets, and curtains. Window shades that reduce the amount of direct sunlight that enters a space can significantly cut cooling costs and minimize health risks. Roller, Roman, cellular (aka honeycomb), and pleated styles that open from the top and bottom provide maximum light control with customizable levels of transparency. From sheer to nearly black, these window treatment options mitigate sunlight while promoting a sense of depth and calibration that adds visual interest to a room. Smart shades that operate on a schedule can be controlled by a home automation system like Z-Wave or a proprietary protocol such as Lutron’s Caseta Wireless. Even if your home is hardwired for power, these shades can be integrated via an ethernet bridge for DIY or professionally installed solutions.
Easy Maintenance
If you’re looking for a window treatment that is easy to maintain, look no further than Roman shades. These simple, flat window coverings sit tightly in your windows and are less likely to attract dust. They also don’t require cords, which are a strangulation risk to children and babies. Skylight shades with smooth operating side tracks are a smart option for hard-to-reach skylight windows, adding an extra layer of insulation and helping block distracting sunlight. Some of these shades offer motorization options for a luxurious, convenient, and sleek finish.
