17 Types Of Window Shades (Design Features)

There are many factors to consider when selecting window shades and the effects they will have on your space: level of privacy, amount of light, temperature control, and decor. In this article, I will guide you through choosing the right types of window shades that are currently popular for my interior design clients and offer a wide range of materials from light-filtering or transparent to opaque material.

Window treatments and coverings are divided into three main categories. These are called hard, soft, and layered window treatments. 

• Hard window treatments refer to coverings made of hard materials like wood, faux wood, composite wood, aluminum, or vinyl, including shades, blinds, and shutters.
• Soft window treatments, on the other hand, mean anything made of soft fabrics such as various types of curtains, sheers, drapes, swags, valances, and draperies.
• The third category is a combination of both “hard” and “soft” called a layered window treatment. 

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Window Shade Design Styles

Shades are functional and versatile and have a variety of colors from textured fabrics in solid colors and blends to geometric patterns and floral patterns.

Roller Shades

Roller shades, also called roll-up, or roller blinds, are highly functional, practical, and affordable window covers that can complement almost any style of room.

They are rectangular pieces of fabric rolled up at the top of the window, attached to a wooden or metal tube, and mounted between two brackets. Their clean design makes them attractive in different interior design styles.

They are easy to operate and are versatile in the amount of opacity available. Once unrolled or extended, it helps to block glare and provide privacy in your home.

Layered Shades

Layered shades actually have a similar design to the roller shade. However, what makes it unique and more stylish than the latter is it has two closely interconnected layers of fabric combined with tightly woven bands of sheer stripes and solid color fabrics. 

These layered coverings are available in light-filtering or room-darkening fabrics and can be motorized. When open, the horizontal sheer fabric helps filter the light and protect the room from the sun’s damaging UV rays, while the bold, wide stripes of color create a unique style of privacy and design. 

In turn, these stripes control the amount of incoming light and the view through when partially raised or lowered.

Cellular Shades

Cellular shades are the best in their ability to improve insulation since they feature a unique structure of a honeycomb design that maximizes energy efficiency and regulates the temperature in your home. Moreover, the composition of cellular material offers light-filtering properties and different levels of light control from light to blackout.  

Meanwhile, their honeycomb cell shapes are designed to hold trapped air within these cells and create a barrier between the window surface and the room, keeping your interiors comfortable throughout every season. It allows natural sunlight to keep the warmth inside during the winter and blocks harsh sunlight in the summer.  

Unlike window blinds which are made of hard materials, cellular designs are constructed from thin, folded soft paper or cloth-like materials; spun lace and bonded polyester are also used as well.

The larger pleat creates a casual elegance while a smaller pleat makes the room feel more structured and formal – use a 3/8 inch pleat on a smaller window. These cellular coverings come in a single cell with 3/8 and ¾ inch cell size, a double cell with ¾ to 1 ½ inch cell size, and triple cell. 

Pleated Shades

Pleated shades have a lot of things in common with cellular designs and it’s easy to confuse the two. A pleated shade features a single layer of fabric pleated into their simple signature crisp fold pattern which gives a classic look and feel to your home.  

A pleated shade is commonly available in 1 inch and 2 inches even spaced pleat sizes which give it structure and depth. When raised, these pleated coverings have minimal stacks that practically disappear.

Furthermore, they offer versatility for light control, ranging from a choice of transparent, light-filtering, or blackout material for maximum control. 

Roman Shades

Roman shades draw their name from their classic appearance, dating back to the Roman-era Coliseum awnings. Roman coverings are fabric that can be easily drawn up or down; they hang flat when closed and fold horizontally into pleats when raised. 

Like any other window treatment, a Roman shade provides privacy and light control and offers insulating qualities. They are usually opened with a cord mechanism and can be used in stand-alone applications or layered with other window treatments.

Similarly, it can include a valance at the top of the window to finish the look and can work exceptionally well in bay windows.

Perhaps the most unique quality of Roman shades is their assortment of individual styles and the wide range of materials they can be made of, from wood to fabric, and natural materials such as bamboo.

Sheer Shades

Sheer shades are a type of window covering which unites the aesthetic beauty of transparent curtains with the practicality of a traditional window shade. They fit in lightweight fabric sheets between panels of translucent fabric which creates a completely different look.  

Sheers are typically known for their light control, privacy, and UV protection due to their construction which is a combination of a blind and shade.

Their inner soft material is encased on the back and front by a layer of sheer fabric which works as a filter that diffuses and distributes the warm rays of sunlight that go inside your home, without obstructing the outside view. 

When the sheer shade is drawn and the plates are closed, it provides adequate privacy for any living space.

Woven Wood Shades

Woven wood shades are another unique window covering that offers complex textures, exotic reeds, grasses, woods, and sophisticated natural colors. They are made of wood and other natural elements that add immediate visual interest to any room’s décor; and are a great way to add a rich organic textured and elegant look to your home. 

Woven wood coverings allow you to bring the outdoors inside your house since they offer a relaxed, calming, and cozy feeling. These types of window treatments combine perfectly with drapery panels on either side or can easily stand alone for a simple, natural look. 

 Meanwhile, liners are also available for enhanced privacy.

Tie-Up Shades

Also known as the stagecoach-style window treatment, the tie-up shade is basically fabric hanging flat from a rod. Instead of using a roller or cords, the shades are simply rolled manually to the preferred height and fastened with ribbons or cords. 

Adjusting the shade requires rolling or unrolling it while tying or untying the ribbons every time which can be inconvenient at times. However, a notable feature of tie-ups is they are excellent for showing off a large-scale pattern since so much of the fabric is visible.

Furthermore, the scallop look at the bottom adds a beautiful design element that gives many decorating styles glamorous, formal, or traditional looks.  

Balloon Shades

Depending on the fabric chosen, balloon shades are window coverings that work well in certain design themes such as Tuscan, French country, Hollywood glamour, cottage, or a traditional design style. Typically, balloon materials are made from sheer or silky fabrics that have strings, ribbons, or cords running through rings on the back of the shade.

When pulled open, the shade’s fabric drapes gracefully with its soft pleats and round curves, giving the window treatment a romantic, formal, and somewhat old-fashioned appearance. Balloon coverings can also be lined with heavy material that blocks out all light.

Balloon window treatments are easy to install and are one of the most affordable forms of window treatment because they are designed with just a minimal amount of fabric. They also offer a high level of privacy, which is just perfect for kitchen and door windows.  

When made in a heavier fabric, they are also great in bedrooms and bathroom windows or any room where a tapestry-style fabric matches their elegance.

Single Cell Shades

A single cell window shade has one row or layer of cells that stack on top of each other providing fewer horizontal clean rows, and a less busy look. Blackout single cell shades provide some of the best in light control and privacy, and cost less than double cell types.  

The cell pockets created by the pleats help to insulate windows, block UV rays, filter light, and have sound absorption properties, which makes them excellent choices for energy and noise reduction efficiency.

Double Cell Shades

The design of a double cell shade is more intricate than that of a single-cell window shade.  A double cell shade has intertwined, slightly offset rows of cells providing two layers of cells – one layer of cells closest to the room, and one layer of cells closest to the window.

Since double cell designs require more fabric to make, the price is higher than a single cell window shade. The additional layer of cells allows a double cell shade to provide better insulating capacities and better noise reduction capabilities. 

Moreover, double cell sun screens work best in shallower or smaller windows. 

Bamboo Shades

Bamboo is a healthy and vibrant plant that withstands nearly any environment. It is one of the most ecologically friendly types of window shades on the market today and has been seeing an increase in popularity due to its distinct “green” properties. 

Though it seems to be a traditional decorating option, using bamboo as a window treatment should not be restricted to an Asian-themed décor since bamboo coverings are always stylish, ecologically sound, and not to mention versatile.

It can be paired off with cloth curtains to provide a layered and beautiful overall design effect. A bamboo shade also adds warmth and texture while providing a high degree of light filtering options and comes in a slatted functional form that provides near-blackout quality.

Skylight Shades

One main reason for having a window and skylights is to offer a unique way to bring and enjoy the refreshing natural light into your home. But because of its location, skylights can be a bit of a challenge, especially in controlling direct glare, filtering or blocking light, and keeping out the heat or cold as needed.  

A skylight window shade can enhance the aesthetic appeal of your ceiling windows, and at the same time provide privacy and insulation. Moreover, it allows you to control the amount of natural light coming into the room.  

When installing a skylight shade, it is very important to consider factors like the direction the skylight is facing, its shape, and how/if your skylight opens.

Cordless Cellular Shades

The biggest selling point for a cordless window shades system is the ease of operation and a clean, uncluttered look since there are no visible dangling operating cords which can cause a major risk to small children and pets.  

Additionally, the cordless cellular window shade, as the name suggests, also has a cordless mechanism that allows you to raise and lower the cellular material evenly. These types are recommended for doors as well since they conserve space when raised and are available in many different sizes.

Remote Control Motorized Shades

Motorized window treatments are trending nowadays since they are a convenient way to add a high-tech touch to any home. Remote control motorized shades for windows make raising or lowering the coverings as simple as pressing a button and can even be integrated into your smart home system. 

This integration between home automation and motorized window treatments enables the shades and drapes to move at the same time with other subsystems, like lighting, music, and heating and cooling equipment. What’s more, they can be synchronized to start and stop in harmony and to line up perfectly across the window.  

Remote control motorized coverings for windows are just as effective at saving energy as they are at preserving your privacy; and an effective deterrent against burglars.

Privacy Shades

Privacy shades are opaque and non-transparent window treatments which prevent a view-through even when the rooms are lit from inside.

Made with translucent fabrics engineered to diffuse sunlight and dispersing natural light throughout your home, this helps reduce the need for artificial light as well.  

Privacy screens made with semi-opaque and opaque fabrics are perfect for bedrooms, bathrooms, and rooms facing the street or a neighbor, keeping the inside of your home perfectly hidden since they completely block out sunlight and the view outside.

Traditional Blinds

Traditional blinds are a type of window covering made up of long horizontal slats of different materials such as wood, plastic, or metal. These are held together by a lift cord that runs through the blind slats and allows the blind to be pulled up and stacked tightly to the top. 

They also use a thin woven corded “ladder” system which allows the slats to be suspended and using a rotating drum to which the woven corded ladder is attached, these horizontal blinds are used and are manually maneuvered to be closed or opened.

Currently, there are six known different types of traditional blinds: roller blinds, Roman blinds, pleated blinds, Venetian blinds, Shoji Japanese blinds, and vertical blinds.

How To Measure For Shades?

The standard window sizes for shades range from 36 to 72 inches, which is the measurement of a standard window length, while the standard width ranges from 24 to 60 inches.

Measuring for Inside-Mount Shades

Width: Measure the exact width of the inside edge of the window casing in the top, bottom, and middle. Make all measurements to the nearest 1/8th inch, rounding down for width if needed, and use the smallest measurement of the three as the width that you will order.

Height: Measure the exact height from the window sill to the bottom of the top casing in three places.  Make all measurements to the nearest 1/8th inch, rounding up for height if needed, and use the lengthiest of the three measurements as the height that you will order.

Depth: It is very important to also measure the depth of the flat surface of your window’s upper casing since some inside-mount coverings require specific depths to fit inside the window properly.

Measuring for Outside-Mount Shades

• Width: Measure the exact width from left to right of the window frame where you would like the shade to cover. Be sure to extend the measurement wide enough as much as three inches past both sides of the window for maximum privacy, and provide maximum light coverage.

• Height: Determine where you want to place the headrail and measure from there the height you would like the coverings to be by measuring top to bottom, where you want them to hang down.

How to Measure for Shades Video

How To Buy Shades?

Since buying the right types of window shades can have lasting benefits for homeowners, here is a list of some important things to consider very carefully:

• Consider the current style of your home’s interior and exterior design and make sure you consider the look of the types from your home because your window treatments will be one of the main accents of your home. Read more about types of windows here. 

• Consider the most important aspect for you when it comes to choosing the right type of shade – its cost, style, energy efficiency, light-blocking capabilities, and other features that are valuable to you. 

• As you shop and compare, consider the long-term benefits and the variety of designs and colors. 

• Consider privacy and security for each room in your house since some areas require higher levels of privacy and/or security.  Consider how the type of shade can block harmful UV rays or how much natural light it allows to come in. 

• Determine if you will be paying for installation or installing them yourself. If doing it yourself you may need some tools and in some cases extra hardware.

• Consider safety issues such as dangling cords which can be a hazard for small children and pets at home.

Remember that buying window treatments can increase the value of your home and can save you money in the long run. Likewise, it is equally important to consider the comfort that your coverings provide and the design appeal they give to your home.

Are there any types of window shades or products we left out? Let us know your favorite choices and materials in the comment section. Read more about the different types of window blinds here.