Many homeowners aren’t sure whether they should choose blinds or shades. While both options offer advantages for homeowners, they differ in terms of light control and privacy.
Window blinds are a great addition to any home and can be made out of wood, faux wood, metal or woven materials. They offer the following benefits:
Light Control
One of the most important things that window blinds do is control the amount of light coming into your home. This is especially important in rooms like home theaters and bedrooms where you want to create a dark atmosphere for sleeping. The slats on window blinds can be adjusted, depending on the time of day and season, to filter in just the right amount of natural light.
In addition, you can save energy by lowering window blinds on hot summer days to block out the sun and keep your home cool. You can also close them during cold winter nights to cut down on heat loss and reduce your reliance on your furnace.
Cheapest window blinds come in a variety of styles and materials. Some are even designed with an energy-saving reflective and absorbance design that helps them to block sunlight before it enters your room and heats up the space. These kinds of window blinds work best on south and west-facing windows to maximize their energy efficiency.
Another way to save energy is by reducing the amount of artificial light you use in your home. You can do this by lowering your window blinds during the day when it’s sunny and raising them at night to let in more natural light. Alternatively, you can invest in motorized window blinds that can be programmed to raise and lower according to a set schedule, so you don’t have to remember to do it yourself.
Many people choose to invest in cordless window blinds because they eliminate the need for dangling cords that can be a tripping hazard for children and pets. Some window blinds are even designed to be cordless and still have a built-in tension that ensures the bottom of the shade stays in place after it’s been raised or lowered.
Energy Efficiency
Window blinds are an important energy-saving component for your home. By blocking out sunlight and insulating the windows, window treatments reduce your cooling and heating bills and help you lower your carbon footprint. The insulating design of some window coverings can stop heat from entering or exiting the room and reduce air flow, keeping your home more comfortable. They also provide protection from harmful UV rays, reducing the risk of premature fading of furniture and flooring.
A variety of window blinds are available in a wide range of insulation values, depending on the material. Those with a thicker fabric, like cellular shades, offer higher energy efficiency than those made from lighter fabrics, such as roller or roman blinds.
The insulating benefits of window blinds are due to the honeycomb-shaped cells that trap air and create an extra layer of insulation. The cells can be made opaque or transparent and are sometimes filled with foam to improve the insulating value even more. In addition, most manufacturers now offer options with top down/bottom up functionality, so you can have the light control of a shade with the added benefit of a thermal element.
Plantation shutters are another type of window treatment that is a great energy saver. During the day, they can be closed to prevent the sun’s rays from heating up the room, saving your air conditioning from working hard to cool the home. At night, they can be opened to let the natural sunlight warm up the room, reducing your need for electric lighting and again saving on energy costs.
It’s a good idea to choose a window treatment that is certified as energy efficient by the AERC (Attachments Energy Rating Council). This means that your chosen product has been tested against a set of rigorous standards for insulation and performance, including air leakage, fabric shading, and more. Hunter Douglas has a number of AERC-certified shades, including Duette Architella with one honeycomb placed inside the outer honeycomb for an additional layer of insulation, and Sonnette cellular roller shades that achieve up to an R-7 rating.
Privacy
While blinds do a great job of shielding the interior of your home from prying eyes, they can also protect you and your loved ones from unwanted sun exposure. Window blinds can help to filter sunlight before it enters a room, keeping you and your family cool and comfortable without the need for an air conditioner.
Window blinds can be a great complement to other window treatments, especially drapery. When paired with the right curtains and drapery, window blinds can provide added insulation as well as a more tailored look.
With their slatted design, blinds offer the most control over how much light is allowed in and when. They can be tilted to direct the sun’s rays to where you want them and can be closed when you prefer a dark room or a view of your outdoor scenery.
Shades are a popular window treatment option that come in many styles, materials and functionality options, with roller shades, Roman shades, cellular shades and window quilts being the most common types of shade. They are often referred to as “soft” window coverings because they’re made of a soft material that offers a warm and cozy feel to your windows. They can be rolled up when not in use and typically come with a cord-based lifting system for easy operation.
Besides their appearance, many homeowners opt for cordless window blinds and shades because they are safer for children and pets that could potentially get entangled in the cords. These window blinds and shades operate with a motor that hides the traditional cord-based lift system from view, meaning there are no dangling cords to be seen.
The type of material used to make window blinds can impact the price as well. PVC and vinyl blinds tend to be budget friendly and come in a variety of colors and textures, while real wood or faux wood blinds can cost more.
Aesthetics
In addition to their energy efficiency, privacy and light control benefits, window blinds offer a variety of styles and materials that can make your home look more modern. Unlike curtains, window blinds are designed to fit snugly into the frame of a window or door and come in a wide range of colors, finishes, materials and textures to suit any décor.
Blinds are also easy to maintain, making them a good choice for rental properties and low-maintenance homes. Unlike curtains, which must be washed or dry cleaned, window blinds are typically dustable and simply require a quick wipe down with a damp cloth. Moreover, many newer models of window blinds are cordless, eliminating the need for cords that can easily break and get tangled. This makes them an excellent choice for homes with children and pets.
The slats in horizontal blinds angle up and down to regulate light, while those in vertical blinds twist left and right. Some window blinds also have motors that allow you to control their slats with the touch of a button. This feature is particularly helpful when it comes to controlling glare, especially from sun-filled rooms.
Roller shades come in a wide range of fabrics, patterns and trim. This client chose a pink striped fabric with bead trim. The result is a simple yet elegant look that complements the color palette of the bedroom.
Blinds made from wood or other natural materials are a great option for a traditional or formal room. They can be painted or stained to match a room’s color scheme and can add a warm, rich feel to a space.
Cellular shades are another type of window treatment that can improve a room’s R-value and help reduce summer heat gain. They’re also available in a variety of automated options, allowing you to schedule when they open and close on a daily basis.
If you’re looking for a smarter alternative to a basic shade or blind, consider smart shades like Levolor’s iSmartBlinds. They’re an affordable option that offers a high degree of customization and automation potential, though they may not be compatible with other home automation systems such as Google Home, Amazon Alexa, IFTTT and SmartThings.