The Secret of Cellular Shades

The right window shades may last longer than your windows. Because window coverings are not a purchase the average consumer makes very often, they can get confused. Don't go for the plastic mini blinds! Seriously though, it is not hard to find out a little on these products which make our homes more comfortable and beautiful. On mistake many people make is that they just pick one thing - comfort or beauty- and ignore the other. You may want light control, but a blackout blind is just not that attractive in most situations.

They are called blackout blinds because they are supposed to completely block out light, like in a war time air raid. This means no light in your interior, and therefore the beauty of natural light is lost when closed. Cellular shades provide light control and insulation. Depending on the design, they may beautiful too. The blackout blinds use a Mylar coating and seamless fit to allow the shade to move up and down without any gaps.

The options for honeycomb blinds are numerous. Although originally made as a purely utilitarian device, honeycomb shades now come in colors and different materials. Thin fabric cellular blinds are translucent while full color blinds can provide blackout performance.

Generally the difference between a shade and a blind is that a blind has slats or vanes that are movable, while shades use a continuous piece of material. There are cellular vertical blinds designed to cover large areas. Each vane has a cellular air pocket that gives greater energy efficiency when opened. When a manufacturer says vertical cellular shades, they mean a sideways shade for patios on a track. They are just a larger version of what comes in the home.

The normal shade is where most people buy because of their energy efficiency. Air is actually a very good insulator as long as it is held stationary and not allowed to convect. Profile of a cellular vertical blind
Lastly, there are just cellular shades for windows. Over time they will result in lower HVAC bills. There is not a significant difference in performance between the opaque and sheer blinds, but it does exist. For light filtering you can use this sheer material, while if you want light control get a thicker material or opaque blinds.