Experiment and find what style of window shades work best for you. The simple addition of a long drape transform your space. While statement furniture pieces, large appliances, or room layout may be the first thing you think of when you think about designing your home’s interiors, window treatments can make or break the feel of a room.

The right window treatment can add color, texture, warmth, and style to a room, all while saving you money on your energy bills and giving you the privacy you desire. 

Choosing the right window treatments for your home can be a challenge. There are dozens of types of window treatments. Among the most versatile window treatments are shades.

Roman Shades

Roman shades continue to endure as one of the most popular types. The design actually does go all the way back to ancient Rome.

When the Romans constructed coliseums in ancient Rome and thousands of people gathered beneath the sun all day long to watch, they designed a way to give spectators a modicum of shade. They created large, pleated awnings that could retract and extend to let viewers be more comfortable. 

An Air Of Elegance 

The modern design for Roman shades is similar to ancient Roman shades, with a large piece of fabric that would fold into flaps conveniently for storage that unfurls in large pleats. And there’s just a hint of that classical history in today’s designs.

Roman shades have significantly wider pleats than other types of pleated shades and thus give a much more elegant, refined look.

Because Roman shades are made exclusively from fabrics, they’re best used in areas that don’t get tons of moisture: perfect for living rooms, bedrooms, and offices. Personally, I am a big fan of Roman shades for a luxurious look on bay windows.

Part of the beauty of how striking Roman shades look is that they come in nearly endless colors and patterns to fit just about any interior design.

Solar Shades

Many people will mistake solar shades for a typical roller shade since they look similar to the eye. They’re both made from one distinct piece of fabric that moves up or down via being pulled. However, solar shades are designed specifically to block harmful UV rays from entering the home, oftentimes without hampering the view from a window.

Block Harmful UV & Enjoy All The Benefits Of Natural Light 

Solar shades reduce the intensity of light coming through the window, helping to insulate your home and reduce UV damage on your furniture and carpet. They don’t however block out all light from entering. If that’s your goal, they are more of what you’re looking for.

Solar shades are the type of window treatment that is great for homes that have high amounts of sun exposure. They can keep your home comfortable and insulated, allowing natural light to flow into the home while still giving privacy. During the day, people from outside won’t be able to see into a room, but when backlit at night, the shades can appear transparent from the outside.

While the specific purpose of solar shades somewhat reduces the number of customization options typically available for them, there are still many colors, styles, and sizes available to fit any room’s needs.

Sheer Shades

At a glance, sheer shades can give the appearance of open blinds, a view of the outdoors broken up by a series of horizontal bars. Someone constructs them using two panels of transparent, sheer fabric, with opaque slats of fabric suspended betweenThis allows strikingly clear views through the thin material.

Maximize The Amount Of Natural Sunlight

To maximize the amount of natural light a room gets, sheer shades might be right for you. They are airy and transparent, providing a light-flowing design to any room where they install them.

It used to be that they were only available in white or white-adjacent colors. They can now be as customizable as almost any other type of window shade. Sheer shades can come in a variety of different colors and patterns.

You can customize sheer shades to include blackout lining on the internal slats. They do help protect against UV light and reduce heat gain from windows. They are not particularly effective at insulating your home, especially in winter.

Skylight Window Shades

Skylights are beautiful additions to an interior space, allowing tons of natural light. However, if you’ve had one, you’ll know that skylights come with their own set of issues.

Motorization Is A Must 

Consider opting for a motorized option that runs on a track. Skylights are typically out of arm’s reach and a pain to get to.

You can open and close it at the push of a button. They can be great for skylights to reduce the amount of hot sunlight coming in during the summer. Here you can learn more about them.

Don’t Worry, Be Happy!

If you’re worried about making the wrong choice. At Couvrant, we can help you with design ideas and make the right choice for your home! Don’t be afraid to experiment with colors, textures, and even additional window treatments.