During the cooler nights of fall and spring, most people like to sit at home with the windows open and enjoy the freshness of the outside within the safety and confines of their beautiful homes. This sought after feeling of relaxation oftentimes is interrupted by the “worldly" sounds of neighbors and nearby roadways which forces us to once again recluse ourselves in order to hopefully find the much desired peace of mind. Issue is also taken with the unwelcome brightness which is out of our control unless we have the proper window treatment which can help us regain the peaceful setting we deserve. These aforementioned conditions can be partially alleviated by the installation of cellular shades. Unique to cellular shades is the pocket of air within the cells which muffles outside sounds and with the advent of light blocking materials, light control can be added to the list of benefits cellular shades are able to provide.



The selection of the right cellular shade for a particular room in your home or office which requires meeting certain criteria according to specific requirements is complicated by the large quantity of materials available. One would think that the greater the selection the easier the process, but the opposite is the reality. There many styles and hundreds of colors to choose from. Many questions arise during this process - What is the best color? Do I need light/sun control? Should I choose single or double cell? Should the cellular shade be installed inside or outside of the window frame? One shade or two shades for double windows? Does the facing direction of the window make a difference? Is privacy an issue? We will try to cover most of these questions in this article as we move forward.

The collection of cellular shades will encompass a big range of dimensions and a full array of colors to choose from. If insulation is the main target for considering cellular shades, it is important to know that the number of cells (cavities) will increase the efficiency of the cellular shade against the heat from the exterior. Therefore, it is safe to assume that double-cell cellular shades will more effectively control said heat when compared to single-cell cellular shades. Also, the size of the individual cells or cavities will have a direct effect on the capability of the cellular shade.

As the popularity of cellular shades increases, the issue of light control seems to be of primary importance. There is more than one way to achieve the desired control. If complete blocking of light is the goal, blackout materials can be used as a liner to the shade. This blackout material can also be metalized when direct sunlight is the main issue. When the desire is to partially mitigate the incoming sunlight, many fabrics offer a varied degree of translucency thus accommodating the specific need. This varied degree of translucency is a by-product of the properties of the specific fabric material or its color. Another way to achieve light control is through the use of double-cell or honeycomb material which is the combination of two single cells as one.

As previously mentioned, the color of the cellular shade indeed affects its light control properties. The darker the color on the exterior facing side of the cllular shade, the greater its ability to decrease the incoming light. Conversely, the lighter the color, the more light will pass through the shade. This formula also applies to temperature control. A darker fabric will absorb and retain more heat that a light color fabric. These formulas can play an important role depending on the physical location of the home, i.e. Florida vs. Minnesota or also in the direction in which the window faces, i.e. north vs. west.

Additionally, cellular shades are available in so-called duplex styles whereas the exterior facing of the shade is of a certain color required to meet a certain mandatory municipal statute or homeowner association by-rule.

In summary, cellular shades are able to provide the end user with all the capabilities to meet most of the specific requirements regardless of the situation. If light control is of utmost importance, cellular shades allow you to control light at many different levels. If temperature control is the main reason for considering cellular shades, this situation can also be similarly remedied as well. If the functionality of cellular shades is at the forefront of your decision, you will find that cellular shades are a highly functional product which will bring years of comfort and aesthetically pleasing moments into your home or office.