One type of shade is the roller shade. These are the same that you remember from your grandmother's house. The vinyl fabric rolls up into a stick that's spring operated. These come in an array of different colors so you don't have to depend on the boring white and tan colors that you're so used to. They also come in assorted designs and patterns.

There is also the Roman Shade. This particular type of shade is drawn up usually by a chord and is brought up in even folds.

A Cascade shade is similar to the Roman, except for the fact that they are drawn up in irregular sized folds. They're pulled up with a drawstring, which pulls the fabric up where as it then lies in a cascade fold giving it a sleek stylish look. These, along with the Roman, and Roller Shades can be enhanced with hems

Next is the Fan Shade. These are constructed much like the cascade where as they're a flat pane of fabric, except for a difference in the drawstring. Cascade Shades are pulled from drawstrings on each side, while the Fan Shade is pulled up from the center of the shade. How it works is that you'll lower the panel fully down, and then pull it up a bit, creating a fan shape at the base of the shade. This way the lower end of the window is exposed, allowing air and light into the room.

The Balloon Shade is also a fabric-paneled shade that gathers in scallops across the width of the shade. It is raised in irregular folds by a cording system. A hem will enhance this shade as well.

Eliminating the side drawstrings of the Balloon panels on the other hand creates a Tailed Balloon shade. The center of the shade then raises in smooth folds while the outsides are left hanging to make up the tails.

The Austrian Shade is another that is much like the balloon style. The fabric in the panel of the Austrian Shade is at least two times the length of the shades drop. When it's completely lowered, then soft scalloped folds create the remainder of the shade.

And lastly, in Pleated Shades, panels are created of permanently folded fabric or paper.

You can use tassels and decorative trim, ribbons, different types of fringe, and other edgings to enhance your shades along with your interior decorating.

Sometimes the shades themselves will complete the entire window treatments, in others adding curtains, drapes, vertical blinds, or valances will make them even more attractive.