cordless top down bottom up shades

What Are The Most Popular Types of Window Treatments? Part 2 (Shades & Curtains)

/ Super Admin
Image courtesy of Michelle Giglio, @wazhomedecor

Maybe your personal design taste calls for a traditional window style, or perhaps for something more modern. Regardless of what your personal style dictates, or what your budget is, we at SelectBlinds are pleased to tell you that we have the perfect custom solution for you. We offer you more than 170 different customizable products, in a selection of over 1800 colors, with countless feature combinations, upgrades, and add-ons available. Did we already say that we can make any budget happy? 

What are the most popular types of window treatments? In the first part of this article, we discussed popular types of blinds and shutters. What about window shades and curtains? Let’s discuss some of the most popular types of window treatments, shades and curtains in particular, and how they function.

Function vs. Form

You might not want window coverings that are merely functional. You might want something stylish, as well. It will likely be great news to you that you can enjoy window shades that are stylish and also that function smoothly, the way you want and need them to! What would work best in your home? 

What Is the Difference Between Shades and Blinds?

First, though the two terms are often used interchangeably, let’s distinguish shades from blinds.

Basically, shades hang down from the top of a window to the bottom, but they feature a solid, continuous surface that covers the window, and which can be raised or lowered to open up the view outward or to cover up for privacy. Shades are commonly crafted using fabrics, bamboo/woven woods, lightweight cellular material, and sheer fabrics. Curtains, though not technically shades, have similar qualities, in that they’re a solid, hanging surface that covers your windows.

Blinds are also hanging window treatments, but they feature either horizontal or vertical slats that can be tilted open or closed, usually with some sort of mechanism. Different kinds of blinds are crafted using various materials, including wood, faux wood, aluminum, and PVC. 

What Types of Shades and Curtains Are In Style?

Here are some examples of popular styles of shades and curtains, ranging from traditional to less traditional.

  • Roller Shades – Regardless of how you roll — casual, modern, Farmhouse — there are custom roller shades to match your unique sense of style. Layer roll-up window coverings in colors, textures, and patterns that fit any interior design.
  • Cellular / Honeycomb Shades – Keep the home vibe cool, calm, and quiet with energy-efficient cellular shades. With kid-friendly cordless lift options, they’re the safest choice for homes with little ones and/or pets.
  • Roman Shades – Can you be trendy and traditional at the same time? Of course! For example, take the classic, customizable Roman shade. This luxurious fabric window covering never goes out of style and works with the trendiest interiors.
  • Bamboo / Woven Wood Shades – Get your home Pinterest perfect with these natural-looking custom bamboo / woven wood shades in your windows. Personalize them even more with your own lined option selections for more light & privacy control.
  • Dual / Zebra Shades – Your home is your showcase. Show off your unique taste with stylish, unique sheer zebra shades. Enjoy the ease of a roller with the look of a horizontal blind to add dimension and texture to windows. Watch them operate, and you’ll be sold!
  • Solar Shades – You love bright sunlight streaming through your windows. And who wouldn’t? Too much of a good thing can be a bad thing, though. Harmful UV rays can fade furnishings. Custom interior solar shades can help.
  • Exterior Solar Shades – Keep your cool and enjoy your patio and decks longer. Beat the heat while protecting your outdoor furnishings with a weather-resistant custom cordless exterior solar sun shade. You’ll also maintain your exterior view!
  • Sheer Shades – For the trendsetting home decorator, nothing beats the sheer elegance of sheer blinds. Impress your guests with this high-impact, custom flat sheer roller style window treatment.
  • Skylight Shades – Whether you live in a tiny house or a mansion, a skylight window is a feature worth showcasing. Show it off right with custom, sun-blocking shades that fit your style. Motorization options are available to make your life easier.
  • Arched Window Shades – Do coverings for your arched windows seem out of reach? Not with these custom shades for arched windows. Light filtering or blackout fabrics add function and elegance to even the highest arched windows. Motorization options are available to make your life easier.
  • Drapery / Curtains – Ever popular, custom drapes and curtains are a perennial favorite to dress your windows, or to layer with other types of window treatments (i.e. Roman shades, wood blinds or faux wood blinds, cellular shades, etc.). Updated grommet and pleated panels add a fresh spark, especially when used in trendy layered looks.

How Often Do You Need to Replace Your Window Treatments?

Image courtesy of Noby Howell, @howell.home

Quality shades, curtains, blinds, or shutters can last for several years (especially when installed correctly and maintained regularly), and there is no hard rule of thumb regarding how often you should replace them. Basically, replace them as needed, and according to your personal preference, as trends and fashions change and evolve.

Follow manufacturer directions when using and maintaining your window treatments, in order to preserve them as long as possible. Dust and/or wipe them down on a regular basis. Thoroughly clean your window treatments at least twice annually in order to reduce heavy dust accumulation. Curtains tend to be somewhat easier to maintain, as they can be removed for laundering, dry cleaning, or steaming as you need to. 

Select Blinds Staff Recommendations for Your Space

If you’re looking for some recommendations for your home, be sure to keep on reading. We’ve made selections from each of our product tiers for you, to offer you excellent, customizable design solutions for any taste and budget. Spend some time window shopping to see what we have to offer!

Classic Vinyl Blackout Roller Shades (Essential Tier)*

Sleep better (and longer!) with budget-saving blackout roller shades crafted with flame-retardant vinyl fiberglass and then laminated with another layer of vinyl for extra strength and durability.

Cordless Light Filtering Cellular Shades (Essential Tier)*

Less cluttered, kid-safe, budget-friendly, and simply stylish, these energy-efficient cordless cellulars are the perfect finishing touch to any window and design aesthetic.

Classic Woven Woods (Essential Tier)*

Upgrade your windows with these trend-setting favorites! Clutter-free, stylish, and affordable, there’s virtually no limit to how good your windows will look.

*Our Essential Tier products include simple designs in familiar styles. Made of materials known for strength, and easy cleaning, Essential Tier products are a great starting point for first-time homeowners or renters that are looking for budget-friendly solutions.

Farmhouse Roman Shades (Signature Tier)*

Master that Farmhouse-style look and feel these beautifully crafted and easy-to-install-and-use Roman shades.

Select Light Filtering Dual Shade (Signature Tier)*

Alternating wide and narrow bands of durable, easy-care fabric combine to give this modern light control window treatment its distinctive zebra-stripe appearance.

2” Light Filtering Sheer Shades (Signature Tier)*

Picture these luminous, custom-made sheer fabric window treatments blocking up to 99% of UV rays when closed and up to 88% when open to help protect your furniture and interior, and to gently diffuse light. 

*Our Signature Tier products feature thoughtful designs in trendy styles. Made with durable materials, Signature Tier products are the perfect place to start when looking for a beyond-basic solution that is also affordable.

Premier Modern Solar Screen (Premium Tier)*

See it all more clearly inside and out with these interior solar shades. The 5% openness of the fade resistant fabric helps reduce harsh incoming light so you can still enjoy your outward views.

Lifestyle Outdoor Motorized Shade (Premium Tier)*

Elevate your outdoor experience with the convenience and ease-of-use of these motorized solars. Plus, they come with a gorgeous oil-rubbed valance along with cable tie-downs!

Jewel Tone Drapery (Premium Tier)* 

The perfect combination of fashion and function with these visually tantalizing jewel-toned window drapes. Manage light and privacy in style. Perfect for any room’s interior design. 

*Our Premium Tier products feature lasting designs in timeless styles. Made of high-quality materials, Premium Tier products are the ideal choice for an excellent investment that’s made to last. Some upgrade features may be included.

Luxe Modern Room Darkening Skylight Shades (Luxury Tier)*

Your hard-to-reach skylight windows should be a breeze to cover with these room-darkening honeycomb shades. Several alluring colors, with optional motorization and other upgrades!

Luxe Modern Light Filtering Arch Shade (Luxury Tier)*

You’ll love this modern and functional solution for your arched windows in light-filtering fabric that comes in a wide selection of colors. A custom fit for even the most uniquely shaped arched windows. 

*Our Luxury Tier products include superior design in distinct styles. Made with unique materials and quality craftsmanship. Luxury Tier products are for the homeowner looking to indulge in sophisticated customization. Some upgrade features are included.

Take More Control Over How Your Dream Home Turns Out

DIY Design never meant “Do it ALL by Yourself.” For any space, a home design upgrade should never feel intimidating. 

Nothing makes a space look warmer and more inviting than beautiful new window treatments, and Select Blinds is all about supporting you, all the way from start to finish. We offer you tons of helpful resources to make your life (and projects) easier, because we’re invested in your success! Make your dream home ALL YOURS as you custom-craft it into your dream home, without breaking your budget. As you sharpen those interior DIY design instincts, you can save yourself plenty of money in the process. 

Check out our FREE interior design consulting as just another way we can support you from start to finish. Get tips, color guidance, product recommendations, solutions to the problems you may encounter, etc. Call us today at (855) 235-3120 to take advantage of our free design consultation resources.

Free Samples. Free Shipping. Free Design Consulting. Every Day. Only at SelectBlinds.com.

Go Window Shopping for Custom Window Solutions and Turn Your House Into Your Dream Home! >>

Minimalist Home Décor Ideas – Custom Window Treatments

/ Larry Walker

By SelectBlinds.com

The idea of minimalism encompasses a return to simplicity. Reducing the number of objects in your living space, to leave only the most necessary of items. Less clutter to make the most of your available space. 

Crisp lines, maybe some quieter color tones, and the silent allure that define minimalism have been shown to nurture a healthier sense of stillness and well-being.

Maybe Zen isn’t exactly your thing, but consider the relaxing benefits of keeping objects and clutter to a minimum in your home. Everything in its place, without anything you don’t need. Imagine minimalist window treatments to keep things simple, practical, and aesthetically beautiful. Here are three tips to help you bring that kind of minimalist feel into your home.

Minimalist window treatments like rollers give your windows a nice, clean finish, without bulkiness or clutter.

1. Minimalist Window Treatments Should Be Functional

Minimalist design emphasizes the importance of every included element in a space having a tangible, practical function.

Think about the simplistic elegance of roller shades. Cordless (especially motorized) roller shades crisply pull down to where you need them with just a gentle tug. No cords, no clutter. Top Down Bottom Up cellular/honeycomb shades work in a similar manner, but with some additional applications. You can get your TDBU cellulars to open from the top down also, offering you plenty of outdoor light, and privacy at the same time. They also provide a soundproofing effect for a quieter interior, and they are energy-efficient at the same time.

Shutters offer a nice minimalist look and feel as well. Throughout the day, you can tilt the louvers exactly where you need them to be for the right amount of lighting that you want. Whenever you need to, just shut the louvers completely for full privacy. Let the full light in with a wide open view when you swing open the panels entirely.

Shutters as minimalist window treatments.
Shutters offer quick control of incoming light as well as privacy when you need it.

Solar shades not only offer a crisp, minimalist look (like roller shades), but they also help protect your floors, furniture, and framed items from the harsh incoming UV rays. And they help preserve your view. 

Fabrics vary in openness factor (typically 1% to 14%) to increase UV protection and reduce glare or to allow a better outward view when they’re closed. For rooms where you want some natural light coming in, but you want to maintain privacy at the same time, they’re perfect.

And don’t forget bamboo/woven woods. What could be more Zen/minimalist looking than natural bamboo minimalist window treatments?

2. Minimalist Window Treatments Should Be Set in Close to Your Window

One thing minimalist designers make a point to do is to use as little space as possible. They might implement a desk or table, but without bulky lamps, large plants, or “clutter-ey” items to throw the clean, tight design off-kilter. In a similar manner, minimalist window treatments should be set in snugly to the window, without fussy cords, frills, or fabric spilling outward and onto the floor. 

Roller shades, cellular shades, shutters, bamboos, and solar shades all lend themselves well to this idea of physical closeness to their windows. Remember that “minimalism” implies being direct in your design, and that “less is more.”

You can’t beat the natural look and feel of bamboo/woven wood shades for a perfect minimalist finishing touch.

Speaking of set close to your window: Similar to the textures offered by cellular shades, panel tracks can offer a warm, personal touch with various options in textured upholstery and fabrics, in a variety of colors, including neutrals.

Since a tight fit is important for your minimalist vibe, note that custom panels can very elegantly frame your windows, while offering ample cover. Just remember not to let saggy fabric or uneven floor gaps between panels throw off the precision of your minimalist look.

Panel tracks as minimalist window treatments
Panel tracks meet all the criteria you could want for minimalist window coverings, and they beautifully provide cover for
large/wide windows and glass doors.

3. Minimalist Window Treatments Don’t Have To Be Neutral

Minimalist designs have been traditionally known to utilize neutral whites, blacks, and grays. But this isn’t a requirement. Consider eye-catching splashes of color, including on your minimalist window treatments. Color can really add some nice accents especially if the furniture in your room features a neutral palette. Without color, your space can look and feel cold and impersonal. If you already have some color accents (e.g., rugs, furniture, pillows), neutral window treatments might be the way to go.

Select Blinds Staff Recommendations

Here are some minimalist window treatments our staff loves and offers as recommendations.

Classic Fabric Room Darkening Roller Shades

Lifestyle Light Filtering Cellulars

Architect Stained Shutter

Lifestyle Motorized Solar

Premier Woven Wood Shades

Modern Architect Panel Track

With the wide variety of fabrics, textures, styles, and colors available to you, finding the perfect custom minimalist window treatments should be a breeze.

Selecting the Best Kitchen Window Treatments: Over the Sink

/ Larry Walker

By SelectBlinds

The kitchen and dining room are the heart of any home. Holidays, laughter, Sunday dinners, cooking, homework, late night chats, etc. That’s why so many of your best family stories start in the kitchen.

Custom window treatments provide a fashionable finishing touch that accents and complements the way you design your own interior spaces. Lots of opportunities to highlight with colors, patterns, and texture. Window coverings provide light control, privacy, and peace of mind.

A kitchen is a unique space, and you may have different considerations for how you decorate the windows, based on where each window is located. Your choice of window treatments offer additional opportunities for touches of softness and style in the middle of bulky, metallic appliances and smooth, hard surfaces.

Select Blinds bamboo / woven wood shades for the kitchen window
Select Blinds bamboo / woven wood shades look great in your kitchen sink window,
but be careful about water and moisture in the area.

Maybe you want kitchen window curtains. If you only have one window in your kitchen, you’ll want window coverings that let as much light as possible filter in, while still being able to maintain privacy. You may consider sheer shades. If you have a kitchen window that faces the street, privacy might be a primary concern, with incoming light also being important, but perhaps slightly less so. You may want window coverings that offer a unique view, like Top-down Bottom-up shades. Then there are those windows immediately over the sink. What looks best over them? Time to get cooking. Read on as we serve up a deeper dive into kitchen window ideas and considerations as you find what fits best with your personal style and sense of décor.

Decorative Window Coverings

If you’re thinking about a covering for a kitchen window over the sink, be extra careful that you keep the right kind of materials in mind. You can still go with stylish bamboo/woven wood shades or Roman shades, but be aware that because this area over the sink often involves water splashing, spills, etc., you might have to be extra careful to avoid water damage. Wood blinds are also at risk for getting wet and possibly warping or discoloring, but you might just love the way they look in that window over your sink. It’s always up to you, just be aware of the risks that are involved if you decide on a material that doesn’t take well to water.

Select Blinds light filtering roller shades for the kitchen window
Select Blinds light filtering roller shades allow just the right amount of light
and view into your kitchen, without compromising your privacy.

Privacy

As mentioned, privacy may be a concern if your kitchen sink window faces the street or a neighbor’s home. Roller shades may be what you’re comfortable with in terms of providing privacy, and perhaps with some light filtering functionality.

Light Control

If your kitchen sink window faces the east or west, you’ll especially want to take account of direct incoming sunlight. Direct UV rays can be harsh on your eyes, your skin, your furniture, and they can definitely crank up the heat in a room. A stylish, but heavy-duty solar shade may be what you want to employ over your sink to protect yourself and your interior while you’re doing dishes after evening summer cookouts. Solars are typically constructed of durable PVC materials, so they’ll look great and maintain that “brand new” look for a long time to come. You can also custom order them with the degree of UV blockage of your choice.

Also, consider aluminum mini blinds for your kitchen sink window. Aluminum shades built to last, with plenty of light and privacy settings.

Select Blinds Solar screens for the kitchen window
Select Blinds Solar screens help block out harsh UV rays,
while keeping your kitchen cool. They look great, too!

Functionality and Longevity

In addition to durable solar shades and aluminum blinds for your kitchen sink window, there is another excellent option for a food-prep, dishwashing area. If you love the look of real wood blinds and shutters, but can’t bear the thought of them getting wet and warped, faux wood blinds and shutters might be just the perfect find.  

Not only do they perform amazingly at maintaining light and privacy, they also look great, they’re also super easy to care for, and they’ll last forever. You can clean them with little more than soap and water as needed. Many faux wood slat constructions also feature insulation against heat and cold. The lush look and feel of real wood in your home, and their resilience ensures they’ll never warp, crack, chip, or discolor when exposed to water, food stains, or steam. And much less expensive than real wood. Low-maintenance, and no worry.

Select Blinds Faux Wood Blinds for the kitchen window
Faux wood blinds give any kitchen window a crisp look and feel,
along with privacy and light adjustments.

SelectBlinds’ Staff Recommends:

Here are some of our favorite suggestions for the window above your kitchen sink.

Remember, kitchen window treatments can serve a design/decorative function to go with your kitchen’s décor, but especially for the window over the sink, it should also be durable, provide privacy, and block out harsh UV rays. Choose whatever kind of blinds work best for you, but remember that the most functional ones for that particular window are moisture- and mold-resistant. Happy decorating!

#BlindsWeLove     #kitchenblinds

The Best Reasons to Choose Top-Down Bottom-Up Shades

/ Larry Walker

by SelectBlinds

Top-down Bottom-up shades … perhaps you’ve heard of them or seen them in someone’s home. This unique style of window treatment offers some advantages over more common ones.

Top Down Bottom Up Shades from SelectBlinds
Classic Top Down Bottom Up Light Filtering Shades function in two directions.


In a nutshell, Top-down Bottom-up (TDBU) window coverings are great for privacy, while maintaining effective control of your outdoor view. Plus, they just look really great in your windows!

Advantages of Top-Down Bottom-Up Shades

Some noteworthy things to consider if you’re thinking about TDBU shades in your own home:

  • Light and privacy control

    Normal window blinds and shades are meant to help reduce incoming UV rays and glare, but their ability to control light is limited to just what can be managed on the bottom part of the covering. Top-down Bottom-up shades allow you to open up to ample incoming light, while still maintaining quite a bit of control of the view into your home from the outside. Neither functionality nor aesthetics have to be sacrificed. 
  • Versatile View

    Speaking of privacy and light, you’ll find that Top-down Bottom-up window coverings are a perfect fit for rooms in need of privacy, but also needing light. They also can help maintain a clear view outside in a way that regular shades can’t. With the top half of your shades open and the bottom part covered, you effectively maintain your privacy and incoming sunlight, but can still maintain your own open view to the outside. You won’t find this kind of light/privacy/view control in other types of window treatments.

  • Energy-efficiency

    No matter what type of Top-down Bottom-up shades you prefer, you can always rest assured that you’re getting top-notch temperature control. Block out the top part of your windows during the hot weather months, but then keep that top part open during the winter to let the sun’s warmth flow in and help heat your rooms. Honeycomb/cellular Top-down Bottom-up shades also provide additional insulation from heat and cold.

How to Use Top-Down Bottom-Up Shades

What is the best way to manage your light and privacy with your TDBU shades?

Because of the stylish way they help you manage your view, light, and privacy all at once, Top-down Bottom-up shades are the best for bedrooms and bathrooms – plenty of natural incoming light, with very effective privacy management.

Any color complementing you can do with other types of window coverings, you can also do with your Top-down Bottom-up shades. There are also plenty of textures and styles available to help you achieve and enhance just the right feel in any of your rooms.

Another benefit of honeycomb/cellular Top-down Bottom-up shades, is that they also provide a nice sound-proofing effect to block/fade out exterior noise. 

How do Top-Down Bottom-Up Shades Work?

To function in the unique way they do, Top-down Bottom-up shades utilize a mounted top rail along with a second floating rail that can be operated independently. You can find yourself Top-down Bottom-up shades with both corded and cordless lift.

Top Down Bottom Up Roman Shades at SelectBlinds
Select Roman Shades w/ Optional TDBU Lift

To open/close/adjust them, you can pull the tab down to lower the top of the shade and up to raise the bottom of the shade.

Corded Top-down Bottom-up shades have a cord on either side of the window covering, one for the top and then the other for the bottom. You can also upgrade your Top-down Bottom-up shades to enjoy motorization. 

Are Top-down Bottom-up Shades Worth it?

Privacy. Light control. Open outdoor view. You will find yourself loving your Top-Down Bottom-up shades. You can also save on energy bills, and protect your floors and furniture from the harsh effects of UV glare. 

What are the best Top-down Bottom-up Shades?

You can purchase Top-down Bottom-up shades in a variety of types of window treatments: Roman shades, bamboo/woven wood shades, honeycomb/cellular shades, etc. Get the improved fashionable function in a wide range of styles. You’re sure to find some that go perfect with your own sense of interior décor.

We recommend:

Top Down Bottom Up Cellular Shades at SelectBlinds
Classic Top-Down Bottom-Up Light Filtering Shades

You’ll have a wide variety of colors, fabrics, opacities (e.g. light-filtering, blackout, etc.) and pleat sizes/styles to choose from. Create a knockout look at home with a different kind of shades. Sample online today and start your Spring interior makeover!

#BlindsWeLove

Jordan H. Is a Happy SelectBlinds.com Customer!

/ Larry Walker
“AMAZING! HUGE VALUE! BEAUTIFUL! 

I replaced some LEVOLOR blinds that came with the house and after at least 15 years, finally a string broke in the largest living room window. So I replaced the living room set and added to a newly remodeled laundry area window. Will for sure buy these for every other window in this and our rental house! 

Here is a picture of our bay window in the living room! What a huge difference they’ve made!”

Signature Light Filtering Cordless Top Down Bottom Up Cellular Shades in Taupe hang in bay window

Customer hung same Signature Light Filtering Cordless Top Down Bottom Up Cellular Shades by Select Blinds in hall window. Color is taupe.

Can’t thank you enough for the kind words (and review!), Jordan! So happy to hear and see how great these Signature Light Filtering Cordless Top Down Bottom Up Cellular Shades (in Taupe) look. Please be sure to send us more photos when you redo the rest of the house (and rental). 🙂