How to Choose the Right Window Shades

Although the lines of distinction are not that clear, for simplicity’s sake it’s safe to say that shades are the warm, fuzzy version of blinds. Whereas blinds are made of hard substances, like wood and aluminum, shades are made of soft materials, like linen, cotton, silk and every imaginable form of natural and synthetic fiber.

The less disputed distinction is that blinds have slats or vanes that open and close for light adjustment, whereas shades are constructed in a continuous roll, and the only adjustment for light and view is up or down. Here are some of the many options of shades available to you.

The old-fashioned roller shade is still a good option. At its most basic, the material is wound around a wooden dowel and is spring loaded for pulling up and down.

It’s always been a bit of a mystery to me how to make them work properly; they seem to have a mind of their own. But they are a practical and inexpensive option that works well in many applications.

Roller shades can be a simple addition behind draperies, adding not only privacy but also another layer of style to your windows. I particularly like a fringed and scalloped border at the bottom of my roller shades, with a pull made from a tassel.

Roller shades can also be made of interesting materials, and in varying opacities, that make a significant decorative statement.

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How to Choose the Right Window Shades