Trends in Window Shades

While for many years shades were an aesthetic afterthought, today’s design savvy customers are looking to shades to add interest, functionality, and character to homes.  As a retailer for the top selling blind company, Hunter Douglas, we now have the opportunity to pass a high quality blind to our customers.  Shades are a great way to add a design feature to homes that most overlook.  I love the fact that with shades we can find the best of design and practicality and combine them to add functionality to a space.  

 (Hunter Douglas Skyline: gliding window panels)

At their heart, shades are about three specific things: functionality, energy efficiency, and design.  From the functionality aspect, shades add privacy, allow light to be controlled with room darkening technology, and can set the ambiance in a room.  Motorized shades have added another dimension that has been very popular in recent years and also is extremely beneficial to individuals with disabilities. With today’s push to continually be more and more energy efficient, shades allow owners to cut on utility costs throughout all seasons by providing solar insulation from the sun.  This protection also serves another valuable purpose—protecting your furniture and flooring!  Shades give any room a visual element that is often lacking in homes and tie a room together. 

(Hunter Douglas Screen Shades)

In the past, mini-blinds dominated the marketplace and consumers were happy to find a window covering that worked and never gave it a second thought.  Today’s design world is texture-driven and offers a wealth of options in the window covering market.  Woven wood shades are very popular right now along with skyline, which is a new vertical concept that adds depth to a space.  The old fashion roller shades are also making a comeback in screen shades, which simply add a modern twist to the dependable classic.  Roman shades, of course, are also a fashionable option.

(Hunter Douglas Provenance- woven wood shades)

 (Hunter Douglas Roman)

If you’ve found yourself wondering what other options are available to give your windows a facelift, stop by anytime.  We’d love to discuss your options over a warm cup of coffee.  

Looking forward to seeing you soon,

Patti