Want to stay warm in the wintertime and cool during the summer? Consider installing cellular window shades, also called honeycomb shades, in your home. Depending on your needs, choose room darkening shades, or get the type that filter light in, preventing important rooms from becoming caves. Either type grants total privacy, but the room darkening variety give you a little more insulation. Both room darkening and light filtering cellular window shades are adjustable, pulling up and stacking to allow a clear view of the outside world.
You can choose from shades with varying numbers of cells – single, double, and triple layers. More cells are more expensive, but they also provide better glare blocking ability and higher levels of insulation. All varieties are excellent for privacy.
There are two sizes of honeycomb cell: 3/8" or ¾" tall. Larger cells contain more static air, which is a better barrier against heat transfer. However, you should choose the type that looks best in your room. To avoid a cluttered look, don't mix the two sizes in one room. Usually, larger cells look best on larger windows.
Since cellular window shades are mostly made from polyester, they're color fast, and fire resistant. They also collect a minimal amount of dust, and can simply be wiped clean. There are two popular options for shade mechanisms: continuous cord loops and the bottom up/top down variety. Continuous cord loops are good for raising heavy shades without a lot of effort. Bottom up/top down shades allow you to lower the top of the shade instead of raising the bottom, meaning you can admit light without having to sacrifice privacy. A third option allows you to combine bottom up/top down shades with a sheer fabric, so that the sheer remains down when the shade is raised.
If you need to place a shade in an out of the way location, but still want to be able to raise and lower it, consider investing in motorized cellular window shades. Power is supplied from AA batteries housed inside the shade, so there are no cords to worry about. This makes raising and lower difficult shades much easier.
If you'd like to add shades to your windows, and are concerned about light exclusion or filtering, and keeping warm air where it needs to be, cellular window shades may be the solution for you. Lightweight and easy to clean, and available in a number of different styles to suit your lifestyle and decorating scheme, cellular window shades are a great investment. They may be a little more expensive than standard shades, but the energy savings they provide will soon make up for it.
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