There’s More Than One Type of Window Shade

Contrary to common belief, window shades isn’t a single product—it’s an entire category of window treatments with many styles, materials, and functionalities. While all shades share a fabric-panel design, the types of window shades available today are anything but one-size-fits-all.

Our design experts at Rebarts Blinds & Shades  help clients understand which custom shades align with their lifestyle, budget, home layout, and design goals. And naturally, we’re starting with one of the most energy-efficient categories.

Cellular shades—often called honeycomb shades—use a distinctive cell structure that traps air inside small pockets. This natural insulation helps regulate indoor temperatures and can lower heating and cooling costs year-round.

These shades come in single- or double-cell constructions with a wide range of heights, widths, pleat sizes, fabrics, and opacities, making them one of the most versatile types of window shades for both performance and design.

 Roller shades wrap neatly around a top cylinder, creating a minimalist, streamlined look ideal for modern interiors.

You can choose from luxurious fabrics in countless colors, textures, and patterns. Light-filtering roller shades maintain daytime privacy while letting in natural brightness, while room-darkening fabrics are ideal for media rooms and bedrooms. Solar roller shades are also available to reduce glare and protect interior surfaces from UV exposure.

Always an elegant choice, Roman shades remain a timeless favorite for homeowners who love texture and dimension. As they rise, Roman shades fold into elegant horizontal pleats that bring visual depth to any room.

Fabric options range from casual linens to rich silks, making it easy to match your existing décor. Decorative trim and multiple lining choices—standard or room-darkening—allow you to tailor the look and performance to your needs.

Traditional sheer shades were once considered mostly decorative, but today’s modern versions offer far more versatility. These types of window shades combine sheer panels with integrated soft vanes that function much like blinds—tilting to adjust light levels from open to softly filtered to private.

The result is a stunning floating effect, gentle daylight control, and UV protection—all while keeping the room feeling bright and airy.

If you prefer a natural material, we highly recommend woven wood shades. They bring organic character to your home using materials like bamboo, reeds, and grasses. Each shade is unique, with natural variations in tone and texture that add depth and warmth to any space.

These shades filter light while maintaining an airy feel, and optional liners can increase light control when you need more privacy or room darkening.

Yes, Hunter Douglas offers PowerView® Automation on its custom window shades. The system uses a small, quiet motor that you control with a remote, smartphone app, or voice commands through a smart home system.

The motor receives your instructions and smoothly raises or lowers the shade to your desired position. You can program PowerView® Automation to adjust your custom shades on a schedule as well. Imagine them opening at 7 AM and closing at 9 PM; you don’t even need to get out of bed.

Motorized shades are especially valuable for hard-to-reach windows, large or heavy shades, and when you want to coordinate the operation of multiple window treatments simultaneously. And since there are no dangling cords, PowerView® Automation is safer for children and pets.

The best way to compare different types of window shades is to see them in person. Our Rebarts Blinds and Shades Store design consultants are here to walk you through every style—from energy-efficient honeycomb shades to modern roller shades, luxurious Roman shades, airy sheers, woven woods, and fully motorized options.

We invite you to visit our showrooms in Burlingame, Los Altos, Menlo Park, and San Carlos, or contact us for a consultation.