If you’ve spent time scrolling social media looking for window treatment inspiration, you’ve probably been thinking about your own interior design and wondering whether shades or blinds would work in your space.

Our team at Interior Views Design Center helps homeowners choose the perfect window treatment for their space every day. While our showroom has countless window treatment styles available to browse, we know clients need personalized attention to narrow their choices by room.

It all starts with understanding the differences between custom shades and blinds and in deciding what works best for you.

What Are Window Shades?

Window shades are fabric-based coverings that roll or fold up and down to provide excellent coverage for your windows. Depending on the fabric, they can effectively filter light or block it. Custom shades have a soft, sophisticated aesthetic; Hunter Douglas makes shades in flat styles and styles that feature pleats or folds for added insulation or texture.

When to Choose Custom Shades

Since custom shades come in many styles, breaking them down into categories makes sense. As a guideline, they’re well-suited when you want a softer, elegant look. Though shades can be used in nearly any space, here are some of our favorite uses:

For Bathrooms

• Roller shades block light, control privacy, and insulate well, so they’re good for bathrooms. Designer Roller Duolite® Shades by Hunter Douglas feature a light-filtering sheer and a room-darkening liner; they’re incredibly versatile.

For Bedrooms

• Woven wood shades add an organic, calming feel to any space, including bedrooms. You can coordinate your bedroom decor to match them, with soft, soothing neutrals and blues. Provenance® Woven Wood Shades have an optional room-darkening liner and come in three styles: vertical drapery, Roman shades, and waterfall Roman shades.
• Cellular shades are another good choice for bedrooms, as their honeycomb design traps air to form an insulating barrier. You can choose a room-darkening fabric and opt for the LightLock™ system that keeps the light out almost completely.

For Living Rooms

• Sheer shades complement living room decor and gently diffuse light for a radiant effect. Hunter Douglas designs them with integrated fabric vanes for added light and privacy control.

What Are Window Blinds?

Blinds have horizontal or vertical slats made from fabric, wood, composite materials, metal, or vinyl. Depending on the amount of light control or privacy desired, you open, close, or tilt the slats for convenient control.

When to Choose Custom Blinds

Blinds have a sleek, minimalist look. We recommend them for spaces that see a lot of use, because the durable materials of blinds are a great fit for these spaces, like kitchens or bathrooms.

For Kitchens

Faux wood blinds resist heat and humidity and handle moisture without warping, making them perfect for kitchen windows above sinks or near cooking areas.

For Bathrooms

Faux wood blinds also work well in bathrooms for the abovementioned reasons. Aluminum also works well in humid environments, though it’s not especially heat-resistant.

For Family Rooms and Living Rooms

Genuine wood blinds can be used in family rooms and living rooms. Aluminum blinds are another sleek and contemporary choice for family rooms that see a lot of traffic, while genuine wood blinds are classic and elegant, suited for living areas and formal spaces.

We’ll Help You Choose Between Shades vs Blinds, Room by Room

Our team at Interior Views Design Center can help you order stunning custom shades or blinds for your home. We can’t wait to help bring your vision to life. Contact us for information! We serve homeowners in Manasquan, Wall, Spring Lake, Sea Girt, Avon, Northern Brick, Farmingdale, Bay Head, Point Pleasant, Mantoloking, Lavallette, Seaside Park, Northern Ocean County, and Monmouth County, NJ. We look forward to working with you!