Best Window Treatments for Large Windows
BWS Design • October 20, 2018

A home with tall windows are prized for their dramatic visual appeal and ability to fill a room with natural light. In apartment homes tall windows are usually present in rooms with 9-foot ceilings, making a small living area seem much larger and brighter. And when your home features window groupings that combine windows of different sizes or different architectural stylings – deciding how to dress these larger window designs can seem more challenging and may require a  custom-designed window treatment.

When choosing the right window treatments, the homeowner will naturally consider many colors, patterns, materials, and styles of window coverings. But aside from beauty, the best solution for large windows should also consider how much solar shielding, interior privacy, light infiltration, and heat conservation you need for each room’s orientation to the sun and to passersby. Here are 3 stunning window treatments that combine modern forms, multiple functions, and passive energy efficiency to finish exposed, tall windows.

An Economical Choice: Vertical Blinds

One of the easiest and most economical ways to cover tall windows is with vertical blinds. These easy to install and operate ‘vertical louver’ window systems are a practical way to cover an entire wall of tall windows with color or a distinctive pattern. When it comes to window treatments that provide optimal privacy while covering both expansive width and height, vertical blinds can’t be beat. Today’s vertical blinds feature “whisper-quiet movement”, and will give your home a modern, sleek appearance with current patterns and textures that remove the “office building appearance” while lending softness and creativity to modern decors.

Soften the look of vertical blinds with a swag and tail curtain treatment or a complimentary shade of sheer panels.

Creative Flexibility with Roman Shades

When you desire the feel of luxurious drapery fabric for tall windows, choose Roman Shades for a chic appearance without the heaviness and light-blocking effects of fabric drapes. Roman shades are used for sun-blocking while also having an adjustment means of controlling the amount of light that enters the home. Instead of mounds of drapery fabric, Romans shades will neatly stack upon itself, while the portion that is open flows smoothly to cover large window openings. Choose either a pleated, classical design or a Looped Roman Shade that create looped  folds down the shade panel.

Explore decorative patterns such as florals shades for a sunroom, pastel stripes for a child’s room, or an elegant silk for living/dining areas. For filtered natural lighting, consider  Bamboo Roman shades  for a natural, textured look.

Modern and Efficient Cellular Shades

To enhance a modern decor with clean lines and monochromatic color patterns, cellular shades are an energy efficient option that give you precise control of how much privacy or natural lighting you desire. This is accomplished with a top down/bottom up feature where lowering the top portion overnight allows for spectacular morning sunlight upon awakening. While the bottom and top portions of a cellular shade can move independently, they are also perfect for large windows or multiple side-by-side windows. Cellular shades are also know as Honeycomb shades because the two fabric layers will fold in opposite direction, which also works to block more UV rays and provides an additional layer of insulation.

Cellular shades can create a sense of calm and a touch of style within a room. These shades can be measured to fit within the window opening or span across and outside a large window frame. Consider small cells for smaller windows, but cells under 3/8″ will look to busy for larger windows – instead consider 3/4″ cellular shades for better proportion in larger windows.

Contact us  at  Just Blinds, Inc. to discover the many options for covering tall windows, large windows, or multiple-window groupings. We’ve been serving Central Alabama for over 30 years and offer free onsite consultation, expert measuring, and professional installations.

Expert Advice by Just Blinds

What Your Window Treatment Says About You: A Personality-Based Guide

April 23, 2025
Your selection of window treatment products and services is not merely about getting a job done. Rather, if you look hard enough, you can find direct correlations between the type of person that you are and the window treatment that you select. We have created this personality-based guide to help you best discover what kind of window treatment truly matches your spirit. The Dependable Type: Wooden Blinds You are the person that all of your friends can count on. You are the type of person who truly sticks to your plans when you make them, and you are the type of person who will choose wooden blinds for your home. Privacy is important to you when selecting your blinds, and that is why you find yourself pulled into the idea of putting up wooden blinds. Besides that, they happen to be highly functional, and that's not something that you are willing to pass up either. The Planner: Blackout Curtains Those who value truly getting the most value out of their blinds or anything else that they install in their homes will think very carefully about their options. For those people, going with blackout curtains makes a lot of sense. They want to gain as much value as possible out of their options, and they know that they can significantly improve their quality of sleep and so much more when they opt for blackout curtains. These also happen to be a great option for those who work night shifts or other odd hours and yet still want to enjoy their sleep. They need blackout curtains to help increase the quality of that sleep and allow themselves to get their day started right. The Tech Enthusiast: Smart Shades They roam among us: The type of people who are quick to adopt any new technology and get to work figuring out how it can improve their lives. These people are great because they are not afraid to take a risk and because they help to move our society forward. They simply want to get more out of each day, and they often do so by adopting and using the latest technologies. These individuals will gravitate towards smart shades for the following attributes: Innovation - Who wants to stick with the boring old ways of shading one's house? Smarter options are now available, and you better believe that the tech enthusiasts among us are willing to latch on to them. Efficiency - These shades are a more efficient option for those who care about that kind of thing. They can be easily activated and set up to open or close automatically (how cool is that?!). Progressive - The "cool" factor is a big deal for people who fall into this category as well. They might not admit to it right off the bat, but they care deeply about what others think about them. As such, they want window shades that have that cool factor attached to them. The Dreamer: Sheer Curtains Finally, we land upon the dreamer. This is the person who views every day for the possibilities that it can bring. They are not scared off by those with a negative attitude. If anything, they believe that they can change those people! Instead, the dreamer wants sheer curtains because they bring in soft light, open spaces, and bring about a feeling of possibility all throughout the house. Sheer curtains are the ideal option for someone who classifies themselves in this way. They will receive plenty of compliments on their curtains, and they will appreciate how open they are to the world.  Which kind of person are you and which window treatment option makes the most sense for your personality? For more inspiration and ideas, reach out and contact us today.

5 Unexpected Places Homeowners Are Installing Outdoor Shades

March 13, 2025
We all know and understand the concept of installing outdoor shades on a patio. It is the classic way to create a cool and comfortable space for yourself and your friends to spend some quality time together outdoors. There is nothing wrong with that, but it is limiting to think that the patio is the only part of one's property where outdoor shades are appropriate. There are some surprising and unexpected places where homeowners have taken to installing outdoor shades recently. We want to take a look at some of these to provide you with ideas for your next home improvement project. 1) Balconies Some homes are built quite close together, and some homeowners naturally feel like they would like to do more to protect their privacy. Although their neighbors might not intentionally be looking through their balconies, it is easy for the human eye to drift. Thus, some city-dwelling homeowners have made the choice to install outdoor shades in this area. On top of keeping prying eyes off of your property, outdoor shades also block the sun rays from your balcony as well creating a more comfortable space to spend some time. 2) Outdoor Kitchens One of the most delightful social experiences that someone can have is to invite over a large group of friends for a meal cooked outside. It gives everyone the opportunity to share stories, laughes, and a bit of food all at the same time. Of course, this is best done in an outdoor kitchen. Your outdoor kitchen is a space where you should feel comfortable and have the ability to entertain a large group of people all at the same time. This means looking at installing outdoor shades to provide an extra layer of protection from the heat of the sun. Thus, this has become another area where homeowners are quickly installing outdoor shades. 3) Poolside Lounges Now we are really talking! Who doesn't love to kick back with their favorite cold beverage and spend some time relaxing next to the pool? That is what you can enjoy more completely when you set up a poolside lounge with outdoor shades. Poolside lounges are meant to be a place where you can spend several hours at a time. However, it can get pretty hot while doing so if you don't put some outdoor shades in place. Get those shades up so you can let all of your worries melt away as you take in the smell of pool water and sunscreen. 4) Garden Areas Do you enjoy a little gardening in your downtime? You might like it even more after setting up outdoor shades that protect you from the excessive heat of the sun. Gardening is labor-intensive work and can take several hours of diligent labor to do it properly. However, you don't want to overextend yourself and end up getting physically overworked. Keeping some of the sun away is an excellent way to ensure that you don't overdo it. Just make sure that you check up on the sunlight needs of the various plants that you intend to put into your garden before installing outdoor shades. 5) Exterior Windows Did you know that it is possible to reduce your energy bills by installing outdoor shades? It's true! If you place outdoor shades on the exterior windows of your home, you can reduce the strain placed on your air conditioning by naturally reducing the overall temperature within your living space. This means less money out of your pocket and more money for working on your next project.  There are many interesting places where homeowners are installing outdoor shades these days. For more creative ideas on what you can do with yours, reach out and contact us now.