Window Coverings – What are the Differences?
BWS Design • August 29, 2016

With so many available choices for window coverings, one can have problems determining which coverings work best for a particular room or window. It can help to understand the differences and advantages  of choosing blinds, shutters, shades or soft fashion coverings.

Blinds

The primary distinguishing feature of window blinds are their vertical and horizontal slats. Blinds come in a wide array of styles and shapes, and are made from many different types of materials, from authentic wood, mixtures of wood and fabric, aluminum, plastic, vinyl and other materials, including bamboo, which is a sustainable product.

Generally speaking, vinyl and aluminum blinds tend to be the most affordable choices, but are still highly functional. Authentic wood blinds tend to be more expensive.  Most often, wider slats are more expensive than the narrow type.

While it may be tempting to select blinds based on how well they complement a home’s décor, another important consideration is how well they will block the light. Not all styles provide complete light blockage.  Therefore, if choosing window coverings for security or privacy concerns, a different type of covering may be more suitable.

Shades

Shades are not only highly functional and stylish, they are, in most cases, quite affordable. The least expensive types tend to be the most simply designed ones. The cost of shades tend to naturally increases with buyers’ choices of more upscale, designer styles and fabrics. They types are available in a wide array of luxurious choices.

As the designs and capabilities of shades have vastly improved through the years, more and more customers select them for reasons other than mere affordability.  Shades have the advantage of adding customized visual appeal to an environment, as selections of patterns, colors and textures can be chosen to accentuate or match a particular room’s décor or to add a controlled pop of color.

The new solar shades have the capacity to preserve a view while providing sun blockage.  Other shade varieties include woven types that provide complete privacy while also allowing muted light to pass into the room.

Shutters

Shutters can be the most expensive choice in window coverings, but they can be an investment that can add to the value of one’s home. They are noted for their durability, the ability to add privacy, and for their capacity for customization.

Shutters lend themselves to a myriad of architectural styles, including contemporary apartments, ranch style homes, Art Deco period homes, and modern bungalows.  Their versatility allows them to be adjusted to completely block light from a room, or to allow in as much light as desired.

Soft Fashion Window Coverings

Soft fashion window coverings consist of fabric shades, draperies and other soft material options.  One of the strongest advantages of soft fashion coverings is their capacity for customization, their reasonable cost range and their versatility.

Hand crafted custom fabric shades are available in many different styes, such as Roman shades, and pattern choices. They can be lined to provide more of a blackout feature, or left unlined to allow in soft light.

Draperies are another soft fashion option that provides a wide variety of colors, patterns, textures and fabrics from which to choose. Homeowners or renters often select this option for window coverings because they can be easily changed to go with virtually any interior décor. They are available in a broad range of prices from simple and affordable, to luxurious and costly, depending on the types of fabric selected and other characteristics.

Contact Us

If you are in the market for window coverings, please contact us for a consultation. Just Blinds offers a huge selection of blinds, shutters, shades and soft fashion options for any home or business that can add any desired style and provide energy efficiency.

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.