6 of the Hottest Spring/Summer 2018 Window Blinds and Shades
BWS Design • May 11, 2018

It’s starting to get hot again, and it’s time to think about updating your window blinds. The  options may seem endless , but this year everything is about being eco-friendly—both in materials and energy efficiency—without sacrificing style and flair. And for those who want to live in the future, think about adding a little technology.

Here are six of the latest trends in blinds and shades for spring and summer of 2018.

Organic Materials

Everything is about nature. Ditch the synthetic materials and focus on the variety of eco-friendly options in window shades. From shades made of woven bamboo and grasses to shades made from organic fabric, there are so many options from which to choose.

The best thing is that choosing organic blinds doesn’t mean that you have to give up the look and feel you’re searching for because just about every window shade style comes with organic options. This means your home can be eco-friendly and stylish all at the same time!

Patterned Fabric Shades

Fabric window shades are coming back this year, but with a twist. Patterns are now in—especially geometric patterns! Patterned fabric shades combine design and function in the best possible ways. Whether you decide to use the patterned fabric shades as the only accent on your window for a clean, minimal feel or pair them with a solid colored curtain, these shades are sure to make a statement.

And the great thing about fabric shades is that if you can’t find the design you want, it’s so easy to get a custom shade made from the fabric of your choice so you can create the perfect accent for each room in your house. You can also back them with blackout material to get the maximum temperature protection for your home.

Roman Shades

Despite their historical sounding name, Roman shades are  very  current with the clean, modern lines that are so in right now. And if you want to combine them with the other summer trends, you can easily get them in a patterned, organic fabric!

If you’ve seen Roman shades and aren’t sure they’re the right fit for you, don’t count them out until you’ve checked out the various fold styles that are available—flat fold, plain fold, soft or hobbled fold, and European fold. The folds completely change the way the shades look, which gives you a multitude of options all within the same general style of shade.

Solar Shades

For those who need to filter the light, but love to enjoy the outside view, then solar shades are the option for you. Made of tightly woven fabric, solar shades can be an opaque solid to completely protect your house from the heat of the sun but they also come in more transparent options. The more transparent solar shades allow you to enjoy the view outdoors while still blocking most the sun’s rays.

Solar shades come in a variety of colors and patterns to match your decor, and they can be affixed to the interior or exterior of your windows. Exterior solar shades are ideal to provide a little extra sun protection and style to your outdoor porch, and they can be motorized for easy operation.

Cellular Shades

For the ultimate energy efficiency, consider cellular shades. Cellular shades (also called honeycomb blinds) allow natural light to flood into your house without the added heat. Their unique double fabric, cellular-shaped folds trap the heat before it reaches the interior of the house.

These blinds are known for reducing a home’s energy bills, but that’s not the only benefit. Some cellular shades qualify for a federal tax credit for eco-friendly upgrades. But if that’s not enough of a reason, they also muffle unwanted outside noises to make for a quieter house.

Smart Home Integration

The future is here. Motorized, remote control window blinds are a lovely convenience, especially for windows in hard to reach locations, but it’s time to think beyond the remote controls and consider automated blinds. If you have Nest, Google Home, or Alexa, or some other smart home program, then you’re already on your way to fully automated window shades.

With hundreds of configurations possible for automated blinds, you can use the system to move the blinds to the ideal positions based on where and when the sun is shining. You can also program your shades to close when the house reaches a specific temperature to conserve energy. Some programs even allow voice control! The Jetsons would approve.

If you want to know more about the various options for window shades—from the traditional to the trendy— contact us  to find out how we can help you choose the best solution for your home.

Expert Advice by Just Blinds

5 Ways to Beat the Summer Heat With Eye-Catching Window Treatments

June 18, 2025
When the mercury soars, never underestimate the power of blinds, shades, and other window treatments to keep your living space cool. With the techniques that follow, you can limit demand on your air conditioner, lower your energy bill, and maintain stunning aesthetics both inside and out. 1. Go For the Layered Look If you don't want blackout blinds that completely block out light and heat, consider layering your window treatments for the summer months. This is a great way to add depth and texture to your rooms while still maintaining a tight home envelope and limiting solar heat gains. Use wood or faux wood blinds to create a solid base layer. Then, add sheers and custom curtains to finish the look. Layering creates levels of flexibility and adaptability that single window treatments cannot match. You can close all three layers for maximum heat blocking, slant your blinds and close your sheers to let limited sunlight in, or open your drapes and your blinds and use your sheers for light filtering. 2. Beat the Heat With Outdoor Window Treatments Some of the best window treatments for blocking heat and light during the summer months belong on the outside of your home. If you haven't done so already, consider investing in shutters. Shutters can vastly improve the efficiency of your home while providing excellent UV ray protection. This will keep your flooring and furnishings from fading while offering a fair amount of skin protection. In addition to tightening home envelopes, shutters provide excellent noise reduction and offer added protection against the natural elements. With your shutters standing guard as your home's first defense, you'll still have one or more window treatments at the interior of the building during the next big heat wave. Outdoor Shades Work, Too If shutters aren't the right look for you, opt for lightweight, retractable shades. Installing outdoor shades gives you yet another way to safeguard your home from solar heat gains whenever temperatures spike. You can use outdoor shades with layered indoor window treatments to create an airtight space and reduce stress on your AC during the hottest portion of the day. Once the sun sets, you can easily draw them open. 3. Optimize Airflow According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), indoor air can be up to five time more contaminated than outdoor air. Even though air conditioners and heat pumps filter the indoor air during operation, they don't extract volatile organic compounds (VOCs) or other gaseous chemical contaminants. When the sun's out and you're running your air conditioner non-stop, all the contaminants introduced into your home by off-gassing building materials, cooking, room freshening sprays, and chemical-laden self-care products and cleaners remain trapped indoors. Blinds are great for optimizing airflow. When the sun sets, the mercury dives, and a cool breeze rolls in, you can turn your blind slats upwards to reflect light from the setting sun and slightly crack your windows. This technique works well for giving ACs an early evening break. It's also an excellent strategy for improving indoor air quality (IAQ). As natural light decreases, you can open your blind slats wider and let more fresh, outdoor air flow in. This easy air exchange will get your home and your IAQ ready for the challenges of the next sweltering day. 4. Keep Indoor Moisture in Check With Shades With a high-functioning air conditioner or heat pump, you'll get reliable humidity regulation whenever your cooling system is on. The right shades can support this by keeping outdoor moisture outside and preventing the buildup of condensation on your windows. Cellular shades are made for high-moisture areas, and they're the perfect addition to any other southern home. You can get similar benefits from faux wood blinds, vinyl blinds, and aluminum blinds. Moisture-resistant blinds or shades are an essential upgrade if you currently have heavy fabric drapes or multiple layers of sheers. Some materials capture and retain moisture. They're also prone to problems like mold and mildew and can lower IAQ as a result. 5. Go Motorized Don't worry about dragging your ladder out to draw your outdoor shades or running through your home to manually adjust your blinds. Shop for motorized window treatments that you can open, close, and adjust with just the touch of a button. This way, as lighting and temperatures change, you can quickly adapt your window treatments to reflect your most current needs. At Just Blinds, we're all about comfort. We want your window treatments to look amazing, but believe that you should feel amazing too. We offer a fantastic selection of blinds, shutters, shades, and custom draperies to help our clients beat the heat in the summer months . Let us help you stay cool in style. To speak with our design consultants, contact Just Blinds today!

How to Use Windows to Make Your Home Cozier

May 29, 2025
Windows give a home warmth, light, and a view of the outside world. But with the right treatments, you can also use your windows to make your home feel cozy. Coziness is a semse of comfort and familiarity. It defines a charm that feels like home, whether it's the coziness of a warm room in winter, your movie den in the summer. When we think of coziness, we often think of couches, candles, and throw blankets. But your windows play an equally important part. After all, it's your window treatments that frame the light, add softness to your walls, and set the mood for every room. The right window decorations can make your home feel warm and inviting. Using Windows, Drapes, and Shades to Create Coziness  Window treatements create a vibe for your entire room. Drapes, shades, and shutters can be used to create a backdrop of texture, color, and style. They also allow you to control the light levels in your home and even the color of the light. This means that your windows are the best place to start when making a room feel cozy. Layering soft drapes in rich colors is a great way to add that sense of comfort and warmth to a room, while cheerful blinds in soft neutrals can help a room to feel relaxed and welcoming. You can also use drapes or blinds to add a splash of color as a bold accent in any room. These touches combined with glowing sunshine during the day create a cozy and comfortable space. Plants as Cozy Window Decor You can use other types of decor to evoke a sense of coziness, too. We particularly love plants. Leafy green plants love the sunshine as much as you do and thrive when placed in a sunny window. Place an elegant snake plant in the windowsill or hang creeping ivy from a hook near the top of a window frame to make your room feel cheerful and alive with green energy. Plants make a home feel natural and vibrantly lived-in which is perfect for your cozy vibe. For a cozy kitchen, you can even grow fresh herbs in a box on the windowsill that add a delicious aroma and tasty fresh seasoning along with their natural visual appeal. Enhance Your Space with Aromatherapy Speaking of aromatics, you might be surprised how much your windows can take part in cozy aromatherapy. Window treatments like drapes and blinds are fabric that can help purfumes and essential oils linger in the room for days. Cozy scents are often warm aromas like cinnamon, vanilla, lavender, almonds, and coffee. But fresh fruit or floral scents that smell like "home" to you can also add a sense of coziness to each room. Simply spritz your curtains with your favorite scents and each room will subtly carry that comforting smell of home that makes you want to snuggle into the couch and relax at the end of each day. Moody Shade and Maximizing Light When we visualize coziness, light levels often play a role. Your minds eye may see a sun-drenched cottage or a gently lit library as your mental idea of a room that is perfectly cozy. Window treatments allow you to set the mood by reducing or maximizing light to the perfect levels. Well-designed shades and drapes can pull back attractively to maximize light, bathing your room in the warm welcoming glow of sunshine. Or if you prefer a more relaxed coziness, you can use translucent drapes or cellular shades to filter the light exactly the right amount. Diffuse and reduced light filtered through fabric of a warm color can make you feel safe and at peace. Increase Your Happiness with Window Design Your home should feel welcoming, relaxing, and cozy. The right window treatments can help set the stage for a delightful welcome home each night, rejuvinating weekends, and an overall feeling of at-home coziness when you are relaxing in your favorite place. To achieve this goal, you can experiment with home decor changes, including your windows, to achieve your ideal at-home bliss. Contact us today for custom drapes and blinds to complete your cozy room design.