Q Blinds offers San Diego shades and shade installation services for homeowners who want to transform the appearance of their rooms. Shades are a great addition to your home decor because they are versatile, affordable, and they come in many colors and textures.
People sometimes wonder what is the difference between blinds and shades. The key difference is that blinds have slats (also called louvers) whereas shades are usually made with one section of fabric. An exception is the Bali Shades which are made with bamboo wood.
There are more than 10 types of shades available on the market and the choices increase if you factor in the way the shades are raised/lowered (motorized, cordless) and the type of fabric they are made with (solar, sheer, semi-sheer). There are many options to consider!
Types of Shades
Roller Shades: These shades work by having the fabric rolled around a hollow tube. When you want less light, pull the shades down to unroll the fabric. To raise the shades, a spring mechanism allows the fabric to retract and roll back onto the tube.
Pleated Shades: The fabric on these shades are pleated like an accordion or a hand-held fan. When extended, the shades have an appealing zig-zag form. When raised, the pleats compress into a neat stack.
Honeycomb (Cellular) Shades: These shades are made by joining two fabrics together to form hollow channels or “cells”. The honeycomb cells trap air so the shades also serve as insulation against outside heat/cold. Honeycomb cell shades can be vertical (for patio doors) or horizontal (for windows).
Roman Shades When drawn closed, these shades look like a swath of fabric. But if you pull the cord to raise the shade, the fabric overlaps upon itself to form evenly-spaced ribbed structures reminiscent of the slats found in blind.
Each of the above can be made “cordless” where the lift/lower mechanism replaces loose cords. Most of the above shades can be fitted with a motor so they can be raised/lowered with the touch of a button.
For more information on San Diego shades, shutters and blinds, please contact Q Blinds. We offer free, in-house consultation: (844) 776-5884.