Buying Your Blinds

“You can see out but nobody can see in”

This feature was requested many times by customers in a conversation much like this:

Customer: “I want those blinds where you can see out but nobody can see in.”

Me: “No such product exists”.

Customer: “Yes, my friend has them – what are they called?”

Me: “”Well, the seeing out part sounds like solar shades“

Customer: “Yeah, that’s it!”

I would go on to explain that, yes, during the day you can see through the material and it is difficult to see in from outside. But, at night with inside lights on, the opposite is true. Some folks would not accept this and I would explain as gently as I could that these would have to be magic shades. I would then suggest that they go to their friend’s house at night and test the theory.

Solar material is like a sheet with many, many holes allowing a partial view depending on the fabric’s ‘Openness Factor’(OF). The OF is expressed as a percentage with a lower number allowing less light but more privacy. A very high OF can mean almost no privacy at all. Depending on your privacy threshold and the location of your home this may not be a problem.

Always ask many questions to understand what you are buying! An experienced pro will have the answers. An honest one will admit their ignorance and offer to do the research.

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Window Treatment Descriptions

Horizontal Blinds – Window covering with louver/slats/vanes running left-to-right or parallel to the horizon. Also known as Venetian blinds. Sub-categories includes Wood, Faux Wood, Vinyl, Aluminum(mini, micro).

Vertical Blinds – Window covering with louver/slats/vanes running top-to-bottom or perpendicular to the horizon.

Shadings – These are hybrid roller shades with internal, tilting fabric louvers. Originally released as the Hunter Douglas Silhouette but now available from many brands.

Banded Shades – Also known as Zebra shades. They are rollers with alternating strips of varying opacity which can overlap for full privacy.

Vertical Sheers – A hybrid of a traditional vertical blind and sheer drapery.

Roller Shades – A traditional product familiar to many as a cheap vinyl covering from a home center or hardware store but custom rollers are available in a dizzying array of fabrics.

Solar Shades – A sub-category of roller shade featuring ‘screen’ like fabric of varying transparency expressed as a percentage ‘openness factor’.

Pleated Shades – A simple, traditional fabric shade formed by creasing fabric in increments from 3/4″ – 2″. The predecessor of the cellular shade.

Cellular (Cell) Shades – Also known as honeycomb and accordion shade. Based on pleated shades but have two or more layers creating a thermal barrier which is an effective insulator. Popular with a ‘top-down/bottom-up’ feature which provides direct light while maintaining partial privacy.

Vertical Cellular – A cell shade with cells (pleat lines) running top to bottom. Ideal alternative to vertical blinds for sliding patio doors.

Roman Shades – A decorative traditional fabric shade available in several styles.

Austrian Shades – A traditional fabric shade typically made with sheer fabrics. Privacy comes through the ‘gathering’ effect. They are not particularly practical but are valued for the decorative street view they provide.

Woven Wood – A rustic sub-category of Roman shade available in natural wood and grass woven materials.

Louver Drape – Another sliding door option, these are generally woven wood shades with a drape-like appearance drawing side-to-side.

Panel Track – Also known as a sliding panel. Typically used for sliding patio doors, these feature 2 or more fabric, solar or woven wood panels which stack in parallel, one over another. Great companion to matching roller, solar or woven shades. A clean, modern look but partially obstructs the view outside.