How to Choose Window Shades

Start from the problem, not the product. Almost every window in a South Florida home has one dominant need — keep the view, get privacy, kill glare, sleep in the dark, stay cool, or simply look good — and each of those needs points to a different product.

If keeping the view matters most

Solar screen roller shades are the only product that genuinely lets you look out while cutting glare and heat. A tighter weave gives more control and less view; a darker fabric preserves view-through better than a light one.

Zebra shades are the runner-up: in the aligned position you see through the sheer bands, and you can close them completely in the evening.

If privacy matters most

Light-filtering rollers — full daytime privacy, soft glow, no view out
Cellular shades — complete privacy plus insulation, no view out
Shangri-La shades — privacy when the vanes close, with the window still reading as light and soft
Zebra shades — privacy in the offset position, view in the aligned position

If glare is the problem

Glare is directional and worst on east and west facades. Solar screen rollers are the primary tool. Zebra and Shangri-La both give you a middle position that cuts glare without darkening the room, which is why they work so well in home offices.

If the room needs to be dark

Blackout roller shades, blackout cellular shades, blackout-lined roman shades and dual shade systems all darken a room. The fabric is only half the answer — the mount is the other half, because edge light is what actually wakes you up.

If cooling and comfort matter most

Cellular honeycomb shades trap air at the glass and are the strongest interior option for thermal comfort. Where the opening is a patio, a lanai or a balcony, exterior shades do more still, because they stop the heat before it reaches the building.

If the room needs to look softer

Roman shades, drapery panels and Shangri-La shades all add fabric depth. Romans and drapery are decorative and largely fixed in behaviour; Shangri-La keeps the softness but stays adjustable. In formal rooms, layering a shade with drapery gives both function and finish.

Special cases

Large and floor-to-ceiling windows — roller, zebra or Shangri-La, usually motorized, often split into matched panels
Sliding glass doors — matched roller or zebra panels, dual systems, or a track-mounted drapery run
Patios, lanais and balconies — exterior shades, since there is no glass to work behind
High or hard-to-reach glass — anything, as long as it is motorized
Kitchens and bathrooms — technical or performance fabrics rather than natural textiles

A short decision path

Does the window exist for the view? Solar screen roller.
Does one window need view by day and privacy at night? Zebra, or a dual system if it must go fully dark.
Is it a bedroom? Blackout — roller, cellular or lined roman — on an outside mount.
Is the room too hot? Cellular inside, exterior shades outside.
Does the room need to feel softer? Shangri-La, roman shades or drapery.
Is the glass high, wide or behind furniture? Motorize it, whatever the fabric.

Get product recommendations for your rooms

DIY measurements are useful for planning and preliminary estimates. Final measurements for custom-made window treatments should be verified professionally before production. Our in-home measure is free across Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties — up to 100 miles around Miami.

(754) 274-9353 Request a free measurement

Frequently asked questions

Can I use one product through the whole house?

You can, and some contemporary homes do. But most houses end up with two or three products, because a bedroom, a view window and a patio genuinely have different requirements.

What is the difference between blinds and shades?

Traditionally blinds have slats that tilt and shades are continuous fabric. In everyday use — and in how people search — the two words are used interchangeably, and most of what we install is fabric.

How do I compare fabrics without seeing them at my window?

You cannot, reliably. Openness and colour behave completely differently against your own glass and light, which is why we bring physical samples to the in-home measure.