Thanks to advanced technologies, window treatments like shades and drapes are no longer just for decorative purposes. Window treatments available today are “smart” and can fulfill many more utilities than merely sprucing up your home interiors. Starting from light control and insulation to increasing the energy efficiency of your home, smart shades and drapes are indeed amazing.
However, many people are often confused about choosing between energy efficient drapes vs shades.
Are drapes and window shades not the same? Well, let us find out more below.
Drapes for your home
Perhaps the most popular option among all the different kinds of window treatments, drapes can easily enhance the home décor in a jiffy. But you must consider the following points before getting drapery.
- Fabric: Now this will depend on the level of privacy that you seek. Ideally, for drapes, you can choose from see-through linens to solid opaque cotton.
- Pleat style: You can choose between ornamental pleats and more casual style pleats depending on the room décor. Remember, nothing is wrong or right in the style of pleats you choose; a two-finger pleat looks more casual than a more voluminous goblet kind. You might come across other styles too. So your choice will depend on the look that you want to achieve.
- Height and width of drapes: Generally, draperies that barely graze the floor are most popular. However, you might want a couple of inches extra to fall gently on the floor for a more dramatic effect with sheer drapes. Or you might choose to hang them closer near the ceiling to add more grandeur to compact rooms. As for the width, drapes should be roughly double your window’s width, for the right balance.
Shades for your home
Shades have a more structured appearance than drapes. These are ideal for balancing out the tricky elements in room décor and are perfect for blocking or diffusing light. You must pay attention to the following aspects-
- Mount: Shades can be mounted inside or outside the window frame. Inside mounts look cleaner and are good for light blocking. But outside mounts are great for accommodating depths of the window frame. You can choose to hang shades higher up closer to the ceiling, to add more length and depth to your room.
- Kind of shades: You can pick from different types of shades like Roman shades, cellular shades, roller shades, and more.
While Roman shades are the most versatile and can be tailored to your preferences, cellular shades are more apt for insulation. Cellular shades are cordless and safe for home use and are generally more affordable. Roller shades are also minimalistic, like cellular shades, but have a high-end appeal. These are also good for diffusing harsh sunlight and work ideally for rooms with a view.
Apart from the basic factors, there are many more that you can consider. You can even go for a combination of fabrics and styles to see what works best for your home.