I have a confession to make. I love cellular shades. Speaking strictly from a “What would you [I did!] put in the windows in your home,” they are simply my personal, pound-for-pound, all-around favorite among the basic window treatment options. Some sources claim they are the most preferred style of window treatment in Ohio, and I would agree with that sentiment wholeheartedly.
Cellular shades are made from multiple thin layers of pleated fabrics that create many little insulated pockets of air. This is a big part of what makes them the #1 overall contender in temperature insulation potential, and is how they reduced the summertime temperature fluctuations in my own upstairs bedroom by an average of 7° Fahrenheit. (Yes, I’m a nerd. I actually measured.) There are big cells, small cells, and multi-cell fabrics, each with unique functional and/or aesthetic properties.
In addition to their superb insulation values in both summer and winter, they are affordable, relatively light weight, are able to open into a tightly compacted stack that leaves nearly the entire outside view of the window unobstructed, come in a wide variety of color and fabric choices, and are particularly easy to operate (especially cordless!). Cells can also be motorized for rooms with many windows or for windows that are hard to reach, they can be made to fit specialty shaped windows, and the light translucence of the available fabric choices range all the way from sheer to blackout.
That said, my absolute favorite cellular shade function is referred to as "Bottom Up/Top Down," or BU/TD. There are a few variations on the theme, but I don't think I will ever order another cellular shade without it. In short, BU/TD cells can be raised from the bottom and lowered from the top at the same time. This allows you to cover just the upper, lower, or middle part of the window whenever you like. When I used them for the first time, I felt like I'd finally found the secret to having my cake and eating it, too, as I maintained my privacy while simultaneously keeping an unobstructed view outside as well as a natural source and quality of lighting. Suffice it to say, this was the final straw that cemented cells as my absolute personal favorite. We will write more on BU/TD in a later article.
Design wise, cellular shades work almost anywhere. They are extremely flexible, very well suited to most common residential design styles, and they are just about perfect for contemporary homes and décor.
With all of this going for them at an attractive price point, cellulars are worthy of serious consideration for most residential settings, and even many offices.
If you have any questions about cellular shades, don't hesitate to reach out. We are always happy just to chat, provide a resource for information, and to meet a new friend.
Until then...
Be well!