• Window treatments help improve energy efficiency by providing an additional layer of insulation between warmed indoor air and cold window panes. (University of Missouri, October 1993)
• When closed, certain window treatments can improve the energy efficiency of a bare, double glazed window by almost 50%.(CBS Early Show) 

But which window coverings are best suited for the job? 

“The type of window treatment you use to cover your window has a lot to do with how effective it is at preventing heat loss,” said Tracy Christman the director of Budget Blinds Vendor Alliance.  “Window treatments with a higher R-value are better at keeping your home warmer during winter.”  

R-values are assigned to materials based on how well they insulate.  Materials with higher R-values are better at insulating than those with low R-values. We know that a bare, double-glazed pane of glass has an R-value of around 3.5.  Depending upon the window covering you layer over it, you can almost double the R-value!  Below is a list of the types of window coverings available and their approximate R-values when added to a bare, double-glazed window to help guide your choice:

PRODUCT / R-Value

Cellular Shades / 5.8

Shutters / 4.9

Roman Shades / 4.5

Woven Woods / 4.3

Wood blinds / 3.9

Faux Wood blinds / 3.9

Aluminum blinds / 3.8

Thank you once again for taking the time to visit our blog, About Style, this year. We hope that you’ve found news you can use and tips to make your house a home. We invite you back in 2010.  As always, we’ll be adding new products and new features in 2010 that will allow you to express your style. Additionally, look for even more solutions to homeowners’ design challenges from our clever Style Consultants and others.  Our very warmest wishes for a wonderful holiday season go out to you and yours.  See you in 2010.

If you’ve visited our About Style blog or our website or seen our Design Guide, surely you’ve seen bundling, the practice of layering two or more classic window treatments over one window to make a stylish statement in your home.  One of my all-time favorite photos from our archives is a shot we took in 2004. It features cranberry silk doupioni drapery panels and valance gracefully framing an understated roller shade for a grand pop of holiday glamour. We even puddled the drapery panel onto the floor for a richer, more sophisticated look.  You’ll also notice that the cranberry color is echoed in the chair covers and the tableware to tie the whole color story together.

Even if this look doesn’t fit your home’s style, here are some design tips you can use this season and beyond:

• Add some holiday elegance by swapping everyday fabrics for jewel tones that coordinate with your décor.
• Repeat colors three times in a room at three levels – low, waist height, and high – to draw your eye through the room.  This ties the look together and demonstrates that you had a plan going into this holiday decorating.
• Be bold, but stay balanced. See how the bold cranberry tone is balanced by the more neutral gold walls.
• Graciously accept the admiration of your friends and family.