Insulated window shades in Rochester work best when they fit the window closely and come down every evening. In a new northwest Rochester home, start with the bedrooms and the big living room glass. Then look hard at the windows facing west and northwest. That's the side our winter wind hits most.

Below is a first-winter checklist for new homes on open ground. It shows which windows to do first and how to choose between shades and drapes. It also covers getting the fit right.

Why does a first winter in northwest Rochester feel different?

Because the neighborhoods are so new. Take Westbury, between 55th and 60th avenues NW. The city council approved funding for it in April 2025, the Star Tribune reported. It's planned for 219 houses on about 60 acres. The plans include split-level and slab homes. The city also kept growing outward. Rochester approved 670 acres of annexations in 2025 alone.

More is coming just to the west. Pebble Creek is planned for 900 to 960 new homes on about 407 acres, the Post Bulletin reports. Most of that land was farmland until recently. It sits west of 60th Avenue NW near 51st Street. Ground broke on its first section in August 2026. In April 2026 the city council approved another phase of 108 houses. Most of those are for people 55 and older, KIMT reported.

What does that mean at the window? Young trees and wide-open fields. Not much stands between your glass and the wind yet. Many new homes also have big great room windows and a patio slider. Those are lovely in daylight. On a January night they're the coldest surfaces in the house.

Is Rochester, Minnesota the windiest city in the United States?

Close to it. A University of Michigan GLISA climate profile notes that one report ranked Rochester number two in the nation for wind. Average speeds here top 12 mph.

Direction matters too. Iowa State University's Iowa Environmental Mesonet archives hourly weather from the Rochester airport. We pulled ten Januarys of it. Northwest was the most common wind direction.

On a new street at the west edge of town, the northwest corner of your house takes the hit. Wind pulls heat off cold glass faster. A shade can't stop the wind, but it can put a layer of still air between that glass and your room.

Are curtains or blinds better for insulation?

It depends less on the type than on the fit. University of Maine Extension puts it plainly. Window coverings must "trap and hold air" between the covering and the glass. For drapes, it says the way you hang them matters more than the fabric. It also says drapes should be lined.

The common insulated choices compare like this in a new home:

Choice	How it holds warmth	Daytime light	Best windows	Watch for
Cellular shade	Air trapped in the honeycomb cells	Light-filtering or room darkening	Bedrooms, offices, most standard windows	Raise it fully by day to catch the sun
Lined thermal curtains	A thick, lined panel closed at night	Full light when pulled open	Wide windows and sliders	Rod must run past the frame so panels clear the glass
Lined Roman shade	Fabric plus a liner, folded at the top	Soft, filtered light	Living and dining rooms	Choose a liner that fits the room's light needs
Shade plus drapery	Two layers of still air	Shade by day, drapes after dark	Great room glass, the windiest side	Takes more wall space

Thermal curtains and shades aren't rivals. In a Rochester great room the best answer is often both. A shade handles daytime glare. Lined drapes close over it once it's dark.

Want the details on single cell, double cell and blackout? Our guide to cellular shade types for a Rochester winter covers it, room by room. You can also browse the cellular shade options we carry.

What is the best window covering to keep heat out?

The same one that keeps heat in. An insulated layer slows heat in both directions. In January it holds your furnace heat inside. In July it slows the sun's heat coming through west glass.

That's handy in a new home on open ground. With few trees yet, west rooms get full afternoon sun all summer. A good winter layer pulls double duty in summer. Just pick a fabric that still lets in the light you want on a bright day.

Which windows should you cover first?

Most new homeowners can't do every window in December. This is the order we'd suggest:

Bedrooms on the north and west sides. Nobody sleeps well beside a cold pane. Use a darker or blackout fabric for anyone who sleeps late.
The great room glass. It's the biggest cold surface you sit beside every evening. Plan a shade plus drapes here if you can.
The patio slider. It's the widest glass in most homes. Pick a covering made for wide openings that you can still walk through.
The windiest corner of the house. Stand there on a breezy night. If you feel a chill near the glass, move that window up the list.
Lower-level windows in a split-level. They sit partly below the ground and stay cold. A simple cellular shade is usually plenty.
The home office. Snow glare on screens is real. A light-filtering fabric helps by day and adds warmth at night.
Everything else. Baths, laundry and the stair window can wait for spring.

Still taping up paper shades from moving week? They block the view but add little warmth. Replace them on the windiest side first.

How should insulated shades fit a brand-new window?

New windows are tight. Any gaps usually come from the covering, not the window. A few simple rules:

Measure after the trim is finished. Shades sized to the bare opening can end up off by a little.
Check the frame depth. New homes often have shallow window frames. An outside mount may be the better fit there, since it covers the frame and leaves smaller side gaps.
Let the shade reach the sill. A shade that stops an inch short lets cold air spill out at the bottom.
Run drapery rods wide. Panels should stack off the glass by day so you still get the sun.

Then build the habit: open the sunny side in the morning and close everything at dusk. In December that's well before dinner.

What if frost shows up on the new glass?

Don't panic. New windows can still frost on below-zero nights. A tight new house can hold a lot of moisture too. Before you seal every shade down hard, read our myths and facts on frost inside Rochester windows. It explains what to do with your coverings on the coldest nights.

When should you get help?

Staring at a dozen bare windows? That's normal in a brand-new house.

We can walk the house with you and start on the wind side. We'll hold insulated fabrics up to your own glass. Then we'll build a plan you can do in steps, the most important rooms first. Have questions first? Read more about insulated window shades in Rochester from our local team. Book your free consultation.

Kevin Sill is CFO and co-owner of the family-owned Budget Blinds franchises serving Rochester and southeast Minnesota.