Are Cellular Shades Out of Style?

No, cellular shades aren’t out of style. They’ve quietly gotten better, with smarter controls, cleaner cordless designs and more ways to fit unusual windows. If you’ve been picturing the plain shades from years ago, today’s versions will surprise you.

Part of their staying power is that they work. The Attachments Energy Rating Council notes that cellular shades come in single, double and cell-within-a-cell designs and offer better thermal performance than conventional shades and blinds. In testing summarized by the U.S. Department of Energy research on cellular shades, they saved up to 20 percent on heating energy and up to 15 percent on total heating and cooling energy compared with no shades at all. Good looks are nice. Good looks that earn their keep are better.

Cellular Shade Trends Worth Knowing

Here’s what homeowners in Santa Barbara and Goleta are choosing right now.

· Smart, motorized control. Motorized cellular shades can open and close on a schedule through a smart home app, which is handy for tall windows and rooms you want shaded before the afternoon sun arrives.

· Cordless as the norm. A window covering cord safety standard that took effect in 2018 moved most ready-made window coverings in the U.S. to cordless or hidden-cord designs. Custom cellular shades offer a cordless lift too, which keeps the window clean-lined and safer for kids and pets.

· Top-down, bottom-up. Lower the shade from the top to let daylight in while the bottom stays private from the street. Honestly, it’s a small feature that changes how a room feels.

· Layered with drapery. Pairing cellular shades with custom drapes adds softness and color while the shade handles light and privacy.

· Shaped and hard-to-reach windows. Skylights, arches and angled windows can all be fitted, so the whole house shares one look.

Are Cellular Shades a Good Choice for Santa Barbara Homes?

They’re a strong choice here, even with our mild weather. Our custom cellular shades come in three cell sizes and four light levels, from sheer and semi-sheer to light filtering and room darkening. That range lets you soften glare in a bright Montecito living room and darken a bedroom in Carpinteria with the same family of shades. They also stack tightly, so they don’t crowd French doors, and they need very little depth for an inside mount.

The easiest way to see whether they fit your style is to hold real samples up to your own windows. Budget Blinds of Santa Barbara has been family run and locally owned since 1997, and we bring the showroom to you. Schedule a free in-home consultation and we’ll help you find the cellular shade that suits each room.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are cellular shades and honeycomb shades the same thing?

Yes. Both names describe the same shade. The honeycomb name comes from the shape of the cells when you look at the shade from the side.

What’s the difference between single and double cell shades?

A double cell shade has two layers of cells instead of one, which gives more thermal protection. Single cell shades are lighter and suit most rooms well.

Can cellular shades cover a skylight?

Yes. They can be custom fit to skylights, and motorized control makes a ceiling window easy to open and close.

Will cellular shades make a room too dark?

Only if you want them to. Sheer and light filtering fabrics keep a room bright, while room darkening fabric is there for bedrooms and media rooms.