A link to the brand you are wanting to order would help so we know what the difference is in the look.

Here is the link for the solar shades I am referring to.

Here is a link that might be useful: Bali Solar Shades

Get the valance. It will provide a sleek finished look.

I like the square valance and I think it would still be minimal.

Thank you for the link. If it were me I'd get the valance for a finished look as Lori said.

Get the valence. Roller shades without a valence feel a bit commercial, like sitting in a Starbucks or my office at work.

Where is the motor mounted?

Thank you for all the responses!

Palimpsest, I believe it is actually inside the roller tube and the sensor is on the end of it. I haven't actually seen one in person so I'm not certain.

My solar shades are not by Bali, but they do have the valance. Hope you find the photo helpful.

I would only get solar shades in the bronze color so I can see the exterior through the shades when they are down.

Your windows are beautiful Sparklebread! Thanks for the picture. I appreciate all the inputs. I'm definitely going to go with the valance!

Hm... I'm stick on beverly's comment. We currently have dark blinds on the house and I am so looking forward to replacing them with white/cream tones to give more light to the space. I like the idea of seeing the exterior through the shades, but I do want privacy from the outside and I do want the window coverings to look light, not dark.

We will probably go with top down/bottom up shades so I'm not even sure this is an issue for me, but it raises interesting questions I didn't realize would be on the table.

(Sorry to derail you, OP - glad you are going with the valence)

Great information in here!
I like the idea of clean minimalist Solar shades.
Please add pics to see your final result

my wife wants the valance but I'm nervous that it might look bulky... we have a mid-century modern house and furnishing and looking to keep it clean and minimalist..

I had the same issue a month ago, every single person advise me to get the balance por a cleaner look to hide the motor etc.
Please share pics! I will eventually

i went ahead order the valance cassette with my levolor roller blades. they said its only 3 inches from the top (slim profile). let's see how it looks. i'll post pics when project is done.