skip to main content

Windows Design Dilemma

Shutters or roller shades for a dark room?

3 years ago

This ugly wall of gross blinds is the last eyesore on our home I need to fix. We have kids and both my husband and prefer to avoid blinds of any type (including high end wooden blinds). The rest of our home has white shutters installed by the previous owner but we are stuck on whether to add them to this wall.

The major issue against shutters is that this room is huge and those are the only windows. It's east facing and those windows look out onto a covered patio that let very little light in. I find myself opening the blinds or raising them completely to let as much natural light in as possible and I worry shutters (even wide nice ones) don't allow as much light in as a shades or blinds that are completely raised. Opening the entire shutter wouldn't be an option because it would block a relatively narrow walkway behind our couch. Lastly I worry white shutters would make that wall look too blah and there isn't room to hang art or really add color (other than painting the door maybe?)?

Solar shades are out because our neighbors live very close behind us and would definitely be able to see into our home at night. The rest of our home is very modern and I feel long drapes look very traditional and fussy and not right for the style of our home.

We are considering roller shades (blackout) in a white fabric with blue flecks. I worry we would need to get a valence to cover the mechanism but I know those are very dated. I like the idea that roller shades would add some color but I'm not sure if they would look nice?

What do you recommend for my ugly windows that would let tons of light in and provide total privacy at night while seeming appropriate in a very modern home?

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (6)

PRO
Beth H. :
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago
blinds are really the best thing here. unless you want to do a wall of drapes.

Part of the issue is the wall is blah. there is no color and no casing around the windows. paint the walls and add some trim work to the windows. huge diff. See?

roman blinds

actually, these don't have casings. but the wall is painted.

you just haven't found the right type of blinds.

Woven woods,

Silouettes/Pirouettes are great

or a combo like these would be very pretty.

Dual concept, or Zebra blinds

you could also go for a top down option on the blinds.

check blinds.com
htduban
3 years ago
Bamboo roman shades. There are several different ranges of wood tones to choose from, and they can come cordless.
0
Related Discussions
Cafe rod/curtains with roller shades?
Q
Comments (20)
Tina, That is my alternate option---I even have the linen white sheers picked out. There just isn't much space between the bed and the windows (there are 2 windows with the bed right in between) so I'm wondering if the side by the window will get bunched up and look crowded. Tried having the sheers end at the windowsill and I didn't like that....Only like that look (in this room at least) cafe-rod style.... which brings me back to my dilemma. I know your suggestion is the safe route---I just want to make sure I absolutely can't make the cafe curtain idea work with a shade before I give up and go with that option. So my 2 ideas are the reverse roll shade, or the fabric "psudo valance" that come with the shades. Or, wonder if I could just add some wood to the top of the window (like where the fabric valance would go---as seen in the picture up top) but paint it white---and maybe it would blend in with the moulding?
...See More
Roller shades - spring roller or pull chain
Q
Comments (5)
Boy, am I ever glad to hear someone's getting roller shades. I still have horizontal blinds in our bedroom and I hate those things. They are so grubby, but I don't want to waste my time cleaning something I hate so much. That's why I've been thinking of going with a roller shade, but I haven't heard many people talk about them and wondered if they were considered too old fashioned. We used to have a roller shade in DD's bedroom. She liked total darkness when sleeping and it was the only thing that would keep the room dark enough. It was one of the tension pull ones and the drapery company that we got everything from attached a very pretty metal pull on it. It looked very nice. I really can't say we had a problem with it losing it's tension either. I'm not familiar with the continuous loop chain, but it really sounds like it would be a lot easier to control the height of the blind. Whatever you decide, please post pics. I'd love to see how they look in your lovely room.
...See More
Hunter Douglas Roller Screen Shades - Color dilemma
Q
Comments (2)
Thank you, Patricia. This is a large window in a studio apartment that is occupied part time. It is the only window in the unit and gets direct sunlight most of the day. So the unit can get quite warm, but more importantly for us is that our furniture is starting to fade (we have had Hunter Douglas Honeycomb shades for the last 6 years). We want to install the room darkening (0% opacity) shade so we can close it up completely and protect our furniture and flooring when we are not there and for privacy at night. The second shade (5% opacity) that we are looking at would be for use during the day when we are there and need to cut the sun's rays (still to protect the furniture) without obliterating our view. Because of the strong sun through this window (almost all day long), we were advised not to go with greater than 5% opacity. We are okay with the idea of 5% opacity if it is in one of the darker colors (since we can see the view through those), but are wondering how one of the darker colors will look when closed during the day in the rest of the space whose walls are a cream/antique white color. At night, it could be up so you don't necessarily see the dark color against the light colored walls. Have you used the 10% solar shades in rooms that get strong direct sunlight most of the day? Which colors have you used? Would you have any tips on how to choose the color? Thank you again!
...See More
Curtains vs Roller Shades for sliders in a Modern ranch home?
Q
Comments (8)
WOW Great spaces. Really liking all that natural light. While I may well be in the minority, I'd like to suggest you at least consider vertical blinds. Before downsizing, I had them in the living/entry space, the den and the dining room. Would definitely use them again if I ever again have an other sliding glass patio door. They come in vinyl, wood, faux wood and fabric . I'd personally recommend the vinyl and using all one neutral color -- white or beige. Vertical blinds make it a lot easier to use the doors as doors and open and close them for that purpose -- or you can quickly just push them aside in an emergency. They're great for light control because in addition to open or closed -- pulled over the door and completely shut or pulled all the way to the side and fully opened -- when pulled over the door, the slates can be straight -- fully open -- or you can choose partially open with the tilt of the slats in either direction ... you gauge how much of a tilt and in what direction based upon sunlight available (and from what direction) and how much of it you do or do not want to let fully into the room.
...See More
L N
Original Author
3 years ago
We did consider bamboo shades but couldn't find any that had the total privacy at night we need. With a wooden roman blind you can still see shadows (or more) at night when our room is bright and it's dark out.
0
PRO
Beth H. :
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago
blinds.com give you the blackout / privacy liner option. They are the best site to work with. great customer service. if you need to see samples, go to Home Depot and look at their books. same products.

I had their Bali Woven Wood in a black/brown and you could never see through it at night. but like I said, it comes with a liner option.

this one had a light liner on the back. i think it was also Bali (and make sure you get the optional 1" edge binding.) They have a light filtering backing and a blackout liner.

https://www.blinds.com/c/woven-wood-shades/55

https://www.blinds.com/p/levolor-natural-woven-shade/505221

another option is the double cellular blinds. this one is in black w/the standard liner on the back. keeps the room pretty dark. I think this was also Bali. maybe levelor. 3/8" cell.

https://www.blinds.com/p/bali-blackout-cellular-shade/46
0
Tracey Woods
3 years ago
We have Hunter Douglass Vignette and Silhouette. The Vignette will give you more dimension with its folds and operates like a Roman shade, folding up or down. The Silhouette is on a roller and the louvres open and close like a blind. Watch out for some of these rollers, they have big headers.
0
Tracey Woods
3 years ago
You can schedule a free session with companies like Smith and Noble or Hunter Douglass. I loved the designer I had from Smith and Noble. We did a FaceTime so she could see the space and it was perfect
0

Related Stories

WINDOW TREATMENTS The Art of the Window: 11 Shades That Add Style to a Room

By Jess McBride

Expand your view of the popular window treatment with these ideas for styles, materials and patterns

GREEN See How Dark Green Can Transform a Room

By Amanda Pollard

The on-trend color can add elegance, energy, warmth or drama depending on how you use it

Woven Wood Shades Tie Rooms Together

By The Inman Company

Contrasting sharp modern edges or complementing a contemporary look, these window shades are a lovely finishing touch for any room

WINDOW TREATMENTS What’s the Right Way to Hang Roller Shades?

By Mitchell Parker

Over or under? It depends on how you want your shades to look, how much light you want to block and other factors

WINDOW TREATMENTS Roller Shades Raise the Curtain on Style

By Mary Jo Bowling

The humble window treatment is stealing the scene with fresh patterns, color and pizzazz

ROOM OF THE DAY Room of the Day: Right-Scaled Furniture Opens Up a Tight Living Room

By Mitchell Parker

Smaller, more proportionally fitting furniture, a cooler paint color and better window treatments help bring life to a limiting layout

INDUSTRIAL STYLE Room of the Day: Concrete Block Goes Chic in a Living Room

By Mary Jo Bowling

Designers put a fresh face on a workaday material in this Washington, D.C., condo

TRANSITIONAL STYLE Room of the Day: Dramatic Redesign Brings Intimacy to a Large Room

By Becky Harris

The daunting size of the living room once repelled this young family, but thanks to a new design, it’s now their favorite room in the house

LIVING ROOMS Room of the Day: Redone Living Room Makes a Bright First Impression

By Becky Harris

A space everyone used to avoid now charms with welcoming comfort and a crisp new look

ROOM OF THE DAY Room of the Day: More Fun for a Los Angeles Living Room

By Mitchell Parker

Bright furnishings and a newly open floor plan give a 1964 living room suffering from an identity crisis a new look

Sponsored

More Discussions

Living room shades, colors, furnishing

23

Window Blinds advice - French doors & adjacent windows

5

Need help - How to replace shutters with Flat Trim/Moulding?

1

Thermally broken aluminum windows?

7

House facade update. Help needed!

19