Inspiration & Solutions

Best Blackout Shade Options

Wed, 05 Mar 2025 04:01:11 GMT

Blackout shades offer a functional and effective way to control light and enhance privacy in your home. By understanding their pros and cons, as well as the true meaning of "blackout," you can determine whether they are the right fit for your space.

They work especially well in bedrooms, nurseries, home theaters, and any space where darkness is essential. However, if aesthetics and fabric variety are a priority, or if you want diffused light rather than total darkness, other window treatments such as light-filtering shades or layered treatments may be better suited for your needs.

How Dark Can Blackout Shades Make a Room?

Although blackout shades significantly reduce light, they do not turn day into night completely due to the presence of light gaps. If total darkness is required, consider additional solutions such as blackout drapery, side channels, or alternative blackout shade styles like honeycomb or cellular shades.

How do you achieve complete blackout?

100% Blackout Shades - You need side channels to eliminate all incoming light. Innovative side and sill channels eliminate light gaps in your room.
99% Blackout Shades - Use a special blackout material or adding a blackout liners on the back to block up to 99% of light.
On a budget? When light seeps through the sides of your current shades, add stationary curtain panels on the sides, and a top valance for that room-darkening effect.

Best Blackout Shade Options

Blackout Cellular Shades: These shades are highly effective at blocking light due to their construction, which minimizes light gaps while also adding insulation.
Blackout Honeycomb Shades: Similar to cellular shades, they offer excellent light control with minimal gaps and superior energy efficiency.
Blackout Roller Shades: Available in a variety of fabrics, these shades can provide a sleek, modern look but may require drapery to minimize light leakage.
Blackout Roman Shades: With blackout liners, these shades provide excellent light blocking while maintaining a designer aesthetic.
Patio Blackout Shades: Designed for outdoor use, these shades help create shaded, private spaces on patio while blocking excess sunlight and heat.

Pros of Blackout Shades

Total Light Control – The primary benefit of blackout shades is their ability to significantly reduce external light, making them perfect for anyone sensitive to light or those who need near-total darkness for restful sleep.
Enhanced Privacy – Blackout shades provide full privacy, preventing anyone from seeing inside your home, even at night with indoor lights on.
Energy Efficiency – Blackout shades help regulate indoor temperatures by blocking heat in the summer and retaining warmth in the winter, leading to potential energy savings.
Sleek & Minimalist Design – With their simple, modern appearance, blackout shades complement various interior styles without adding bulk.
UV Protection – By blocking sunlight, blackout shades help protect furniture, flooring, and décor from fading due to UV exposure.
Motorization & Smart Home Integration – Many blackout shades can be motorized and integrated into smart home systems, allowing for convenient remote operation. Automatic blackout roller shades provide ease of use and can be scheduled to open and close at set times.

Cons of Blackout Shades

Light Gaps – While the fabric itself blocks all light, small gaps on the sides may allow some light to filter in. To achieve better darkness, consider pairing roller shades with blackout drapery or opting for blackout cellular shades, which have smaller light gaps.
Limited Aesthetic Variety – Compared to other window treatments, blackout roller shades may offer fewer fabric patterns and textures, making them less decorative.
Manual vs. Motorized Operation – While motorized blackout shades offer convenience, they can be more expensive. Manual versions may require frequent adjustment, especially in hard-to-reach areas.
Potential for Wrinkling & Creasing – Some lower-quality blackout fabric shades may develop creases over time, which can affect their appearance. This is true for blackout roller shades.

Contact us

Thinking about upgrading your window treatments? Contact us to explore our range of blackout shades, including patio blackout shades, automatic blackout shades, and blackout fabric roller shades, to find the perfect fit for your home!

Introducing Safer Window Treatments

Sat, 24 Aug 2024 23:43:40 GMT

Cordless Window Covering Standard in Effect as of June 1, 2024

We at Fashion Interiors are excited to announce that new cordless standards for window treatments have come into effect, prioritizing the safety of our customers, especially young children, and pets. These new regulations aim to eliminate the risk of strangulation or entanglement associated with corded window coverings.

What are the New Cordless Standards?

The new cordless standards require all window treatments to be designed and manufactured without cords that pose a risk to children. This means that traditional corded blinds, shades, and curtains will be replaced with cordless alternatives.

Why Cordless?

Corded window treatments have long been a cause for concern when it comes to child safety. Accidental entanglement in the cords can lead to serious injuries or even fatalities. As a responsible company, Fashion Interiors understands the importance of creating a safe environment for our customers. Therefore, we are ready to serve your needs and offer you special deals if you do decide to switch your current window coverings to the updated versions with this very important safety standard embedded.

Benefits of Cordless Window Treatments

Enhanced Safety: With cordless window treatments, the risk of accidents caused by cords are eliminated, providing peace of mind for parents and caregivers.
Easy Operation: Cordless mechanisms make it simple and convenient to raise, lower, or adjust the window treatments. No more hassle with tangled cords or hard-to-reach pulls.
Modern and Stylish: Cordless window treatments offer a sleek and contemporary look, enhancing the overall aesthetic of any space.
Longevity and Durability: Cordless mechanisms are designed to last, ensuring that your window treatments will continue to operate smoothly for years to come.

Our Commitment to Safety at Fashion Interiors

We are committed to providing our customers with the highest level of safety and quality as the new cordless standards come into effect, we are dedicated to offering a wide range of cordless window treatment options that not only meet the safety requirements but also exceed your expectations in terms of style, functionality, and durability.

Visit one of our showrooms or contact our knowledgeable team members to explore our cordless window treatment collection and discover the perfect solution for your home. Join us in creating a safer environment for your loved ones with cordless window treatments.

Can You Combine Roman Shades with Curtains?

Fri, 11 Jun 2021 00:40:12 GMT

Yes, you can combine roman shades with drapery, giving a layered look. Curtains can help cover light gaps and make your windows look wider and taller.

Layered window treatments add depth and elegance to any room. Custom drapery is quite useful when you happen to have light gaps around your window shade. Curtains or side panels can help block out that light while creating a stylish layered look. Even though roman shades can cover the sides by at least 3”, light gaps may occur.

Combining window coverings can help make your small windows look even larger. Start by mounting the shades and curtains a few inches above the window frame, and just below the ceiling. Giving the illusion of wider and taller windows. The roman shades will neatly cover the space between the window and the headrail. Extend the drapery below the bottom frame.

Roman shades are classic and with new fabrics coming out every year, they will never go out of style. The most popular roman shade for 2021 is the flat roman shade or flat shade with horizontal seams. These shades are very simple, yet elegant. They take the least amount of fabric which means it's very affordable and doesn’t cost as much as other kinds of roman shades.

Have more questions? Ask away , we have custom solutions.

Motorize your roman shades for the ultimate convenience. Let Alexa, Google, Siri open your roman shades!

Can You Put Roman Shades On Doors?

Thu, 03 Jun 2021 23:07:48 GMT

Yes, roman shades can be installed on or above door openings.

Roman shades can be installed on french doors, sliding patio doors, rotating doors, any door or above a door opening. Depending on the style of the door, roman shades can be installed on the door itself or above any door opening. It can cover the sides by at least 3”.

Roman shades come in a variety of fabric, colors, and textures. They can make your room more elegant and provide get light control and privacy. Have more questions? Ask away , we have solutions.

Motorize your roman shades for the ultimate convenience. Let Alexa, Google, Siri open your roman shades!

Dana Point Bedroom Drapery & Curtain

Tue, 18 May 2021 05:23:40 GMT

Whoever said that white ripple fold drapery is just too safe? Not us! Just look how these custom white bedroom curtains add a soft, simple elegance to this home in Dana Point, California. Transforming natural daylight into a warm glow while maintaining a sense of privacy. Our sheer curtains come in a variety of colors, styles and you choose your desired pleat style. We love how this project turned out.

Shades of blue for every room in your home

Mon, 24 Aug 2020 00:00:00 GMT

Psychologists often say that blue reminds us of the sea, sky, and heaven. That’s why it feels so calming to the mind and body. And I think we would all love to live by the sea. So with the ever-trending blue, I'm sure there's a hue out there that suits your style and personality. From beautiful, sophisticated, royal deep blues to light baby or hardly there blues.

Here are just a few examples of how you can use blue to create a soothing environment in your home or office:

Mix & Match Blues

Is blue your favorite color and want to use it all over your room? Proceed with caution, as blue can be an intense and overpowering color if used the wrong way. To help bring the soothing, calming feeling back into your room try mixing different shades of blue to break up the intensity. Use accessories, bedding, rugs, or wallpaper with blue and white, cream or gray patterns to provide some contrast within a room.

Dark Blue

Although the darker shades of blue can be alluring, try not to over use it. It could make your room feel dark, small and intense. Pair it with yellow, gold, white, cream, or other light blue hues. But if dark is what you're going for, then pair it with some dark wood tone furniture. Here are just some of the names Dark Blue goes by - royal blue, navy blue, denim blue, electric blue, midnight blue, and indigo.

Just Blue

This medium tone blue varies greatly and goes by many names - aqua, turquoise, caribbean blue, teal, robin's egg blue, azure, steel blue. Pairs well with rich, bold colors like gold, yellow, orange, red and greens.

Light Blue

One of the most popular hues, also called powder blue or sky blue, is associated with classic home design. This calm tone can enhance any decorating styles - from coastal to lodge, vintage to modern, and rustic to elegant. This soothing shade goes with most decorating styles. Light blue can vary from pure blue to gray.

To add a bit of contrast, pair it with apricot, yellow, forest green, or sage green. Spice it up with accents of tomato red, orange, electric blue, or bright green. It also goes well with gold, copper, tan, brown, and caramel, which are almost opposite blue on the color wheel. One of the perks of using light blue is that it goes with all tones of woods, from darkest ebony to lightest oak.

Barely There Blue

Thinking of painting your whole room blue without it looking overwhelming? Try a lighter hue of Blue-Gray. It's subtle and can be combined with white, cream, gold, grey and white. The softness brought by this color combination is ideal for bedrooms or bathrooms to create a soothing atmosphere. You can enlarge a room by painting a wall a light shade of blue or blue-gray. Blue-Gray helps you create a cool, calm interior that soothes the senses.

Ready to start using blue?

There are various ways to incorporate blue into your home or office. Start small with blue accessories or window treatments or go big and paint a blue feature wall. Whatever it may be don't be afraid to explore color. Remember, with paint you can always paint over it and curtains can be easily replaced. So have fun! Let today be the day you explore color and design a room you love. Your taste never goes out of style in your own home.

Ready to explore blue custom window treatments or bedding?
Our design experts are here to help. We are your local Orange County Hunter Douglas experts.
Contact us by phone, email, chat or in-person to get started today!