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Room Darkening vs Blackout Shades

Two popular options in the window treatment market today are room darkening shades and blackout shades. While each of these fantastic window treatments near Mount Pleasant, SC, has its own benefits, one window covering might be a better fit for your home, room, or needs.

Hunter Douglas room darkening cellular shades in a bedroom at Advanced Window Fashions near Mount Pleasant, SC

At Advanced Window Fashions, we’re going to break down the differences between room darkening vs blackout shades, offer some smart ways to use them in your home, and provide several Hunter Douglas window treatments that will work for each type.

Blackout vs Room Darkening Shades: What's the Difference?

While each of these types of shades offers great perks, room darkening and blackout shades differ in some ways. Because of their construction, blackout window shades block out around 99% of the light that comes through your windows. This makes them ideal for spaces such as media rooms, nurseries, and bedrooms where you desire near-complete darkness.

Conversely, room darkening window treatments only block out around 95-99% of incoming light. When considering which rooms that work with room darkening window shades, think about rooms where you want to block out most of the light entering your space, like living rooms, dining rooms, or other areas of the home where you desire privacy.

When you work with our team at Advanced Window Fashions, we’ll work with you to ensure you’re getting the best window treatment for your home. Whether you need a single window treatment or window coverings for the entire time, you can custom measure your blackout shades or room darkening shades to make sure they’re a perfect fit.

Exploring Hunter Douglas Window Treatments

Hunter Douglas Duette® Cellular Shades

If you want a true blackout shade, our top recommendation is Hunter Douglas Duette® Cellular Shades. These incorporate both blackout fabrics and our unique LightLock® system so that the shade is inserted into your window with special u-shaped channels that also reflect light so it doesn't enter your home. The result is near-complete darkness that's also noise-reducing because the honeycomb cells fill with air and create insulation around the window. They're great for bedrooms, media rooms, nurseries, and offices where privacy is important.

Hunter Douglas Silhouette® Sheer Shades

Silhouette® Sheer Shades give you incredible light control. They're made using two layers of sheer fabric with s-shaped fabric panels between them. For room-darkening conditions, select a room-darkening fabric for the panels that will twist to let lots of beautiful light in during the day. You can adjust the panels to reduce glare or block it out as necessary. When you want privacy or darkness, close the panels so they overlap and lock together, so you reduce the likelihood of light seeping through. Motorize your shades for even better light control. This is a wonderful option for balconies with patios, sliding glass doors, or large windows in the living room.

Contact Us for Window Treatments Near Mount Pleasant, SC

Selecting from room darkening vs blackout shades is a matter of need. At Advanced Window Fashions, we can work with you to find the style of window treatment you like and the fabric that will get you room-darkening vs blackout conditions. Our experienced staff can make recommendations that complement your interior design and infuse your home with style. We also carry blinds, shutters, outdoor shades, drapery, window top treatments, and window treatment cleaning and repair services.

To get started creating a darker and quieter room, request a consultation by filling out our online contact form. You can also give us a call or visit our showroom. We proudly serve Mount Pleasant, Charleston, Isle of Palms, Kiawah, Sullivan's Island, Seabrook Island, Johns Island, James Island, Daniel Island, West Ashley, Awendaw, McClellanville, and Summerville, SC. Contact us today!