Things to Know When Buying Roller Shades
Motorized roller shades in a 3% opacity solar screen installed in Belmont Shore, Long Beach, Ca.
We love roller shades.
Roller shades are one of the most popular window treatments we install in Southern California and for many good reasons, too. For one, compared to many options, they can be one of the most economical. So much so that we are even seeing them installed in many rental and commercial properties as a great alternative to other, traditionally “cheap” window covering options. But it’s not just the price point that has roller shades going up (or down) all around Orange County, Long Beach, and the South Bay, they are incredibly versatile and have quite a few other benefits as well.
For as great as roller shades are as a window covering option, there are some things to keep in mind when considering them in your home or office (or home office). Below are some things we love about roller shades, and a few things to keep in mind if you think you might want to upgrade a window with them.
Benefits of Roller Shades
Roller shades have a clean, modern look. With certain design trends like minimalism, mid-century modern, and “industrial-chic” as I like to call it, roller shades are often the perfect option. But they aren’t just great for a hyper-modern aesthetic, we often like to install them in a juxtaposed manner, a bit of a design mash-up so to speak, for example in a craftsman bungalow framed by wood trimmed windows.
Great option for motorization. Because roller shades operate in a very simple manner (up and down / open or closed), and are generally made of a pretty light material, and can be one of the physically widest window treatments, they are a great option for motorization. With our Somfy motors, individual shades can be motorized, set to schedules and automated, or motorized as a group. Field Work Design Craft is a Somfy Certified Professional Installer.
Durable and easy to clean. Compared to certain types of window treatments that can trap and collect dust, roller shades are easy to keep clean. Fabric treatments like roman shades and draperies become dirty over time. Cellular shades, which almost seem to act as an air filter, really collect dirt and dust and can be costly to have professionally cleaned. Roller shades, in many cases, can simply be wiped down with a gentle cleaning solution or even water and a clean rag.
Many fabric options. We continue to see more and more fabric options for roller shades, whether you are wanting something more industrial and durable, something that has a true fabric and softer feel, or even something with a natural and grass shade look, there are lots of options on the market.
Light control options. Roller shades are one of the most versatile when it comes to light control and the actual shade material. Whether you want transparency and true view through yet solar protection, translucent-opaque yet light filtering, or full blackout, all are available with roller shades.
Green materials. As with most industries, the window covering industry is becoming increasingly aware of sustainability, environmental impact, and the need for clean materials. Many synthetic roller shades are now made of PVC free materials, are Green Guard certified, and made from sustainably sourced and renewable materials.
Design forward fabrics and hardware. Where once we saw mostly boring, industrial materials and finishes, we are now seeing many inspiring, fun, design-centric fabric options, perfect for adding vibrance to any room (we love this in kids’ rooms), as well as really nice hardware options. Some of our favorite fabrics come from Louvolite (which we sell) and the new hardware from Draper is super cool (which we also sell).
Versatility in operation. The standard method of operation for roller shades remains the beaded chain loop, though now available in quite a few finish options, from brushed stainless steel to various colors of plastic beads, chain free with a spring loaded clutch, and motorization are also great options for certain applications.
A lithium ion battery powered, remote controlled, automated roller shade with a decorative brushed brass bracket.
Things to Consider with Roller Shades
No one fabric “does it all.” In Southern California, you may have amazing views you want to preserve with your roller shades, so opt for a fabric with an “openness factor” usually ranging from 1% to 10% (sometimes more). The openness factor refers to your ability to see through the shade, or its transparency, with a “1%” being the “tightest” weave with very little view through and “10%” 10 times more open, or much easier to see through. Though nearly all transparent roller shades still have excellent solar protection, keep in mind that whatever you can see out during the day, you can see the exact opposite at night (when the source of light is reversed). So if privacy is a factor in a certain room, a shade with view through or transparency might not be the best option.
One way to have the best of both worlds is to consider a dual shade, possibly a transparent shade that can be lowered at certain times during the day, then a blackout or translucent roller shade that can be lowered at night for total privacy.
Inside mount vs. outside mount and light gaps. When operated by a clutch and chain loop, the difference between the total width of the shade (where it mounts) vs. the fabric width is greater than any other window covering option. This generally only becomes an issue with inside mount shades (mounted within a window casement) when the fabric of the shade will not cover all the way to the glass pane’s edge.
If light gaps are a concern, for example in a bedroom where total blackout is the goal, an outside mount roller shade will always be better. This will just have to be balanced with your desired aesthetic.
Tall, narrow windows. Although roller shades are great for covering very wide windows, they are not ideal for covering tall, narrow windows. If not properly installed, they can easily begin to roll askew, causing the fabric to “telescope” or stack up on one side. In extreme cases, this can cause the fabric to brush up against the mounting hardware and ruin the shade. Unfortunately, we hear about this all too often from customers who have gone with the “other guys.”
With the craftsmanship of modern homes (or lack thereof), when things are often not true and square, this can become very tricky. One solution for this is switching to an outside mount, or occasionally shimming can mitigate problems, though this is not always ideal.
Top gaps. When installing an inside mount exposed style roller, there will always be a light gap between the roller and the top of the window. One way to mitigate this is with a valance, fascia, or other top treatment. One of our favorite things to do is make custom, fabric wrapped top treatments that add a bit more style and also reduce or eliminate this light gap.
Automated roller shades with clean, simple brackets
Hopefully this has given you some insight into roller shades as a window covering option. In Southern California, roller shades are one of the most common and generally one of our favorite window treatments for many of the reasons above. If you have any questions or need guidance, give us a call or drop us an email!