• By Nicole
  • |
  • Mar. 20. 2020

What’s uppermost on your mind when you’re decorating a room? You’re mostly focused on picking out that perfect piece of furniture or perhaps mulling over what the colours of the walls.These are important decisions, granted, but our experts think deciding which window treatment to pick should be part of that process.In terms of window treatments, roller shades have undergone significant changes in their design and improvements to how they’re manufactured. They’re also the most practical and versatile window treatment. If you’re in search of new window coverings that come in a variety of fabrics, are easy to operate and match your decor, roller shades are the way to go.

To help make choosing these shades easier for homeowners unfamiliar with them, our experts have created this quick overview.

Everything You Need to Know About Roller Shades

Read about the most important aspects of roller shades to ensure you choose the right window covering for your home.

  • What Are Roller Shades?

Roller shades are durable, practical and simple shades made using a single piece of fabric. The material is laminated using a special heat treatment to seal the weaves together and chemically treated to make it fade-proof. This ensures that the fabric doesn’t fray when cut, meaning there’s no need for hemming to make it look neat. This is what allows the fabric to be neatly and tightly rolled around a tube or cylinder without causing any unevenness created by seams or hems. The tube is fitted horizontally along the width of the window and can be fixed both on the inside of the window recess as well as on the outside. A chain using the sidewinder mechanism turns the cylinder once it’s been installed in a retaining bracket. This allows you to roll or unroll the laminated fabric around the cylinder tube.

When kept closed, the fabric hangs straight down and is kept level with the help of a weighted bar at the bottom. It’s generally hidden within the hem or an inconspicuous channel. When fully raised, the fabric is kept tightly wound around the cylinder at the top.

Roller Shades

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  • What’s the Difference Between Single and Double Roller Shades?

Single roller shades use only one layer of fabric; double ones use a couple of independent layers and are often more versatile.

Generally, double roller shades are used to integrate a translucent shade with a blackout one. When using a double roller shade, you have the advantage of raising one layer and keeping the other closed, allowing the desired level of natural light inside. They’re suited for use both day and night, while maintaining a slim profile and offering maximum flexibility.

  • What’s the Best Way to Hang Roller Shades?

Roller shades are excellent window treatments that suit virtually any type of decor. They offer a simple and clean appearance and can be coordinated with window treatments of any texture, style or colour. One unique aspect is their ability to be hung on doors and windows, which many other window coverings can’t handle. This is because of the two roll types available: standard and reverse roll.

  • Standard Roll

Also referred to as the regular roll, the standard roll uses material that generally falls back and stays very close to the window. Being so close to the glass, it blocks the maximum amount of light and offers optimum privacy. This also allows the window treatment to provide maximum insulation against cold and heat.

  • Reverse Roll

With this type of roll, the fabric comes over the front of the roll and hides it from sight. For blackout roller shades that have a different colour on each side, the reverse roll maintains a light or white side that blocks out the light. The side of the shade with colours or patterns is the one that faces the room. For roller shades hung on doors or windows with a broad handle, the reverse roll can keep the shade from causing obstructions.

  • Which Rooms Are Roller Shades Ideal For?

Let’s look at the best rooms for roller shades.

  • Bedrooms

Roller shades are a great option for bedrooms as they’re practical and inexpensive, making them suitable for many applications. This versatile window treatment is available in many fabrics and colours, including room darkening varieties that offer privacy, which is essential for bedrooms.

blinds-Bedroom

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  • Bathrooms

Bathrooms are often humid and wet, so practicality needs to be a top priority. It’s important to choose a window treatment that’s easy to manage with wet hands. This makes roller shades ideal as they offer privacy, are easy to use and don’t warp. They’re also low maintenance if you choose a waterproof material or any other light fabric.

bathroom

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  • Home Offices

Roller shades are designed to make a statement, available as they are in a plethora of patterns, fabrics and colours. They can cater to home offices with all kinds of block and bold colours, ideal for creating a professional environment. Alternatively, they’re also available in creative designs that are perfect for more relaxed offices. They’re a contemporary and compact solution and can be made to fit any window, no matter the size.

  • Living Rooms

Roller shades are versatile and available in a wide range of colours and patterns, making them perfect for living rooms. You don’t have to worry about not finding something to match your decor. From soft blues to intense reds, you can rest assured knowing you’ll have a window treatment that complements your existing living room decor.

living-room

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Roller shades are a beautiful addition to any space, offering a stylish treatment that suits virtually any decorating motif. Due to their convenience and easy care, they’re becoming more practical than ever. Modern, minimal, functional and budget friendly, these shades are visually appealing, no matter where they’re installed.