Buy Roller Shades
Roller shades roll up neatly at the top of your window when raised, and decorate your window with beautiful fabric when lowered. Roller shades feature some of the most stylish patterns in a variety of textures such as tweed and woven fabrics. Select from a wide range of colors, from neutral tones to rich, premium colors. You can order free samples to ensure your fabric and color styles coordinate with your windows and walls.
buy roller shades
You can also choose how much light your roller shades will let through your windows. Blackout shades can completely stop light at the window, making them ideal for bedrooms, nurseries, or entertainment rooms. Your roller shades may also leave light gaps between the shade and window frame, which will let in some light even when the shades are closed. Upgrade to light blockers which will block these light gaps as a simple solution for total darkness.
Never submerge your roller shades in water. For vinyl roller shades, wipe them with warm, soapy water. For fabric roller shades, use the brush attachment on a vacuum cleaner while holding the shade from the back.
Smart shades and blinds are motorized window treatments that can also be controlled with a smartphone app and with voice (using a smart speaker or a smartphone assistant like Siri). They can be set up to run on a customized schedule or automated Scenes, or integrated with home-automation software, including Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit, Samsung SmartThings, and Google Home.
We tested models in all three categories, but our main picks are from the DIY category only. This is because we found all retrofit devices to be overly difficult to install, generally unattractive, harder to use, and very expensive when compared with the price of DIY new shades. For more on retrofit models, see Retrofit solutions.
We tested two pro-install companies to evaluate the potential benefits of going this route versus doing it yourself. Additionally, Lutron Serena offers the option of professional installation of its blinds and shades through Budget Blinds, and Graber sells directly through professional installers (see Pro install options for more on this).
We dismissed any smart shades or blinds that had poor reviews, especially due to customer support. And we also ruled out any models that required a third-party smart hub in order to function, because that can make installation more complex (though most models rely on their own branded wireless bridge or hub; some are included or can be added as an option at purchase).
For more-advanced smart-home automations, we connected Lutron Serena Shades to third-party smart-home systems, which allow you to trigger your shades based on motion, temperature, and light levels. For instance, using HomeKit, we created an Automation that lowered the shades to three-quarters closed if the temperature in the room rose above 78 degrees Fahrenheit, and it worked reliably and precisely.
Additionally, the insulating nature of the honeycomb shades helped keep heat out during our summertime testing. Neither IKEA nor SmarterHome offers honeycomb options. Using an infrared thermometer, we were able to demonstrate that with the Lutron shades closed, at 3 p.m. on a July afternoon on south-facing windows, the temperature was almost 10 degrees cooler than when we had them open. Although any properly installed honeycomb shade would provide identical insulation, smart ones take care of the process of opening and closing without your having to worry about it.
During our long-term testing, the shades lost their connection to the remote and app multiple times, requiring us to go through the pairing process far more times than we cared for. At one point we had to completely reset the hub and app before we could get it up and running again. Thankfully, we could still reach the on-device button, otherwise we would have lost a lot of sleep.
The blinds we tested are powered by four D-cell batteries (very small shades may use AA batteries), and there is no rechargeable option, but you can also order models that can be plugged in or hardwired. Installing the Lutron blinds was slightly trickier than it was for our budget pick, MySmartBlinds, since it required drilling. But it was straightforward, and the included instructions were clear. The process was very similar to that of the Lutron smart shades, as was the ordering process, which can be done entirely online.
The good news is that SmarterHome is merging its blinds and shades products into one app and one bridge (see What to look forward to). This change, slated for early 2022, will bring more and better smart-home integrations to the blinds. When it happens, we will update this review.
We were unable to test hardwired devices, but the main reason to go with professional installation is the guarantee that your shades will fit and work correctly, with as little troubleshooting or hassle on your part as possible. Overall, functionality is similar between our pick (Lutron Serena Shades) and the pro-install option we tested, Hunter Douglas. (Note that Lutron offers pro installation through Budget Blinds for about $100 extra per shade, depending on complexity.)
We had a few issues with our test install (including two faulty shades), problems that were quickly resolved by Hunter Douglas and the installer. Additionally, he walked us through the fabric and accessory choices in person, which is a much easier process than doing it online. And he set up all the home-automation and remote-control options during install.
The Soma Smart Shades 2 works similarly to the Axis Gear but is about a third the size and $100 cheaper. This shade is not as well designed or as easy to set up, and it requires a $99 Soma Connect bridge to pair with Alexa, Google, and HomeKit (though this integration is uncertified, and we had problems with it in our testing). Despite some interesting features (like a Quiet Morning Mode, which raises the shades more slowly to cut down on noise), in our testing the app crashed frequently, which is an issue since there are no manual controls. It also needs to be plugged into power or the included solar panel, resulting in lots of wires hanging around your window.
When customizing your roller shades, there are many options from fabric type to color. Fabrics range from solid colors to stylish patterns, and a variety of textures like woven fabric to tweed. Colors are available from rich, premium material choices to more subtle mid and neutral tones. Additionally, roller blinds can be made with varying levels of light filtering to diffuse light throughout a room or block it entirely with blackout options.
Our roller blinds are all customized and built to your specifications and can be installed by anyone going down the DIY route. However, you are not alone! Our guides on How to Measure and How to Install for Roller shades are full of the information you need to tackle the project yourself and be confident in your choices. In addition, we have in-house design consultants available to discuss your project and any questions you may have. They are only a phone call away at 1-800-505-1905.
Blinds and window shades are an often overlooked but important factor in interior design and home improvement. Swapping white roller shades for wooden blinds or Roman shades with an attractive print can give your space a whole new look.
Window coverings also play a key role in adding privacy to your home, reducing glare while you watch TV or work on your computer, and ensuring a good night's sleep with no light leakage. Insulated shades can also prevent heat loss and intrusion, depending on the season.
Style, material, and size are largely a matter of personal preference and your home's specific needs. With that in mind, we've done the research and testing to share our recommendations for where to buy blinds and shades. Whether you want inexpensive window treatments you can install yourself or custom blinds installed by the pros.
You can get a consultation and as many samples as you want for free. With a vast collection of over 1,300 materials to choose from, unlimited samples come in handy. Whether you want to choose a 2% light-filtering option or a unique flowy drape, The Shade Store has it all and then some. For example, if you like Roman shades, you can choose from flat, cascade, Aventura, relaxed, tulip, or pleated styles. Each of those has numerous materials and color options.
Lowe's is a great value option with a large selection of blinds and shades. You can choose from in-stock blinds in various sizes or opt for custom made-to-measure coverings if you have windows or doors that are not standard size. The store offers a wide variety of styles and materials, as well as numerous choices for light control, from blackout to light filtering.
You can shop in person or online for blinds and shades from Bed Bath & Beyond, where there are thousands of sizes available to fit windows of all shapes.
Bed Bath & Beyond has a solid selection of blinds and shades to choose from. Whether you're looking for cordless or Roman shades, the retailer has a variety of brands offering different materials, sizes, and colors.
While Bed Bath & Beyond doesn't have customizable shades, many brands have a wide range of sizes, including shades with 333 options. You'll need to put the shades up yourself since the company does not offer installation.
As you may have guessed from the name, Blinds.com solely deals in all things blinds. You'll be spoiled for choice, from wood or faux wood shutters to cellular or roller shades to mini or vertical blinds.
Blindster is an online-only shop featuring custom shades and blinds at highly competitive prices. Like Blinds.com, it does not offer measuring or installing, but it's this DIY approach that may save you thousands of dollars on window treatments.
You can choose from wooden and faux wooden blinds; cellular, roller, Roman, and bamboo shades; shutters; and more. Blindster also offers the option for corded or cordless operating mechanisms. Just be sure to follow safety recommendations for corded blinds and shades to prevent strangulation risks. 041b061a72