IF YOU’RE AN ARCHITECT, CONTRACTOR, OR DIY-ER, YOU PROBABLY ALREADY KNOW HOW DIFFICULT AND TIME CONSUMING IT CAN BE TO RESEARCH AND SELECT THE BUILDING PRODUCTS THAT ARE RIGHT FOR YOUR NEXT PROJECT. LUCKILY, ARCHITIZER IS HERE TO HELP: USING OUR PRODUCT CATALOG, WE’VE WRITTEN A COLLECTION OF “SPEC GUIDES” ON EVERYTHING FROM MARBLE TO SURFACE-MOUNTED LIGHTING. THESE WILL HELP YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT FACTORS TO CONSIDER BEFORE MAKING YOUR NEXT SPECIFICATION OR PURCHASE. THINK OF THEM AS THE ULTIMATE SPECIFIER CHEAT SHEET.
Blinds & Shades
Categorization
Architizer: Accessories > Window Treatments > Blinds & Shades
MasterFormat: 122100 & 122400
Introduction + Tips
Roller shades or venetian blinds? Translucent or opaque fabric? With limitless color and design options, choosing the right blinds and shades for your space can be fun! If you’re not sure where to start, narrow your choices down by considering some technical details. Should they be operated manually or automatically? What are the dimensions and shape of the window being covered? From there you can think about color, material, and style. We’ve provided some examples in the outline below, and included links to major suppliers to give you some ideas. Remember to use normal words to describe what you’re after and pictures to demonstrate your preferences – our suppliers will do the rest!
Application
- Building and Room Type: In what type of building and room will you be installing the blinds or shades? A living space in which residents want a naturally lit room? A conference room that requires total darkness?
- Residential
- Commercial
- Hospital, healthcare facilities
- Hotel, hospitality
- Office and conference room space
- Industrial
- Type:Interior or Exterior? Will the shades and blinds be located inside, or outside (e.g. patio)?
- Inside Mount or Outside Mount? Do you want the product to be mounted within the window frame or outside of it?
- Horizontal or Vertical? Horizontal blinds traditionally move bottom-up and are more easily customizable to smaller windows of any shape. Vertical blinds tend to have a bit more versatility, as they can open from the side or in the center and can be used with sliding doors or larger windows.
- Roller shades: A simple design, these are made of fabric with a weighted bar at the bottom. You can find some examples here.
- Sheer horizontal shades: Combining light filtering fabric with the functionality of blinds, sheer shades are constructed of horizontal vanes suspended between two layers of sheer fabric that can adjust to open and close the horizontal vanes. You can find examples here.
- Roman shades: Similar to sheer horizontal shades, the horizontal lines found in this product add an architectural element. They can come flat for a more contemporary look or hobbled with soft folds for a more traditional style. Examples can be found here.
- Cellular/honeycomb shades: When tilted sideways, these shades resemble a honeycomb and stack like an accordion due to their air pocket design. These are generally more energy efficient, as they better block the heat and cold relative to other options. You can find examples here.
- Venetian/horizontal blinds: These are composed of slats or louvers, which allow for greater control over the amount of light entering a space. Click here for some examples.
- Specify the width of the panel and the gap between the panels when opened – panel and gap sizes generally range from 1 to 2 inches
Dimensions
The required dimensions vary for each product. Typical measurements that you will need to provide include:
- Width and length: Also include the tip-to-tip dimension, which is the horizontal length of the shade that includes the headrail pegs mounting the shade to the wall or frame.
- Length of cord: If your product includes a cord, how long should it be?
- Slat or shade size: If your product has slats or multiple shade panels (as with Roman shades), specify their width and length. Common sizes for the width of slats range between ½ to 2 inches, while common shade panels range between 17 to 96 inches in width and 18 to 120 inches in length.
- Window shape: Just as windows come in all shapes and sizes, so can blinds and shades! The manufacturer will find it helpful if you specify the shape and dimensions of your window.
Aesthetic
- Colors and Materials: Shades and blinds come in nearly every color, pattern, and a wide range of materials, including metals, plastics and wood.
- Light Filtration and Window View: The type of material affects the amount of light that will be let in by the product, as well as the visibility through the window.
- Sheer – filtered light with view-through
- Translucent – filtered light without view-through
- Solar screen – filtered light that reduces glare and heat with view-through
- Blackout – no light and no view-through
- Valance: A valance conceals the hardware of a shade or blind at the top of the window for a clean, sleek appearance that also helps prevent light entering from above. Classic valances are generally made from the same cloth as the blind; integrated and cassette valances are solid rectangular enclosures that come in different materials.
- Graphics: Shades may sometimes come with a digitally placed logo or design.
- Hem: Hems can also come in different colors and decorative trims. Look here for some inspiration with options, including traditional, scalloped, and wavy.
Performance
- Operating Procedure: How should the blind or shade be opened or closed?
- Manual
- Stationary
- Motorized
- Cord/cordless
- Continuous cordloop
- Shade Movement: Do you want the product to be able to move bottom-up and top-down?
- 2-on-1 Headrail: If you need to cover wide or double windows, you have the option to include two independently operating shades on the same headrail.
Visit Architizer’s Product Catalog to check out the latest blinds & shades products.
Does your company manufacture blinds and shades? Click here to learn more about listing your product on Architizer. If you have comments, questions or suggestions let us know in the comments section below.
External Links
Roll-A-Shade
Shades, Shutters, Blinds
Hunter Douglas Window Treatments
Lowe’s Blinds and Shades