Solar Shades vs. Cellular Shades: Which Is Best for You?

Solar shades and cellular shades are two of the most popular window treatments, but they solve very different problems. One keeps the outdoor view intact while cutting glare and UV rays. The other turns windows into insulating barriers that save energy year-round.

What Are Solar Shades?

Solar shades are made from a single layer of woven mesh fabric that filters sunlight while preserving the view outside. The fabric has tiny openings, measured as an “openness factor,” that control how much light passes through.

A 1% to 3% openness factor provides more privacy and UV protection with a slightly reduced view. A 5% to 10% openness factor keeps the view clearer with less glare control. For most living rooms and home offices, a 3% to 5% openness factor hits the sweet spot between visibility and sun protection.

Solar shades are ideal for rooms with a great view, lots of screen glare, or south-facing and west-facing windows that take a beating from afternoon sun. For sun-drenched spaces like sunrooms, the blog post What To Consider When Choosing Sunroom Blinds walks through the full decision.

One important note: solar shades do not provide nighttime privacy. When interior lights are on after dark, people outside can see in. A secondary treatment, like curtains or roller shades, may be needed for bedrooms.

What Are Cellular Shades?

Cellular shades, also called honeycomb shades, have a unique layered structure. The fabric forms air pockets that trap dead air between the window and the room, creating an insulating barrier.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, about 30% of a home’s heating energy is lost through windows. Cellular shades directly address that problem. The honeycomb cells act like a buffer, keeping warm air in during winter and blocking heat gain in summer.

Cellular shades come in single-cell and double-cell construction. Double-cell options provide even better insulation with R-values of up to R-2 to R-4. For the best energy efficiency, double-cell material is the stronger choice.

Light control is another major advantage. Cellular shades are available in light filtering, room darkening, and blackout fabrics. Blackout options block 99% of incoming light, making them the go-to for bedrooms, nurseries, and media rooms. For more on choosing between shades and blinds generally, Shades Vs. Blinds: What’s The Diff? covers the basics.

Head-to-Head: How Do Solar and Cellular Shades Compare?

Light Control

Solar shades filter light while maintaining the view. The room stays bright and open without the harsh glare on screens and furniture. Cellular shades offer full light blocking when closed. Blackout cellular shades create near-total darkness, even during the day.

Best for maintaining a view: solar shades. Best for sleeping or media rooms: cellular shades.

Energy Efficiency

Solar shades reduce heat gain from direct sunlight, which makes a noticeable difference in cooling costs during summer. Cellular shades insulate against heat transfer in both directions, reducing heating costs in winter and cooling costs in summer.

Best for summer cooling in sunny rooms: solar shades. Best for year-round energy savings: cellular shades.

Privacy

Solar shades provide solid daytime privacy since the mesh makes it difficult for people outside to see in. At night, though, that privacy disappears when interior lights are on. Cellular shades offer complete privacy day and night when fully closed.

Best for living rooms and home offices: solar shades. Best for bedrooms and bathrooms: cellular shades. For bathroom-specific ideas, check out Bathroom Window Treatment Ideas.

Style and Maintenance

Solar shades have a clean, modern profile that works well in contemporary spaces. Maintenance is minimal, just a light dusting or wipe-down. Cellular shades have a softer, textured look that adds warmth and dimension. Periodic dusting or gentle vacuuming with an upholstery attachment keeps them looking fresh. Never submerge any shade in water, as doing so can damage the fabric and internal components.

Durability with Kids and Pets

Both shade types are available with cordless and motorized lift systems. New safety standards effective June 1, 2024, require most window coverings sold in the U.S. to be cordless or have inaccessible cords. Motorized shades are completely cord-free by design and operate via remote, smartphone app, or voice control. For homes with curious pets, Cat-Proof Blinds offers practical tips on keeping window treatments intact.

Room-by-Room Recommendations

Living room. Solar shades are often the better fit, especially with large windows or a nice view. Glare reduction makes watching TV and working from a laptop much more comfortable.

Bedroom. Cellular shades in a blackout fabric are hard to beat for sleep quality. The Blindsgalore Select Motorized Wand Cellular Shades offer blackout fabric with a rechargeable battery wand for cord-free operation.

Home office. Solar shades cut screen glare without darkening the room. The Blindsgalore Envision Motorized Solar Shades pair glare control with smart home integration through Alexa, Google Home, Siri Shortcuts, Samsung SmartThings, and Control4 via the Connector Smart Hub.

Bathroom. Cellular shades with a top-down/bottom-up feature allow natural light from the top while keeping the lower portion closed for privacy.

Using both. Many homeowners install solar shades in daytime-focused rooms and cellular shades in bedrooms and bathrooms. The Ultimate Guide to Window Treatments covers all the options in one place.

Motorization Is Worth the Upgrade

Motorized shades eliminate cords, making them safer and far more convenient. Set schedules so shades open with the sunrise and close at sunset, or adjust them from anywhere with a smartphone. Voice control through Alexa or Google Home means never getting up from the couch to adjust the light.

Blindsgalore also offers no-drill custom shades that snap into place using a tension headrail. No tools, no wall damage, and each shade is made to exact window measurements.

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