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By: Natalie Elmgurst
Updated: 12/30/2025
Your dining room needs a dash of elegance. The breakfast nook gets too much morning light streaming through the windows. And your bedroom windows are visible from your neighbor’s yard. Privacy is key in many areas throughout your home. For all of these issues, and many others, there is one simple solution: shades.
That’s because shades are incredibly versatile. There are several different types of shades, and depending on your needs and the style of your home, you can find the right window treatment for you. With Stoneside shades, you have the added benefit of customization, allowing you to create unique window coverings for your home. You choose the color, texture, pattern, and materials, as well as decorative features, motorization options, and opacity levels that give you control over the amount of light and privacy in the rooms.
Our professional Stoneside designers are experts in advising customers on what kind of shades work best for their homes. If you want to learn more about the different types of shades to choose from, here’s a look at what we offer and some design ideas for how they can transform your space.
Looking for a versatile type of shade with sleek styling and an unobtrusive footprint? Roller shades are one of the most popular window treatments out there thanks to their ease of use and customization options. Made from a single piece of material that rolls up and down to manage light and privacy, roller shades sport several benefits:
This type of shade is ideal for any room in your home that has standard, rectangular window treatments. The minimalist, modern design will pair elegantly with any room in your home. If you have a more formal or traditional aesthetic, it's best to consider pairing roller shades with drapery to complement the home design.
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Do you have windows with wonderful views and lots of light? Hesitant to put up a window covering and lose that view but also need something to cut down on the glare? Solar shades are the window shade for you.
Among all the different types of shades, solar shades are unique in their ability to manage light while preserving your window’s view. While the overall appearance is similar to roller shades, there are some key differences when it comes to roller vs. solar shades. Small openings in the material, the size of which is measured in “openness”, let you enjoy your window’s view while still blocking harsh sunlight. Your room enjoys a pleasant light, UV rays are blocked, and you get a stylish window treatment, too.
Solar shades are a great window shade option for sun-facing living rooms, kitchens, or dining rooms that get a lot of light throughout the day. The window shade will help protect furniture, artwork, and technology from unwanted UV damage and help reduce glare.
With this kind of window shade, there is a varying degree of openness factor that determines how much light you allow into the space. Solar shades with a lower openness factor are not ideal for bathrooms or bedrooms, since they won't provide privacy.
Among the different types of shades, cellular shades stand alone in their ability to insulate windows. Single and double-paned windows are notorious for letting heat out in winter and heat in during summer. While it’s possible to improve your windows’ insulation through upgrading the glass, it’s a cost-prohibitive and time-consuming process.
Cellular shades use pleated fabric to create a series of honeycomb-shaped cells that slow heat transfer, vastly improving your home’s energy efficiency. You can even select a dual-cell option for additional insulation.
And when it comes to looks, cellular shades have an unmistakable modern styling that’s great for bedrooms, living rooms, and kitchens. You even get to choose between a range of opacities from sheer to blackout.
This type of shade works well in bedrooms, home offices, living rooms, and dining rooms. Since the fabric isn't as moisture-resistant, it's not a great choice for the bathroom or the kitchen. Cellular shades also offer a modern yet casual appearance, making them not ideal for more traditional or formal rooms in your home. A great way to elevate the appearance is to consider pairing cellular shades with curtains or drapery.
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Like cellular shades, vertical cellular shades are amazing at improving your home’s energy efficiency. Using a series of honeycomb-like cells, pockets of air insulate your windows to keep warm air in during winter and hot air out during summer.
This type of shade works well in bedrooms, home offices, living rooms, and dining rooms. Since the fabric isn't as moisture-resistant, it's not a great choice for the bathroom or the kitchen. Cellular shades also offer a modern yet casual appearance, making them not ideal for more traditional or formal rooms in your home. A great way to elevate the appearance is to consider pairing cellular shades with curtains or drapery.
Are all the typical types of shades just a bit too… pedestrian for you? Do you have a bold personality that balks at the mundane? Zebra shades, also known as transitional shades, are a modern window treatment with an eye-catching design and innovative mode of operation.
Made from two layers of fabric that are adjusted independently, they can create a banded look that lets some light and view in, or a solid arrangement to block light and protect your privacy. So if you’re looking for a stylish type of shade that’s incredibly functional, zebra shades may be the shade for you.
This type of window shade works well in living rooms, dining rooms, guest rooms, and home offices. The modern appeal is made to complement various home designs. The unique structure also offers varying degrees of light control, so you can decide how much light you want to let into the space. Since the unique design features sheer sections, it's not ideal for rooms where you want more privacy, like the bathroom or the master bedroom.
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If there’s one type of shade for windows that’s stood the test of time, it’s Roman shades. As the name suggests, this shade dates back to ancient Roman times, when it was used in the Colosseum to shade spectators. What makes Roman shades one of the best types of shades, though, is the expansive number of customization options, including:
This means you can find a Roman shade that will look great in your traditionally styled living room, your modern kitchen, and your character-themed kids’ rooms. And since they’re made from a single piece of fabric, Roman shades are excellent at managing light and protecting your privacy.
These kinds of window shades are incredibly versatile. Whether you need a reliable window treatment for your living room, dining room, or bedroom, Roman shades can be completely customized to align with the unique needs of each space. Since many types of Roman shades are made with a thicker material, this style is not always best for areas like the bathroom or kitchen. Grease, odor, and moisture can accumulate, making it harder to keep the shades clean.
With all the different types of shades to choose from, how do you go about selecting the best one for you? One method is to look at a few key benefits and decide based on which is most important for you.
Light Management
Privacy
Energy Efficiency
Aesthetic Customization
One of the best parts of buying custom shades from Stoneside is all the options you have for customization. These include:
The more handy among us may be inclined to go the DIY route with shade installation, but we highly recommend you take advantage of Stoneside’s professional installation service. We employ a team of in-house installers who will take the time to make sure your shades are installed perfectly and that you know how to operate them.
From roller and solar, to cellular and Roman, Stoneside offers a wide range of shade styles to suit your needs and aesthetic preferences. With all the types of shades available, it can be difficult to decide which is best for you. Stoneside’s team of interior designers is here to help. Schedule a free design consultation today to get started on finding the best shades for you.
