Cellular shades, also know as honeycomb shades (or honeycomb blinds) look similar to pleated shades and are also made from similar materials. However, unlike a pleated shade, cellular shades are made of two different pieces of material.

The front and back sections the cellular shade are open in the middle, which creates a pocket that provides insulation. Cellular shades are available in a variety of different cell sizes designed to fit the needs of different windows. These shades are a great way to help your home stay cool in the summer and warm in the winter. Cellular shades also provide sound insulation, as well.

Panel blinds are another popular choice for patio doors, as well as very large windows. Panel blinds feature sections that move along a track, which allows you to open and close them.

Pleated shades (sometimes referred to as pleated blinds) feature a piece of material that’s pleated so that the shade forms an accordion-like pattern that can be raised or lowered. These shades have a similar look to Venetian blinds, while also “softening” the look of the window. But, they cannot be adjusted from side to side, like blinds. Pleated shades are usually made from fabric or paper.

Roman shades (also known as Roman blinds) are a very traditional window covering made from fabric or materials like jute or seagrass.

There are several different styles of Roman shades available, but they all share one thing in common: As a Roman shade is raised, it folds into itself, similar to how a Venetian blind operates. Since the fabric of a roman shade continues to fold into itself, it can create quite a large stack of fabric at the top of the window when they’re raised completely. So, while Roman shades offer a beautiful and timeless look, they do remove a portion of the viewable space of your window when raised.

Roman shades are available both lined or unlined to suit different needs. The linings often offer additional features, like blackout and thermal linings.

Another popular shade option is roller shades. Roller shades are usually made from synthetic or natural fabrics and can be rolled up or down to suit your needs.

Roller shades are available in several different styles that mount to the window in a variety of different ways. The most economical roller shades feature an external system that allows you to see all of the different mechanisms and mounting hardware of the shade (which can also help in the event of tangles!)

If you’re after something a little more premium, stylish roller shade options are also available featuring valances, cornices or fascia’s which hide all of the components of the shade and provide a more polished look. Like Roman shades, roller shades are available in a broad range of natural and synthetic fabrics. They often have additional features such as thermal or blackout linings (effectively creating a blackout shade), and can also come in the form of double roller blinds – which is essentially two blinds installed on the same bracket.