The best insulator we sell
Cellular & Honeycomb Shades in Central Florida
Honeycomb cells trap a layer of air against the glass, which is the most effective thing a fabric shade can do about Florida heat.
How they work
Trapped Air Is the Whole Idea
A cellular shade is folded into hexagonal cells that run the width of the shade. Each cell holds a pocket of still air, and still air is a poor conductor of heat. That pocket sits between your room and the glass and slows the transfer in both directions.
It is a simple bit of physics and it is why cellular shades consistently outperform flat fabric on energy. A double cell shade holds two layers of trapped air rather than one, and does correspondingly better on a west-facing window.
- Single cell for standard rooms and a slimmer stack
- Double cell where heat is the main problem
- Cell size from around 3/8 inch up to 3/4 inch
- Side channels available to close the gap at the edges
Light and privacy
Top-Down Bottom-Up Is the Underrated Option
A cellular shade can be built to lower from the top as well as rise from the bottom. That means you can cover the lower half of the window for privacy while daylight still comes in over the top, which is exactly what you want in a bathroom, a ground floor bedroom, or any room facing a neighbor.
It is the single feature customers are most pleased with after the fact, and it costs relatively little to add at the point of order.
Choosing
Specifying Cellular Shades
The decisions that change how the shade performs rather than how it looks.
Single vs double cell
Double cell insulates better and costs more. On west and south-facing glass in Florida it is usually worth the difference. On a shaded north window, single cell is plenty.
Light filtering vs blackout
Light filtering gives a soft glow and keeps the room bright. Blackout has an opaque liner inside the cells for bedrooms and media rooms.
Top-down bottom-up
Operates from both directions, so you can have privacy at the bottom and daylight at the top. Ideal for bathrooms and street-facing rooms.
Cordless lift
Standard, and the right choice around children and pets. The shade simply pushes and pulls to position.
Motorization
Available across the range, and worth it on tall windows or where you want the shades on a heat-beating schedule.
Vertical cellular
The same honeycomb construction built to run sideways across a slider, giving you insulation on the largest glass in the house.
Common questions
FAQs: Cellular and Honeycomb Shades
Still deciding? Call (407) 295-5200 or book a free in-home consultation and see samples in your own light.
They reduce heat transfer through the glass, which lowers the load on your air conditioning. The effect is largest on west and south-facing windows that take direct afternoon sun, and largest again if the shades are lowered before the sun hits rather than after the room has already warmed up.
Certain qualifying energy-efficient window treatments can be eligible for federal tax credits of up to 1,200 dollars. Eligibility depends on the specific product and your circumstances. See our energy tax credits page for detail, and confirm your own position with a tax professional.
A double cell shade has two layers of honeycomb rather than one, so it traps two pockets of air instead of one and insulates better. It is slightly thicker in the stack and costs more. On hot exposures the improvement is worth it.
A blackout cellular shade blocks light through the fabric itself, but light still enters around the edges of any shade. Adding side channels closes that gap and gets you close to genuine darkness, which is worth doing in a bedroom.
Vacuum lightly with a brush attachment, or use a hairdryer on a cool setting to blow dust out of the cells. Spot clean marks gently. Avoid soaking them, as water sitting inside the cells can leave marks as it dries.
From our portfolio
Cellular Shades Gallery
5 photographs from VU's portfolio. Select any photo to see it larger.
Keep exploring
You Might Also Be Looking At
Energy-Efficient
Slow the heat at the glass before the AC has to fight it.
View
Tax Credits
Up to $1,200 in federal credits on qualifying products.
View
Roller Shades
Pick an openness factor and decide exactly how much sun gets through.
View
Dual & Zebra Shades
Slide the bands to switch between filtered light and a clear view.
View
No cost, no pressure
Book Your Free In-Home Consultation
A design consultant brings the full sample library to your home, measures what you want quoted, and leaves you with firm pricing. Serving Greater Orlando and the Space Coast from our shop in Ocoee.