Cellular Shades
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Cellular shades are constructed of 2 or more layers of material in such a way as to form cells that trap air that creates insulation between the room and the out of doors. This construction maximizes energy efficiency and also reduces noise. Cellular shades are also known as honeycomb shades because of their side profile, in which they look much like a bee's hive with a honeycomb.
Manufacturer's and their marketing have made understanding cellular shades far more difficult than it needs to be. There are 3 things important to know about cellular shades: 1) Number of cells - cellular shades come in single, double or triple cell construction. In general, the greater the number of cells, the more insulation and noise reduction they provide 2) Fabric opacity - cellular shades are available in sheer, semi-sheer, translucent (light filtering), and opaque fabrics. 3) Cell sizes - cellular shades are available in cell sizes including 3/8", 1/2", 3/4", 7/8", 1 1/4" and 2". In general, the larger the window, the bigger the cell size to use. The smaller the window the smaller the cell size to use. Cell size is a matter of proportion and balance.
