Drapery or curtains have long served as a favored solution for window coverings across various regions of the world. In the mid to late 20th century, blinds, particularly venetian blinds and vertical PVC blinds, gained popularity as a window treatment due to their practical advantages and cost-effectiveness.
Venetian and vertical PVC blinds offered a convenient way to manage light and maintain privacy by allowing users to easily tilt the vanes using a wand or cord. These blinds could be drawn aside, occupying minimal space and only slightly obstructing the window.
Nevertheless, they fell short in terms of design appeal and the ability to complement interior decor and furnishings. As a result, draperies have continued to be preferred in upscale homes, though they are now often considered a luxury in average households because of increasing costs for high-quality materials and craftsmanship.
When Hunter Douglas introduced the Silhouette shade in the 1970s, it brought significant innovation to the window blinds market. This new category of “soft shades” combined the practical functions of tilting vanes with the elegant appearance of soft fabrics available in various finishes to harmonize with home decor. Additionally, the fabric vanes could retract and roll into a headrail wrapped in fabric, allowing for a completely open window view when desired. In Canada, the lack of patent protection for the Silhouette shade enabled other companies to create similar products at more competitive prices. Our Trendy Blinds brand offers a silhouette-type shade known as Triple Shade.
As these soft fabric shades/blinds grew in popularity, more product categories emerged to meet the needs of residential customers.
6 MOST POPULAR CATEGORIES OF BLINDS AND SHADES:
1. SHEER SHADES, SILHOUETTE SHADES, which we call TRIPLE SHADES
The vanes can be tilted for light control and fully rolled up into the headrail. They are offered with either room dimming or light filtering vanes, paired with a clear sheer.
2. ZEBRA SHADES, BANDED SHADES or COMBI SHADES
Features dual layers of horizontal fabric segments that alternate between sheer and semi-opaque or opaque fabrics. The shade can be adjusted to the open position, where the vanes on both layers align, or to the closed position to block the sheer sections. It can also be fully rolled up into the headrail for an unobstructed window view.
3. ROMAN SHADES
Various options are available, including light filtering or blackout fabrics, top-down bottom-up functionality, cordless lift systems, stacked or roll-up mechanisms, and styles such as tucked or classic.
4. ROLLER SHADES
Available in a broad selection of materials, colours, and patterns, with options for light filtering, room darkening, or blackout functionality. These typically offer complete visual privacy.
5. SOLAR SHADES
Closely resembling Roller Shades, but designed with perforated fabric that allows outside visibility even when the shade is rolled down. While commonly used in office environments, modern styles now feature premium fabrics, refined weave patterns, and colours that make them well-suited for residential spaces.
6. HONEYCOMB OR CELLULAR SHADES
The cellular design features an air pocket that delivers effective insulation, helping regulate indoor temperatures near windows. A slimmer headrail reduces bulk, especially when installed as an outside mount.
In conclusion, we believe that soft shades combined with drapery on some key windows will become predominant window covering toolkits for residential homes and condos in Canada.
