Most of our customers here in the Ft. Myers area are familiar with pleated shades, a classic window treatment that has been around for ages. Pleated shades were developed to give consumers a softer and cloth-like window covering option that wasn’t bulky like many draperies of the time. In the early 1980s, “energy efficiency” became the new buzzword in the window treatment industry. It was estimated that windows were to blame for the loss of almost 5% of all energy consumed in the U.S. People wanted a better option for covering their windows, but they didn’t want to sacrifice style.

Honeycomb Shades

Pleated Shades

Enter Hunter Douglas Window Fashions. In 1985, Hunter Douglas launched the revolutionary proprietary window treatment called Duette® Honeycomb shades, featuring a unique honeycomb construction that was considered highly energy efficient and offered built-in insulating factors to keep heat out in the summer and heat in during the winter.

Features of Pleated Shades and Honeycomb Shades

Pleated and honeycomb shades have many similarities and are both sometimes referred to as “cellular blinds.” Both types of window treatments feature:

• A single lift cord, with available cordless options for child and pet safety
• Innovative motorization options
• Varying pleat sizes
• Numerous color and fabric options, from translucent to room darkening, for light control or light filtering
• Top-down-bottom-up functionality

While pleated shades and honeycomb shades do have a similar look, there is one significant difference. Pleated shades allow light and air to escape due to the small cord holes in the pleats. Honeycomb shades feature a hidden cord inside the construction of the window treatment, blocking air and light.

Why Choose Pleated Shades?

Pleated window shades advantages include:

• Crisp contemporary look in your window
• Less expensive than honeycomb shades
• Available with no-hole privacy options and additional liners that can be operated separately or together

Disadvantages of pleated window coverings include:

• Have holes where the cords runs through
• Not as energy efficient as honeycomb shades

Why Choose Honeycombs?

Honeycomb window shades advantages include:

• Single, double and triple honeycomb construction in different pleat sizes
• Excellent insulation, offering the highest efficiency ratings in the industry
• Greater variety of colors and softer fabric options
• Improved rooms acoustics at the window
• Available in horizontal and vertical applications for sliding doors
• Better retention and durability of pleats

Honeycomb window shades disadvantages include:

• Might be more expensive than pleated
• Bugs could get trapped in cell and need to be vacuumed out

Window Shades in Ft. Myers, FL Area

Visit our showroom in Estero, FL, serving the areas of Estero, Bonita Springs, Naples and Ft. Myers. Contact us today for a design consultation – we’re looking forward to serving you!