Honeycomb shades, also called cellular shades, are the energy workhorses of window treatments, and in an Iowa climate that swings from subzero January nights to humid July afternoons, they earn their keep faster here than almost anywhere. The honeycomb cells trap a pocket of air against the glass that slows heat transfer in both directions, all year long.
Why they matter in an Iowa winter
Windows are the weakest thermal point in most homes. A honeycomb shade adds an insulating air layer that slows the heat escaping through the glass on cold nights, which eases the load on your furnace. In summer the same cells work in reverse, keeping radiant heat out of south and west facing rooms. My blog covers how honeycomb shades handle Iowa winters in depth.
Single, double, and blackout cell options
Single cell shades fit most windows and budgets, double cell adds insulation for the coldest exposures, and blackout cell fabrics line the honeycomb for dark bedrooms that still insulate. Cordless and motorized lift options make them practical in every room, including tall stairwell windows.
A soft, clean look that fits any style
Honeycomb shades stack small, raise light, and come in a wide palette of soft neutrals. They disappear politely into the window rather than making a statement, which is exactly what many rooms need, especially when the view or the furniture is the star.
Choosing cell count and opacity window by window
Most houses do not need the same honeycomb shade on every window. For most rooms, double cell is the construction I recommend: noticeably warmer than single cell without much added bulk. Triple cell adds a third layer of cells and earns its place on the coldest exposures, big north windows, and bedrooms where you want every degree you can get. More cells also mean a slightly thicker stack when the shade is raised and a somewhat higher price, so I only suggest it where it pays off.
Opacity is the second choice. Light filtering fabrics let the room glow softly with the shade down. Blackout honeycomb fabrics line the cells to block light almost completely, and they are a favorite for bedrooms and nurseries. Both insulate well. For the darkest bedroom, an outside mount lets the shade overlap the frame by a couple of inches on each side and smothers the halo of light an inside mount leaves at the edges.
Lift options: cordless, top-down bottom-up, and motorized
- Cordless: every shade style I sell comes cordless and child-safe, since corded products have been discontinued. In nurseries and kids' rooms I treat cordless as a requirement, and blackout honeycomb shades with a cordless lift are a common pick there.
- Top-down bottom-up: lower the shade from the top for daylight up high while the bottom half stays closed for privacy. It is a favorite on honeycomb shades for street-facing rooms and kitchens that face a neighbor, and in summer it lets daylight in over the top while keeping the hot sun off the room.
- Motorized: control a shade or a whole wall of them from a remote, an app, or Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple Siri. Schedules can close the shades against summer sun and winter chill automatically, and pairing a motor with honeycomb shades adds to the energy benefit.
Skylights, tall windows, and two-story great rooms
A skylight aims straight up at the summer sun and collects heat all day, so bedrooms and bonus rooms under one can run noticeably warmer than the rest of the house. A motorized honeycomb shade made for skylights rides in side tracks, seals against the opening, and moves with a remote like any other shade.
Tall great room windows and stairwell glass get the same treatment. Battery motors use a rechargeable wand hidden in or behind the headrail that runs months between charges, and on tall windows I can often place the charging port where you reach it without a ladder. My post on motorized shades for tall windows covers the details.
Honeycomb shades compared with roller and Roman shades
Honeycomb shades are the most energy efficient shade I install, and that is the main reason to choose them over the other styles. Roller shades disappear into a slim roll when raised and offer solar screen fabrics that cut glare on west-facing glass while keeping the view. Roman shades fold into tailored pleats and bring drapery-weight fabric and pattern to a room.
Plenty of homes use more than one. A common setup puts honeycomb shades in the bedrooms for warmth and darkness and roller shades or woven woods in the living spaces.
What happens at your free in-home estimate
I bring full sample decks to your home so you can hold light filtering and blackout fabrics against your own windows, including Alta and Hunter Douglas Duette honeycomb. We go room by room through cell count, opacity, lift style, and inside or outside mount, and I measure every window myself. The visit usually takes under an hour, and you get a clear, written estimate before you decide anything.
Your shades are made to order, and the same person you met comes back to install them. Every shade is leveled and cycled through its full range, and motorized shades are programmed, paired, and tested with you watching before I leave. See how it works, then call (515) 850-9700 or request your free in-home estimate.
Frequently asked questions
Do honeycomb shades really lower energy bills?
Are honeycomb shades and cellular shades the same thing?
Which rooms benefit most from honeycomb shades?
Can honeycomb shades cover a skylight?
Do honeycomb shades come in top-down bottom-up?
How do I clean honeycomb shades?
Related solutions: tall windows and skylights and child and pet safe options.
Part of our Custom Shades line. Serving Des Moines, Ankeny, Waukee, and the surrounding metro from Norwalk.
Ready to see samples in your own light? Call (515) 850-9700 or request your free in-home estimate.