What Shades Offer Energy Efficiency?

Guest Blog by Bumble Bee Blinds

Windows and blinds go hand-in-hand. If you had windows installed by Chapman Windows Doors & Siding, then consider add window coverings from Bumble Bee Blinds! Yes, you can have it all – comfort, style, and energy efficiency! Here in Chester and Delaware Counties, our homes must adapt to seasonal shifts. Summers can be sunny and steamy, while winters are often windy and brisk. That’s why choosing the right window shades isn’t just about looks. It’s also about helping your home stay comfortable, appealing, and energy-efficient all year round.

Here are four of our favorite options that offer both beauty and performance:

1: Cellular Shades (Honeycomb Shades) – Best Overall for Insulation

These are real multitaskers and offer the best year-round performance, keeping cold out in winter and reducing solar heat gain in summer.

How they work: Air is trapped in their honeycomb-shaped cells, creating a barrier between the window and your room.
Insulation value: High (can reduce heat loss by up to 40%).
Options: Single or double (more cells give better insulation).
Pros: Energy-efficient, lightweight, available in light-filtering or blackout fabrics, in top-down/bottom-up or in a blackout/light filtering combination.
Cons: Less effective when not correctly sized or installed.

Cellular shades are perfect for older homes in places like West Chester, Media, or wherever window insulation could use some help. These shades trap air to help keep your home warm in winter and cool in summer.

2: Layered Curtains/Drapes with Thermal Liners

Layered curtains and drapes with thermal liners offer the best of both worlds: they regulate temperature and light year-round while adding luxurious visual depth and sophistication to any room.

How they work: Heavy fabric combined with a thermal or blackout liner traps air and blocks drafts.
Insulation value: Moderate to high, depending on thickness and fit.
Layering tip: Pair with cellular shades or Roman shades for even better insulation, especially in bedrooms or living rooms, and use a curtain rod that curves back to the wall (wraparound rod) to block side drafts.
Pros: Can be stylish and decorative; improves sound insulation, too.
Cons: Must be closed to be effective; can block light.

Elegant and efficient, thermal-lined curtains add luxury while keeping your home comfortable year-round.

3: Insulated Roman Shades

Timeless and elegant, Roman shades can soften a room and help keep heat from sneaking in or out.

How they work: Fabric shades with built-in insulating layers.
Insulation value: Moderate.
Options: Can’t decide between light filtering and room darkening? Pair with a roller or solar shade and allow for on-the-fly adjustments. Great for both privacy and temperature control. Works well with drapes, too.
Pros: Decorative and customizable.
Cons: Not as efficient as honeycomb shades unless tightly fitted.

They are ideal for rooms that get direct sunlight or need a little extra warmth in the winter. Classic style, modern insulation. Roman shades add warmth and elegance to any home in Chester County.

4: Shutters (especially solid wood or composite interior shutters)

When closed tightly, they form an air pocket that reduces both heat loss in winter and solar heat gain in summer.

How they work: Create a solid barrier of wood or composite between the room and the window.
Insulation value: Moderate to high (depending on material and louver size).
Options: Various louver sizes (larger louvers = more light, smaller = more privacy), choice of wood species or composite materials, custom paint/stain colors, motorized or manual operation.
Pros: Durable, low maintenance (easy to clean), adds home value (permanent architectural upgrade), light control & privacy, passive insulation (no need to pull down or draw across).
Cons: Higher upfront investment than shades or curtains, small gaps between louvers can let in light, and hinged panels need clearance to swing open.

Best in historic or colonial-style homes: aesthetic match with energy efficiency. Ideal for living rooms/dining areas where appearance, light control, and insulation are equally important. Shutters can be elegant.