As winter settles in across the Inland Northwest, keeping your home warm in the falling temperatures becomes a top priority. Whether you live around Spokane, Coeur d’Alene, or the Lewiston-Clarkston Valley, chilly drafts and rising heating bills are common challenges. Unfortunately, while your windows bring in lovely natural light during these short days and connect us to beautiful wintry landscapes outdoors, they’re also one of the biggest culprits for energy loss.
That’s where cellular shades (also called honeycomb shades) can be tremendously beneficial. At Best Blinds & Awnings, we recommend these coverings as one of the most effective and stylish ways to keep heat inside when temperatures go down.
How Heat Escapes Through Windows
Even well-sealed, double-paned windows can let heat slip away. According to energy experts, windows account for up to 30% of a home’s heat loss during the winter. The problem is especially noticeable in older homes or in areas with wide seasonal swings, like North Idaho and Eastern Washington. Heat transfers through the glass and escapes, leaving rooms colder and forcing your heating system to work harder.
Why Cellular Shades Work
Cellular shades are designed with a unique honeycomb structure that traps air within their pockets. In addition to the cushion of air within the open-cell honeycomb design, these blinds, when closed, trap a layer of air between the shade and the window. These dual layers of air act as very effective insulation for your interior space, because air does not transfer heated or cooled air well. In winter, they help your rooms retain warmth, reduce drafts and keep rooms more comfortable. In summer, the effect is reversed, preventing heat from the exterior from entering your home.
These features make honeycomb shades a true multi-season solution for climates with both hot summers and cold winters, which is exactly what we experience in the Inland Northwest.
Benefits of Cellular Shades for Homeowners
1. Energy Savings
By cutting down on heat loss, cellular shades help reduce reliance on your furnace to keep your home comfortable. Over time, this means saving on your utility bills.
2. Comfort and Consistency
No matter how well you design an HVAC system, it’s not unusual for some parts of a house to feel warm and others to feel cold, even if the thermostat is set at a consistent temperature. It’s common to feel cold spots near windows, in particular. However, cellular shades over the windows can keep rooms consistently warm, creating a cozy environment for family gatherings, quiet evenings, or weekend mornings at home.
3. Style Options
In addition to being practical, cellular shades come in a wide range of colors, fabrics, and light-filtering options. Whether you want a crisp, modern look in a Spokane condo or a softer, neutral style for a Coeur d’Alene lake house, there’s a fit for every design.
4. Custom Fit
Honeycomb shades can be tailored to fit any window size, including large patio doors or specialty windows. Cellular shades are a versatile solution for homes throughout the LC Valley and North Idaho.
5. Light Control
Options range from light-filtering to room-darkening, giving you control over both insulation and ambiance. This is especially useful in bedrooms where privacy and warmth matter most.
6. The Smart Home Advantage
For even greater efficiency, motorized cellular shades can be programmed to open and close based on the time of day. In winter, this means setting them to lower at night for insulation and privacy, and setting them to rise at sunup to let in natural sunlight and warmth.
A Wise Choice for Inland Northwest Homes
As temperatures dip across Eastern Washington and North Idaho, cellular shades offer an affordable, effective way to reduce heat loss while enhancing the look of your home. They provide insulation, comfort, and style in one smart, stylish package.
Best Blinds & Awnings specializes in helping homeowners find window coverings that not only look beautiful but also perform well in our unique climate, whether you need insulation, light filtering, blackout, or style. From in-home consultation to installation, our team makes it simple to choose the perfect cellular shades for your space. Contact Best Blinds & Awnings today to schedule a cost-free in-home consultation and let us help you find the perfect solution for helping your home stay warm (and fashionable!) this winter.