Shades are one of the most versatile ways to dress a window, which can make the vast array of choices feel a little overwhelming. Roller, cellular, solar, woven wood — each one does something a little bit different, and the “right” choice depends on the room, the light, and your own taste. At Seaside Window Treatment, we’ve spent years helping homeowners understand the different kinds of window shades and find the right style for their Lowcountry home.
Here’s a rundown of the types of shades we offer, including interior and exterior selections, to help narrow down your choices:
Interior Shades
Interior shades handle the everyday stuff: light, privacy, and the comfort of the rooms you live in. Here are the styles we’re asked about most.
Roller Shades
Roller shades are the clean, simple workhorses of the shade world. A single panel of fabric rolls up and down on a low-profile tube, giving you a crisp, uncluttered look that works well in any room and any interior design style. They come in a huge range of fabrics and opacities, so you can opt for light and airy or private and cozy. For a beach house or a downtown Charleston condo, they’re a natural, simple fit.
Cellular Shades
Also called honeycomb shades, cellular shades are the kind you want when comfort and energy savings top the priority list. Their honeycomb-shaped pockets trap air at the window, helping to hold your cool air in during a sticky Lowcountry summer. They fold up compactly and come in light-filtering and room-darkening options, making them a great choice for bedrooms and media rooms.
Sheer Shades
Sheer shades give you soft, glowing light without sacrificing your privacy. Fabric vanes sit between two sheer layers, so you can tilt them to filter the sun or close them for privacy. If you love natural light but don’t love the glare from off the water, sheers strike a lovely balance.
Solar Shades
Solar shades are sort of like sunglasses for your windows. The fabric is uniquely woven to filter out UV rays and tame glare without ruining your view. The tighter the weave, the more sun control you get, while a more open weave keeps your view clearer. But no matter which fabric you choose, solar shades protect your furnishings from the fading that comes with all that Lowcountry sunshine, without completely blocking the outdoors.
Woven Wood Shades
For a warm and organic look, woven wood shades reign supreme. Crafted from natural materials like bamboo, reeds, and grasses, they bring a relaxed aesthetic and pop of texture to any room. They’re great for filtering harsh sunlight and mesh well with the kind of easy, natural style that defines coastal living.
Roman Shades
Roman shades combine the appeal of soft drapery fabric with the functionality of a shade. When you raise Roman shades, the fabric gathers into elegant folds; when lowered, they lie smooth and flat. They’re available in a wide range of fabrics and add a tailored, elegant touch to both historic homes and new builds alike.
Exterior Shades
Here in the Lowcountry, exterior window treatments are just as important as your interior ones. Exterior shades block heat, glare, and weather before they ever reach your glass, making your porch, patio, or sunroom far more livable.
Exterior Roller Shades
Exterior roller shades roll down over a porch or large window to block the sun and heat outside the home. We offer them in both manual and motorized versions, so you can lower them with the push of a button when the afternoon sun is at its peak.
Cable-Guided and Vinyl Exterior Shades
For spots that catch more wind, cable-guided exterior shades use side cables to hold your shade steady and secure. Vinyl exterior shades, meanwhile, help you close in a porch or outdoor room and keep it comfortable in warm or cool weather.
Exterior Solar Screens
Exterior solar screens block heat and UV rays before they enter your home, protecting your interior from sun damage and helping reduce strain on your AC. They’re a practical, energy-smart choice for the sunny side of any Lowcountry home.
Find the Right Shades for Your Home
With so many options to choose from, the best way to find your perfect fit is to see and feel them in your own space — and we can help. Seaside Window Treatment is a small, local, family-run business serving the Lowcountry and coastal South Carolina, offering shades near Charleston, SC, and Mount Pleasant to Beaufort and Hilton Head Island. Our own in-house team handles every measurement and installation, so you’re never passed off to a stranger.
Ready to explore your options? Fill out our contact form today, and we’ll help you find the perfect shades for every window in your home.