The short answer: windows are one of the biggest sources of heat loss in a home, and covering them is one of the simplest fixes. Cellular (honeycomb) shades insulate best, an outside mount or side channels cut drafts at the edges, and closing treatments at night while opening south-facing windows during sunny days makes the biggest difference for the least effort.
Greater Cincinnati winters bring long gray stretches, sharp cold snaps, and plenty of homes with older windows. Here is how to make your window treatments work as hard as your furnace.
1. Choose cellular shades for the coldest rooms
Cellular shades are built from honeycomb-shaped pockets that trap a layer of air between the glass and your room. Of everything we sell, cellular shades deliver the highest insulating value, and double-cell designs insulate even more. Start with bedrooms, family rooms, and anywhere you notice a chill near the glass.
2. Close everything at night
After sunset, a bare window simply radiates warmth outdoors. Lowering shades and closing blinds or shutter louvers in the evening is the easiest energy habit there is.
3. Let the winter sun work for you
On clear days, open treatments on south-facing windows to let sunlight warm the room for free, then close them again when the sun drops. North-facing windows can usually stay covered more of the day.
4. Mind the gaps around the edges
Much of the cold you feel near a window sneaks around the sides of a treatment, not through it. An outside mount that overlaps the frame, or side channels on certain shades, reduces that air movement. Your consultant can tell you which windows would benefit.
5. Consider shutters for drafty windows
Plantation shutters sit in a solid frame and add a substantial layer between you and the glass. We measure shutters to the 1/16 inch, so they fit snugly in the opening. Most of the shutters we install are composite, which stays stable through Ohio humidity and winter dryness.
6. Automate the routine
If you forget to close the shades, let them close themselves. Motorized shades can follow a schedule, lowering at dusk and rising in the morning, so the energy-saving habit happens every day without anyone thinking about it.
7. Layer for the deepest cold
Pairing a shade with drapery adds another insulating layer and makes a room feel warmer visually, too. Our decorating team designs custom drapery to work with your blinds and shades.
8. Fix what is broken before the cold arrives
A shade that will not stay down or a blind with a snapped cord leaves a window exposed all winter. We are an Authorized Regional Repair Center for Hunter Douglas® and Alta Window Fashions, and most repairs take one to two weeks, so fall is the right time to bring them in.
Which rooms to treat first
- Bedrooms, where comfort at night matters most
- Rooms with large picture windows or sliding glass doors
- North-facing rooms that never get direct winter sun
- Bonus rooms and additions over garages, which tend to run cold
Frequently asked questions
What window treatment is best for keeping heat in?
Cellular (honeycomb) shades are the most insulating option we offer, because their air pockets slow the transfer of heat through the window. Double-cell versions insulate more than single-cell.
Do blinds help keep a house warm?
Yes, especially when they are closed at night and fit the opening well. Shades with a continuous fabric surface generally insulate better than slatted blinds.
Are motorized shades worth it for energy savings?
Their biggest advantage is consistency: scheduled shades close every evening and open to the sun every morning, so you get the benefit every day without remembering to do it.
When should I order new window treatments for winter?
As early in the fall as you can. Every product is custom made, so allow several weeks between your consultation and installation.
Feeling a chill near your windows? Book a free in-home consultation and we will show you the warmest options for every room.