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When people ask us what window treatments are most popular right now, the answer we are seeing most often in our showroom is shades.
That does not mean every customer is choosing the exact same product. It means more homeowners are looking for window treatments that feel softer, more customized, and more useful than a basic covering over the window. They want privacy, light control, style, convenience, and something that actually fits the way they use the room.
At Vonderheide Floor Coverings, we talk with customers about window treatments every day, and one thing has become clear: the most popular option is not always the right option for every home. The better question is, “What does this room need the window treatment to do?”
That is where the conversation usually starts.
Shades are probably the most requested window treatment we are seeing right now. They give customers a lot of flexibility because they can be simple and practical, or they can be very design-focused and high-end.
For customers with a higher budget, Hunter Douglas motorized options are very popular. People like the convenience of using remotes, timers, and automation. Instead of walking around the house adjusting every window treatment by hand, they can control them more easily and make the room work better throughout the day.
For customers working with a tighter budget, privacy and light control are usually the main priorities. In those situations, we often talk through operating systems like LiteRise®, EasyRise™, SoftTouch®, and UltraGlide® from Hunter Douglas. These options still give customers a clean, custom look without necessarily going all the way into motorization.
We also recommend draperies by Carole Fabrics for customers who want softness, color, pattern, or a more finished look around the window.
The popularity of shades comes down to how versatile they are.
Some customers want something simple for privacy. Some want a softer look than blinds. Some want to reduce glare on the TV. Some want to protect furniture from harsh sunlight. Others want window treatments that feel like part of the room’s design instead of something that was added as an afterthought.
That is why shades are such a strong option right now. They can solve practical problems while still looking beautiful.
One of the first things we try to understand is the customer’s budget. Not because we want to push them one way or another, but because the right recommendation depends on what they want to accomplish and what they are comfortable spending.
Customers with a tighter budget are usually focused on:
In those cases, the goal is usually to find something that solves the main issue without overcomplicating the project.
Customers with a higher budget often care more about:
For these customers, Hunter Douglas motorized shades can be a great fit because they combine function with convenience. They are especially helpful in rooms with several windows, large windows, or windows that are harder to reach.
The rooms we see customers focus on most are living rooms and bedrooms.
That makes sense because those are the spaces where window treatments usually have the biggest everyday impact.
In bedrooms, privacy is usually the main concern. A lot of customers tell us they do not want people seeing into the bedroom when it is dark outside and the lights are on inside.
That is where the right shade can make a big difference. Some rooms need a simple privacy solution. Others may need more room-darkening capability, especially if the customer wants better light control for sleeping.
This is also where it helps to understand the difference between light filtering and room darkening. A light-filtering shade may soften the light and give some privacy during the day, but it may not provide the level of privacy or darkness someone expects at night. That is why we talk through the room’s actual use before recommending a product.
In living rooms, the conversation is usually different. Customers often want to reduce glare on the television or control harsh sunlight coming through the windows.
That sunlight can be uncomfortable, but it can also be hard on furniture, flooring, and décor over time. The right window treatment can make the room more comfortable without making it feel dark or closed off.
For many living rooms, the goal is not to block every bit of natural light. The goal is to manage the light better.
Motorized shades are definitely popular with customers who want convenience. They are especially appealing when someone has large windows, several windows in one room, or windows that are difficult to reach.
The biggest benefit is that they make window treatments easier to use every day. If a product is convenient, people are more likely to actually use it.
Instead of leaving shades in one position all day, motorization makes it easier to adjust them based on the time of day, the sunlight, privacy needs, or how the room is being used.
For some customers, motorization is a luxury. For others, it is a practical solution.
Layered window treatments are also worth considering, especially when a customer wants more than one benefit from the same window.
One example we talk about is Duolite® from Hunter Douglas. Duolite® combines two fabrics in one shade, usually one light-filtering fabric and one room-darkening fabric.
That can be very helpful in rooms where the customer wants soft natural light during the day but more privacy or darkness later.
This is a good example of why choosing window treatments should not be based on looks alone. The product needs to match the way the room is used.
One common misconception we hear is that sheer shadings are basically the same as blinds.
They are not.
Products like Silhouette® Sheer Shadings or Pirouette® have soft, adjustable fabric vanes that are suspended between sheer panels. They are designed to diffuse light softly while still maintaining a view.
That is very different from a traditional rigid blind.
A blind has hard slats. A sheer shading has a softer fabric construction and a different purpose. It is not just about opening and closing the window covering. It is about changing the way light enters the room.
For customers who want a softer, more elegant look, sheer shadings can be a beautiful option. But they need to understand what the product is designed to do.
Another thing customers sometimes misunderstand is how window treatments should be cleaned.
People often assume all shades can be scrubbed down, soaked, or cleaned with harsh soap. In reality, that can damage certain products.
Delicate materials like woven woods, layered sheers, and soft fabric shades need to be treated carefully. Water, heavy pressure, and harsh cleaning products can ruin the material or change the way the shade looks and operates.
That does not mean those products are bad choices. It just means customers should understand the care instructions before choosing them.
A window treatment should fit the room, the design style, the budget, and the level of maintenance the customer is comfortable with.
The best advice we give customers is to identify exactly what the space needs before selecting materials.
Before choosing a color, fabric, or operating system, it helps to answer a few questions:
Once those questions are answered, the right options become much clearer.
Privacy is another area where there is not one single answer.
Some customers only need daytime privacy. Others need privacy at night. Some want privacy without losing natural light. Others want the option to completely block the view into the room.
That is where different fabrics, opacities, and product styles come into play.
A layered option like Duolite® can be helpful because it gives the customer more flexibility. A room-darkening fabric may make sense for bedrooms. A light-filtering fabric may be better for a living room or common area where the customer still wants daylight.
Once the practical needs are clear, design style becomes the next part of the decision.
Window treatments can have a big impact on the look of a room. They can make a space feel softer, warmer, cleaner, more modern, more traditional, or more finished.
That is why we encourage customers to look at every option available based on their design style. The best product is not just the one that functions well. It should also look like it belongs in the home.
Fabric, texture, color, and the way the shade operates all matter.
There are a lot of window treatment options available, and that can make the process overwhelming.
That is why we spend time helping customers understand the materials, fabrics, operating systems, and budget differences before they make a decision.
A customer may come in thinking they need one thing, but after talking through the room, they may realize a different product would serve them better.
That is the value of working with someone who can explain the options clearly and help match the product to the space.
Seeing samples in the showroom is important, but measurements matter too. Window treatments need to fit correctly, operate properly, and look right in the actual room.
That is why we offer free in-home measurements. It gives us a better understanding of the windows, the room, and what the customer is trying to accomplish.
It also helps avoid guesswork. With custom window treatments, the details matter.
For customers considering Hunter Douglas Pirouettes or Silhouettes, we are currently offering a free upgrade from standard operation to SoftTouch®.
SoftTouch® is a nice option for customers who want easier operation without going fully motorized. It gives the shade a smooth, convenient feel while still keeping the product simple to use.
For the right customer and the right room, that upgrade can add a lot of value.
Right now, shades are the most popular window treatments we are seeing, especially Hunter Douglas options.
Motorized shades are popular with customers who want convenience, style, remotes, and timers. More budget-conscious customers are often focused on privacy and light control, and there are still many great options available for those needs.
But the most important thing to remember is this: popular does not always mean right for your home.
The best window treatment depends on the room, the amount of privacy you need, how much light you want to control, your design style, your budget, and how you want the product to operate every day.
At Vonderheide Floor Coverings, our goal is to help you sort through those options and choose window treatments that make sense for your home, not just what happens to be trending. Visit our showroom today at 105 N 14th St, Pekin, IL 61554 to shop window treatments for your home or business today!
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Pekin - 105 N 14th St
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