Cellular honeycomb shades for mountain winters

How a honeycomb shade works

Cellular shades are made of pleated fabric formed into rows of hollow cells. Seen from the side, they look like a honeycomb. Those cells hold a layer of air between the room and the glass. On a cold winter night in Kamas or Oakley, that layer helps the window feel less drafty, and in summer it slows some of the heat coming through sunny glass.

Single cell or double cell

Single-cell shades have one row of pockets and a slimmer stack when raised. Double-cell shades have two rows, which adds insulation and makes the fabric a little more substantial. Older windows, cabins and bedrooms on the cold side of the house are where the extra layer makes the most sense.

Light-filtering or blackout

Light-filtering cellular fabric glows softly and gives privacy while still lighting the room. Blackout cellular fabric has a lining inside the cells to stop light through the fabric, which makes it a popular choice for bedrooms and nurseries. Some styles offer "top-down, bottom-up" operation, so you can lower the top of the shade for daylight and keep the bottom closed for privacy. That's useful for street-facing rooms in Park City, Heber City and Kimball Junction neighborhoods where houses sit close together.

Where cellular shades fit

• Bedrooms and kids' rooms, especially in blackout
• Cabins and older homes with drafty single-pane or aging windows
• Bathrooms and street-facing rooms that need privacy with daylight
• Second homes where you want rooms to stay comfortable between visits

Cellular shades are less about the view than solar shades are. On a great room built around a view, we usually suggest solar shades instead and save cellular for the private rooms. Many homes use both, with fabric colors chosen to look consistent from outside.

Cordless and motorized options

Most cellular shades come in cordless versions you raise and lower by hand, which is safer around children and pets. Battery-powered motorized cellular shades are available too, and they can join the same remote, app or schedule as your other motorized shades. We confirm which options fit each window when we measure.