I totally get the appeal of heavy curtains—my mom swears by them, but honestly, they make my living room feel like a cave. I went with cellulars last fall (midwest winters, so I was desperate), and with those side tracks, I barely noticed any drafts. The light still comes in, which is huge for me since I work from home. Only downside: they’re not cheap, especially if you have weird window sizes like I do. Curtains are definitely easier to swap out, but for warmth and not living in the dark? Shades win for me, hands down.
You nailed it—cellular shades with side tracks are tough to beat for insulation, especially in drafty old houses. The upfront cost can sting, but it’s hard to put a price on keeping out those Midwest chills without losing daylight. Heavy curtains do help, but unless they’re really well-fitted and layered, you’ll still get cold spots. I’ve found the same thing: warmth plus natural light makes a big difference when you’re stuck inside all winter.
I get the appeal of cellular shades, but I’m always a bit skeptical about their long-term durability, especially in homes with a lot of moisture or pets. Heavy curtains, if you really layer them and seal the sides, can sometimes outperform shades—at least in my 1920s house. Has anyone actually measured the temp difference between the two setups? I’d love to see some real numbers instead of just relying on feel.
I get where you're coming from about durability—my cats have definitely taken a toll on anything fabric in my place. But I will say, I tried swapping out layered curtains for cellular shades a couple years back, mostly because the curtains always seemed to trap dust and felt heavy to clean. I was surprised at how much warmer the living room felt with the shades, especially right up against those drafty old windows. I haven’t done any official measurements, but I did stick a cheap thermometer on the window sill behind both setups one winter, and the shades kept it about 3-4 degrees warmer than the curtains did.
That said, I do wonder if it’s just my windows or maybe the way the shades fit so snugly? Curtains can work well if you really seal them up, but for me they never quite blocked all the cold air. Anyone else notice that heavy curtains sometimes let a draft in underneath, even when they’re layered?
Honestly, I’ve had the opposite experience with my old Victorian windows. Heavy curtains—especially if they’re lined—seem to do a better job for me, but only when I really tuck them behind the radiator and weigh down the bottoms so there’s no draft sneaking under. It’s a bit of a pain, and yeah, they do collect dust like crazy, but I like being able to pull them aside for more light during the day. The shades look cleaner for sure, but I always felt like they didn’t block as much sound or cold when my setup wasn’t perfect. Maybe it really does come down to how snug everything fits... or maybe just the quirks of old houses.
- Gotta admit, I’m not totally sold on heavy curtains for old windows.
- Tried them in my 1920s place—sure, they helped with drafts, but only if I was super diligent about closing every gap.
- Cellular shades surprised me; they actually trapped cold air better, especially when I got the double-cell kind.
- Curtains look cozy, but the dust and constant adjusting drove me nuts.
- Maybe it’s just my windows, but the shades were less hassle overall... just wish they looked a bit less “office-y.”
- Seems like there’s no one-size-fits-all with these old houses.
Curtains look cozy, but the dust and constant adjusting drove me nuts.
Man, I hear you on the dust. I once pulled down a set of old velvet drapes in a client’s 1910 bungalow and legit thought I’d unleashed a century-old dust bunny army. Honestly, those double-cell shades are sneaky good at keeping drafts at bay, even if they do scream “cubicle chic.” I’ve seen folks layer them with sheer curtains for a bit more style—kind of the mullet of window treatments: business up front, party on the sides. Old windows always keep us guessing...
Heavy curtains definitely *look* warmer, but are they really doing much if there’s a gap at the top or they don’t hug the wall? I’ve noticed with my old place (drafty 1940s windows), the cellular shades made a bigger difference than the thickest curtains I tried. The double-cell ones especially—seems like that extra air pocket actually helps. But then again, I do miss the cozy vibe of big curtains, even if they’re basically dust magnets.
Has anyone tried those magnetic side tracks for shades? I keep wondering if they’re worth it or just another thing to fiddle with. Also, does anyone else find that curtains block more noise than shades? My living room is quieter with heavy drapes, but it’s probably just because they cover more wall.
I guess it comes down to what bugs you more: chilly drafts or cleaning out fuzz balls every few months...
- Heavy curtains only help if they’re sealed up tight—gaps at the top or sides let cold air sneak right in. Most folks hang them loose, so you lose a lot of that insulating effect.
- Cellular shades (especially double-cell) are actually designed to trap air, so yeah, they’re usually better at keeping heat in, especially on old, drafty windows. I’ve seen a noticeable difference in clients’ heating bills after installing them.
- Magnetic side tracks are a decent upgrade. They help seal the sides and cut down on drafts. Not too fiddly once you get them installed, but you gotta measure right or they’ll pop off. Worth it if you’re serious about insulation.
- For noise, thick curtains win—mostly because they cover more area and absorb sound. Shades don’t do much unless you double up with something else.
- Bottom line: If drafts bug you, go with cellular shades and maybe add the side tracks. If noise is worse, heavy curtains (but make sure they actually fit the window). Both together isn’t overkill in an old house. Just depends what drives you nuts more—cold or dust.
Not sure I buy that cellular shades always beat curtains for warmth. In my 1920s place, heavy curtains—properly hemmed and pinned tight at the sides—made a bigger dent in drafts than single-cell shades ever did. Maybe it’s just my old windows, but layering thick curtains over basic blinds worked better here than fancy shades alone. If you’re handy with a needle, you can close up those gaps pretty well. Just my two cents…