Neutral cellular shades do look great, but honestly, they're not my first pick if pets are involved. I've installed plenty of these, and while they're decent to clean, pet hair can be stubborn—especially if it gets trapped in the cells. You might find yourself vacuuming or lint-rolling more often than you'd like. I'd lean towards roller shades or even faux wood blinds; they're smoother surfaces, easier to wipe down, and fur doesn't cling as much. Just my two cents from experience dealing with furry friends and window treatments...
Had cellular shades in my old place—loved the energy savings, hated the pet hair battle. My cat's fur somehow defied gravity and ended up inside those little cells...still a mystery. Switched to roller shades eventually, and cleaning became way less of a chore. If you're big on efficiency though, cellular shades are tough to beat. Maybe just keep a lint roller handy?
I totally feel your pain with the pet hair situation. My dog sheds like crazy, and I swear his fur has some kind of magical power to get into places it shouldn't. I had cellular shades for a while too, and yeah, they were great for keeping the house cozy in winter and cool in summer. But cleaning them was definitely a bit of a headache—especially when you have pets around.
Eventually, I switched to roller shades as well, mostly because they're just so much easier to maintain. Quick wipe-downs or vacuuming every now and then, and you're good to go. But honestly, I do miss the energy efficiency of my old cellular shades sometimes. They really did make a noticeable difference on my energy bills.
If you're still considering cellular shades for those big windows (which can be amazing for insulation), maybe look into cordless or motorized options? I've heard from friends that cordless ones tend to collect less dust and pet hair since there aren't cords dangling around attracting fur. Plus, motorized shades are pretty convenient if your windows are huge or hard to reach.
Another thing that helped me was using an air purifier nearby—it didn't completely solve the problem but definitely reduced how much fur ended up floating around and sticking everywhere. And yeah, keeping a lint roller handy is always smart advice...I have one stashed in practically every room at this point.
Anyway, good luck with whatever you choose! Big windows can be tricky but they're also such a nice feature—totally worth the effort figuring out the right solution.
"Eventually, I switched to roller shades as well, mostly because they're just so much easier to maintain."
I get the appeal of roller shades for easy cleaning, but honestly, I found them a bit lacking when it comes to privacy at night. With big windows, especially if you're near a street or neighbors, roller shades can sometimes feel too sheer or leave gaps on the sides. I ended up going with layered curtains—sheer ones for daytime and thicker blackout curtains for night. A bit more laundry, sure, but worth it for the privacy and coziness factor.
I totally get what you're saying about roller shades and privacy. They do have their drawbacks, especially with those annoying side gaps—I had the same issue initially. But I gotta admit, after a little tweaking (and some trial and error), I found that pairing roller shades with side channels or tracks really helps cut down on the gaps. It takes a bit more effort to set up initially, but once they're in place, they're pretty solid for privacy.
Your layered curtain approach sounds cozy for sure, though. I used to have blackout curtains in my old place, and they definitely made the room feel warmer and more private at night. The laundry part was a bit of a pain, but like you said, sometimes the comfort factor outweighs convenience. Guess it just depends what trade-offs you're willing to make...
I feel your pain with the big window struggle... been there, done that, and still have the leftover brackets to prove it. 😂 Those side channels for roller shades sound like a clever hack—honestly never thought of that. My DIY skills usually peak at assembling IKEA furniture, so I might have to rope in someone handier if I go that route.
I've mostly stuck with curtains myself because they're pretty forgiving installation-wise (and my measuring skills are questionable at best). One thing I've tried that's worked surprisingly well is using double curtain rods—one for sheer curtains and one for heavier blackout drapes. The sheers let in some nice soft daylight while still giving you a bit of privacy during the day, and the heavy curtains come through big-time at night. Plus, you can mix and match colors or patterns to keep things interesting.
But yeah, laundry day is definitely a hassle. I remember wrestling with these huge panels trying to stuff them into my washing machine... felt like an Olympic event. Eventually, I just started vacuuming them regularly and spot-cleaning any stains instead of full-on washing every time. Saves a ton of effort.
One thing I'm curious about though: has anyone here tried cellular shades for large windows? I've heard they're great for insulation and privacy, but I'm not sure how they'd hold up over really wide spaces or if they'd sag over time. Would hate to drop money on something that ends up looking droopy after a year or two...
"One thing I'm curious about though: has anyone here tried cellular shades for large windows?"
I installed cellular shades on a pretty wide window (about 8 feet across) in my living room a couple years back. They're definitely great for insulation—noticed a real difference in keeping the room warmer in winter and cooler in summer. Privacy-wise, they're solid too, especially if you go for the top-down/bottom-up style.
But yeah, there's a catch. Over time, I've noticed a slight sag in the middle, nothing major but enough to bug me since I'm particular about these things. If your window's wider than mine, you might want to consider splitting it into two separate shades side-by-side. It might cost a bit more upfront, but it'll probably save you from the dreaded droop later on.
Speaking of DIY hacks, has anyone tried motorized roller shades for big windows? I've been tempted, but I'm not sure if they're reliable enough to justify the extra cost and complexity...
I put motorized roller shades in a client's place last year—huge windows, maybe 10 feet wide. They're convenient and look sleek, but we did have some hiccups syncing the remotes at first. Reliability's been decent so far, but I'm still watching to see how they hold up long-term...
Motorized shades are nice, but for really wide windows, I've had good luck with ripplefold curtains on a sturdy track. Easy to slide open and closed, no electronics to fuss with, and they hold up well over time. Just something else to consider...
"Easy to slide open and closed, no electronics to fuss with, and they hold up well over time."
Ripplefold curtains do have their perks, but honestly, for really wide windows, I've found motorized shades to be worth the extra fuss. We installed them a couple years back, and the convenience of controlling them remotely or setting schedules has been a game changer—especially with windows that are hard to reach. Yeah, electronics can be finicky sometimes, but ours have held up surprisingly well. Just my two cents...