Aria™️ Fabric Blinds
Crafted of lightweight and translucent fabric. For a first-of-its-kind design.
PowerView® Automation
Program your window treatments so that they adjust themselves automatically, creating the perfect room ambiance morning, noon and night.
Sheer Shades
Learn more about Hunter Douglas custom window sheers, including our shadings and privacy sheers. Innovative, light-diffusing sheers. Your trusted source for window treatments.
Cellular Shades
Cellular honeycomb shades from Hunter Douglas. An energy-efficient design that traps air in distinct pockets to help keep your house cool in the summer and warm in the winter.
Roman Shades
Custom-made fabric Roman Shades by Hunter Douglas, combining the look of soft folds with the ease and convenience of a shade. Custom-crafted.
Roller Shades
The Hunter Douglas roller shades & solar screen shades collections offer excellent light control and a clean, stylish look in a range of fabrics and materials.
Woven Shades
For a warm, natural look our Hunter Douglas Woven Wood Shades collection of window treatments transforms sunlight into captivating design statements. Choose yours today.
Vertical Shades
Find the right custom vertical shades for any room in your home. Search our most popular window shades.
Wood Blinds
From controlling light to their stylish, sleek look, wood blinds have been a favorite among homeowners for decades.
Metal Blinds
Find the perfect metal blinds for any room in your home. From controlling light to their stylish, sleek look, metal blinds have been a favorite among homeowners.
Vertical Blinds
Discover Hunter Douglas customized vertical blinds featuring elegant styling and translucency in a large selection of colors, treatments, and textures. Lifetime guarantee.
Shutters
Hunter Douglas custom window shutters provide superior light control and privacy with classic styles, long-lasting finishes, and exceptional craftsmanship.
Drapery
Choose from timeless and on-trend fabrics, including lofty textures and alluring jacquards, artisanal embroideries and luminous sheers.
Light Enhancing
Enjoy the beauty of natural light and make any space more captivating, with the following light-enhancing shades.
Room Darkening
Want a darker room for better sleep or optimal movie binging? These shades and drapes help block light at the window.
Energy Efficient
Live comfortably and save energy with these shades. Designer to keep a room warm in the winter and cool in the summer.
Door Coverings
Manage natural light and add privacy with these window treatments that work well for sliding-glass and patio doors.
Sound Absorption
Create a quieter, more relaxing room with these window treatments, which help absorb sound, reducing exterior noise.
Top-Down Bottom-Up
For privacy and natural light, position shades from the top, bottom or both. These shades have this feature available.
Sonos Audio
At Smart PNW, we’re thrilled to be your go-to local Sonos dealer, offering the best place to buy Sonos products while supporting a small business that’s rooted in our Proctor and Tacoma community.
Consumer Financing by Wells Fargo
We offer financing options for our customers, subject to approved credit.
Window Covering Measuring & Installations
Our measuring and installation service will ensure an exact fit for your window coverings.
Blower Door Test
Whether you're a builder or a home owner, we are here to make your blower door test as smooth as possible.
Energy Audit
An energy audit, designed for home owners, includes a blower door test, a thermal camera, and a smoke stick.
About Us
Smart PNW was founded by James Roddy and his wife, Jill Roddy. The Roddys wanted to start a company to provide local families with employment opportunities and education about energy efficiency and home improvements.
Seattle, WA
We are James and Jilly Roddy, owners of Smart PNW, and we are invested in the beauty of the Seattle community.
Testimonials
See what our customers say about our products and services.
Interior Design Ideas
All Design IdeasBlinds & Shades by Room
Bathroom Bedroom Home Office Kitchen Living Room Media Room Nursery & Kids RoomBlinds & Shades by Window Shape
Angled Windows Arched Windows Bay, Bow, Corner Windows French Doors Sidelights Sliding Glass Doors Skylights Large Windows Panel-Track Blinds Picture WindowsBlinds & Shades by Function
Automated Blackout Energy Efficient Light Filtering Child and Pet-Friendly Cordless Energy-Efficient ShadesAll Design Ideas
See current and past decorating ideas from our 'Fresh Ideas' Newsletter.
Bathroom
See window covering solutions for privacy and moisture-resistance.
Bedroom
See window covering solutions for privacy and room darkening.
Home Office
See window covering solutions for light filtering and glare control.
Kitchen
See window covering solutions for a variety of needs and kitchen styles.
Living Room
See window covering solutions for light filtering and UV protection.
Media Room
See room darkening window treatments for your media room.
Nursery & Kids Room
See child-safe window coverings for baby nurseries and kids rooms
Angled Windows
See blinds and shades for angled, sloped, and triangle-shaped windows.
Arched Windows
See blinds and shades for arched, half-circle or half-moon windows.
Bay, Bow, Corner Windows
See blinds and shades for bay, bow and corner windows.
French Doors
See shutters, blinds and shades for French Doors.
Sidelights
See blinds and shades for sidelight windows.
Sliding Glass Doors
See blinds and shades for patio and sliding-glass doors.
Skylights
See blinds and shades specifically suited for skylights.
Automated
See all options for automated blinds and shades.
Blackout
See our options for blinds and shades that best control light.
Energy Efficient
See blinds and shades that help save energy at the window.
Light Filtering
See blinds and shades for light filtering and UV protection.
Child and Pet-Friendly
See blinds and shades that are safer for children and pets.
2024
Discover Window Treatment Ideas for Metal Doors | Smart PNW Patio Door Shades vs. Patio Door Blinds? | Smart PNW Staples of Modern Interior Design | Smart PNW Automatic Blackout Shades for Better Sleep | Smart PNW Basement Window Blinds, Shades, and Shutters | Smart PNW Refresh Your Bathroom Window Treatments | Smart PNWHunter Douglas Products
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Inspiration & Solutions
Interior Design Ideas
Blinds & Shades by Room
Blinds & Shades by Window Shape
Blinds & Shades by Function
Blog
2024
Choosing Shades or Blinds for Your Home
Blinds and Shades are some of the most common window treatment options out there. But, despite their prevalence, many people don’t know the difference. Many people even use the terms interchangeably, but blinds and shades are two distinct categories of window coverings. The window treatment specialists at Smart PNW are here to help you navigate the differences and choose which window covering is best for your home.
What’s the Difference?
Blinds are made from a rigid material and have adjustable slats for light control and privacy, while shades are constructed using one or more pieces of fabric. Both of these will function as window coverings but have differences in style and features. One of the most important questions to ask yourself is how you want to achieve light control and privacy. You can adjust the slats of blinds as needed, but shades have only two options - open or closed. However, you can circumvent this issue by choosing fabric in a light-filtering opacity.
Cleaning and Maintenance
Ease of cleaning and maintenance is essential to many customers. You can keep your blinds looking new by simply wiping the slats with a soft, dry cloth. If you opt for hardwood blinds, they need conditioning with wood oil but nothing complicated. You can vacuum fabric shades with a brush attachment on low suction and spot cleaned with warm water and a mild detergent, but if your shades have significant amounts of grime, they’ll likely need professional cleaning. If your windows are in a high-traffic area or you have kids and pets, blinds may be the more practical decision.
When you invest in custom window treatments, durability is a critical component. Since blinds are made from solid material, they tend to hold up better than shades, but genuine wood can be damaged by moisture and humidity. Fabric shades from Hunter Douglas are made to last with high-end textiles but can be snagged if used near a doorway or other busy area in your home.
Different Kinds of Blinds and Shades
Both blinds and shades can be used to create casual or elegant aesthetics. For a classic look, go with stained wood blinds or roller shades in a neutral hue. You can make a statement with your window treatments by choosing aluminum blinds in a metallic or marble finish or a Roman shade in a bold print. Window coverings can also provide insulation that regulates your home’s temperature. Blinds and shades offer a certain level of insulation, but cellular shades are the gold standard for insulation at the window. No matter what kind of situation or look you are going for, there is a high-quality Hunter Douglas window treatment solution.
Contact Us
At Smart PNW, we carry the full line of Hunter Douglas blinds and shades to suit every taste and preference. We’re dedicated to educating others about the importance of energy-efficient homes and offer energy audits to help you maximize your home’s resources. Contact us today to schedule your in-home consultation. Our modern showroom is in Tacoma, WA, and we are happy to serve the surrounding areas, including Seattle and Bellevue, WA.