Custom sheer & light-filtering shades in Chicago & the North and Northwest suburbs
Keep the daylight. Lose the glare.
Custom sheer and light-filtering roller shades that soften the sun and keep your rooms bright. Made to your exact windows. Manual or motorized.
- Free in-home consultation
- We measure every window
- Installed by our own team
- Free in-home design consultation
- We measure every window
- Made to your exact window size
- Real fabric samples in your own light
- Soft light, less glare
- Manual or motorized
- A written price, no pressure
- Installed by our own team
- 5.0 stars on Google
- Mówimy po polsku
What are sheer and light-filtering shades?
They are roller shades made with fabrics that let daylight in. Instead of blocking the sun, they soften it, so the room stays bright without the harsh glare.
Sheer fabric is thin enough that you can still see outside. Light-filtering fabric is a little thicker: the room glows, but people can't see in during the day. Try both in the demo, by day and by night.
- LightSoft and bright
- SheerYou can see out
- Light-filteringDaytime privacy
- WorksManual or motorized
Sheer by day: soft light, and you can still see the yard.
How sheer and light-filtering shades work.
It all comes down to the weave of the fabric, and which side is brighter.
Light gets through
These fabrics are woven so daylight passes through them. A looser weave lets in more light and more view.
Glare turns into glow
Harsh, direct sun gets spread out across the fabric, so the room fills with soft, even light instead.
Privacy follows the light
You see toward the brighter side. By day, outside is brighter, so people can't see in. At night with lights on, it flips.
Up and out of the way
Like every roller shade, it rolls up into a slim roll at the top when you want the whole window back.
See out, or keep people from seeing in?
Both keep the room bright. The difference is how much you see through them. We bring both so you can compare in your own light.
Keep your view
A thin, airy fabric. The room stays bright, glare softens, and you can still see the yard or the street.
- Most light and most view
- Airy, soft look
- Best where privacy isn't a worry
Bright and private by day
A little thicker. Light glows through, but people outside can't see in during the day.
- Soft, glowing light
- Daytime privacy
- Best for street-facing rooms
Want privacy at night too? Pair a light-filtering room with blackout in the bedrooms, or look at zebra shades, which give light and privacy in one shade.
Soft light by hand or with one tap.
Sheer and light-filtering shades come manual or motorized. You can choose differently for every room.
Simple and reliable
Raise and lower each shade by hand. The lower-cost way to soften the light in every living space.
- Lower cost
- Nothing to charge
- Best for windows you can easily reach
Have young kids or pets? Ask about cord-free options at the consultation.
Glare handled on a schedule
Shades lower when the afternoon sun hits and rise again later, without anyone touching them.
- No cords at all
- Great for tall or hard-to-reach windows
- Rechargeable, no new wiring
Keep the daylight. Lose the glare.
For the rooms you actually live in during the day, these are the shades most people choose.
A bright room all day
The room stays full of daylight, so you're not turning lamps on at 2 p.m.
Less glare on screens
Soften the sun on the TV and your laptop without making the room dark.
Your view, kept
With sheer fabric, the yard, the trees and the sky stay in the room.
Daytime privacy
With light-filtering fabric, neighbors and people walking by can't see in during the day.
Less sun on your floors
Softened light is gentler on wood floors, rugs and furniture than bare sun through the glass.
A soft, finished look
Fabric that glows in the window looks warm and calm, with no slats and no heavy drapes.
Bright and privateWhere sheer and light-filtering work best.
- 01Living and family roomsBright all day, with the glare taken off the TV.
- 02Kitchens and dining roomsSoft light for meals, with nothing to collect kitchen dust.
- 03Home officesLess screen glare, and no lamp needed at noon.
- 04Rooms with a viewSheer fabric keeps the yard or the trees in the room.
- 05Street-facing roomsLight-filtering keeps the room bright and private by day.
- 06Sunrooms and big windowsSoften strong afternoon sun across a whole wall of glass.
For a bedroom, or any room you need private at night, sheer won't do the job alone. Choose blackout or zebra shades there.
Sheer vs light-filtering vs blackout.
Three roller fabrics, three jobs. Here is how they compare, day and night.
| Sheer | Light-filtering | Blackout | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Light in the room | Bright, soft | Bright, glowing | Dark |
| See outside by day? | Yes | Mostly no | No |
| Privacy by day | Some | Good | Full |
| Privacy at night, lights on | Low, people can see in | Soft shapes may show | Full |
| Best rooms | Rooms with a view | Living rooms, kitchens, street-facing rooms | Bedrooms, nurseries, media rooms |
5 mistakes people make with sheer shades.
Sheer and light-filtering shades are easy to love. These are the few ways they go wrong.
Forgetting about night
Sheer fabric is private by day, but with the lights on at night, people outside can see in.
Do this instead: in street-facing rooms, choose light-filtering or pair it with something for night.
Sheer in a bedroom
It lets the sunrise in and gives little privacy after dark. Not what you want where you sleep.
Do this instead: use blackout in bedrooms and sheer where you live.
Picking a white on a screen
Whites range from warm to cool, and from see-through to solid. A photo can't show you which one you're getting.
Do this instead: hold real samples up to your own windows before you choose.
Buying a standard size
Store-bought shades get cut down to fit. Light pours through the gaps at the sides and the glow looks uneven.
Do this instead: get shades made to the exact size of each window.
Forgetting about cords
A hanging cord or chain in a kid's room or by the dog's favorite window is a risk you don't need.
Do this instead: go cord-free or motorized in kids' rooms. Ask us at the consultation.
A local team that measures, makes and installs every shade.
You deal with the same people from the first visit to the last shade on the wall. No call center, no hand-offs.
Mówimy po polsku · We speak PolishWe come to you
The design consultation is free and happens in your home. We bring real fabric samples so you see them in your own light, not on a screen.
We measure, so the fit is on us
We measure every window ourselves. If a shade we measured doesn't fit your window, we remake it at no cost.
We make our own shades
Every shade is built to the exact size of your window. Not a standard size cut down to look custom.
A written price, no pressure
You get a written price at the consultation and take as long as you want to decide. You never have to buy anything that day.
Installed by our own team
The people who measured your windows come back to install your shades and set everything up before they leave.
We come back
If something ever goes wrong, you call the same local team. One customer put it this way:Radek came, no questions asked... he replaced the motor at no charge.
From first visit to softer, brighter rooms.
Book your free visit
Fill out the short form or call (847) 305-3115. We call or text you back to pick a time that works.
Design consultation at your home
We bring real sheer and light-filtering samples, measure every window, and give you a written price room by room.
Made to your exact windows
Every shade is built to the size of your window. Not a standard size cut down to look custom.
Installed by our own team
We install every shade, check that each one rolls smoothly, and show you how it all works before we leave.
What our customers say.
Real Google reviews from real customers. 5.0 stars so far.
“The shades they've installed have completely elevated the look of our windows! I would happily recommend this company!”Atara S. · Google review
“I was pleasantly surprised by how seamless the installation of our solar shades went. The team was friendly and really took their time to ensure everything was perfect.”Carley D. · Google review
“We had 5 blinds installed and they look fantastic. They work beautifully and are easy to operate. Highly recommended if you are looking for a clean look in your house.”Martin B. · Google review
Sheer and light-filtering shades across Chicago and the North and Northwest suburbs.
Don't see your town? Call or text (847) 305-3115 and ask.
- Chicago
- Arlington Heights
- Mount Prospect
- Prospect Heights
- Skokie
- Northbrook
- Wilmette
- Glenview
- Deerfield
- Park Ridge
- Des Plaines
- Niles
- Morton Grove
- Palatine
- Buffalo Grove
- Schaumburg
- Hoffman Estates
- Evanston
- Winnetka
- Highland Park
What is the difference between sheer and light-filtering shades?
Both let daylight in and soften the glare. Sheer fabric is thinner, so you can still see outside. Light-filtering fabric is a little thicker, so the room glows but people can't see in during the day.
Can people see in at night with sheer shades?
Yes. You always see toward the brighter side. At night with your lights on, the inside is brighter, so people outside can see in through sheer fabric. Light-filtering shows soft shapes. For full night privacy, choose blackout or zebra shades.
Do light-filtering shades give privacy during the day?
Yes. During the day the outside is brighter, so people walking by can't see in through light-filtering fabric, while your room stays bright.
Do sheer shades reduce glare?
Yes. They spread harsh, direct sun into soft, even light, which takes the glare off TVs and laptop screens without making the room dark.
Are sheer shades good for bedrooms?
Usually not on their own. They let the sunrise in and give little privacy at night. Most people choose blackout shades for bedrooms.
Can sheer and light-filtering shades be motorized?
Yes. A small rechargeable motor hides inside the tube, so the shades can lower when the afternoon sun hits and rise again later, with no cords at all.
How much do custom sheer shades cost?
Your exact price depends on how many windows you have, how big they are, the fabric, and whether you choose manual or motorized, and you get it in writing at the consultation. Most projects start around $2,000 to $3,000 and go up with more windows or more motorized shades.
How long does it take from consultation to install?
It depends on how many shades you order, and you get a timeline with your written price. One customer put it this way: measurement and fabric selection took 30 minutes, and the install took 45 minutes the next week.
Do I have to buy anything at the consultation?
No. You get a written price and take as long as you want to decide. The consultation is free and there is no obligation.
Looking for something else?
See sheer shades on your own windows.
Price my sheer shadesor call (847) 305-3115