Getting the right window dressing is sometimes trickier than you think. For example, if you have large picture windows in your home, then you might be looking for something on your windows that gives you the privacy of curtains with the light-management flexibility of blinds.

Neither option may work quite right for you on its own. While you could put up both curtains and blinds, this will be expensive and will look a little clunky. Using soft window shades may be a compromise worth making. Why?

Blinds That Work Like Curtains

Soft shades often look like blinds. You can buy these shades in vertical or horizontal designs. However, you can also use the shades just like a pair of curtains.

For example, you can use the wand control to pull the shades open or shut across a window. If you want the window uncovered during the day to let in maximum light and to get a clear view out of a window, then you pull the shades fully to the side. If you want privacy at night, you pull the shades fully closed across the window.

You also get part-opening versatility here. On sunny days, you can have the shades half-closed so you can sit out of the sun, leaving the other half of your windows clear to soak it up.

Curtains That Work Like Blinds

Soft window shades operate like blinds as well as curtains. They have blades that are usually controlled by a wand control. This makes the shades more versatile than regular curtains—you can close them fully without blocking out all the light that comes in through the window.

So, for example, you can have the shades closed but use the wand to open the blades to the exact degree that suits you. The window is still covered, giving you some privacy and shade. However, the open blades let in just enough light to suit you.

Also, the lightness of the materials typically used in these shades helps you keep your home airy and ventilated on warm days. Keeping the shades closed keeps out the heat of the sun but having the blades partially opened allows more breezes and air into the room when your windows are open.

Soft shades come in a variety of materials. Some are designed to keep rooms light; others have blackout features. To find the right shades for your windows, ask your curtain supplier for advice.