The right window treatments can do more than just make your home look beautiful. They’re also a great way to block bright sunlight and improve energy efficiency. Both honeycomb shades and plantation shutters can do that. But it’s important to know the differences between the two so you can make the right decision for your home.

What Are Honeycomb Shades?

Honeycomb shades are a soft, drapery-like shade. These shades get their name from the honeycomb-shaped chambers that trap air at the glass to stop energy loss. Depending on the shades you choose, they may have anywhere from three to five insulating air pockets. This helps them block heat during the summer and cold during the winter.

When it comes to energy efficiency, Hunter Douglas honeycomb shades are a top choice. That’s because they’re also highly customizable, from fabric to colors and operating systems. With up to six layers of fabric and five insulating air pockets, Duette® Honeycomb Shades are the most energy-efficient honeycomb window shades on the market.

Make your home more comfortable by adding options to your Duette shades like:

  • LightLock™, which provides total room darkening, turning your window treatments into blackout honeycomb shades.
  • Duolite®, which includes an all-in-one light-diffusing sheer and room-darkening panel.
  • IllumiCell™, which diffuses natural light to enhance fabric texture.
  • Trielle™, which boasts 20% more energy efficiency with six layers of fabric, five insulating pockets and the largest pleat size.

If you’re looking for more a cost-effective option, there’s Hunter Douglas Applause® Honeycomb Shades. These popular shades feature triple-cell insulating air pockets to keep your home more comfortable. As top-down bottom-up honeycomb shades, you can adjust them to let in as much or as little light as you want. And like Duette, they’re available in a wide range of fabrics, textures and colors to complement your décor.

Both styles are available as cordless honeycomb shades to offer additional safety to households with young children and pets. For the ultimate in easy operation, there’s PowerView®. With just a few taps on your phone, you can raise, lower or schedule your shades to move.

What Are Plantation Shutters?

Plantation shutters have wide louvers and are installed within the window frame. Some styles are controlled by a tilt bar while others obscure the bar from view. The best plantation shutters are made from furniture-grade basswood or high-quality polymer. They’re considered the gold standard for window treatments because of their timeless style, superior light control and outstanding energy efficiency.

There are three main styles of shutters: wood plantation shutters, faux wood plantation shutters and a hybrid with wood frames and polymer louvers.

Wood shutters are the most classic style. Louver Shop makes ours from the finest American hardwoods. As a result, they’re incredibly strong and light. This makes them a great option for large windows.

Faux wood plantation shutters are the most energy efficient, up to three times better than wood. Ours are made from a dense proprietary polymer that withstands tough conditions without cracking or discoloring. This makes them a great solution for rooms with moisture, like bathrooms, or strong sunlight, like a sunroom.

Our shutters also feature:

  • Customization options, from color to louver width and frame style.
  • Durable, nontoxic paints and stains that are safe for your family and the environment.
  • A guarantee against cracking, peeling, fading and discoloring.
  • Heavy-duty staples and our patented DuraGlide™ Tensioning System that’s guaranteed to keep louvers in place.
  • Quality, made in the USA construction that’s backed by one of the best warranties in the industry.

What’s Right for My Home?

Whether you choose honeycomb window shades or plantation shutters from Louver Shop, both are custom-made for your home. Here are a few other things to consider that can help you choose. We’ll also review your option during your free, in-home design consultation, where you can see product samples from the comfort of your living room.

Price

Quality plantation shutters cost more than honeycomb shades. However, it’s important to note that they’re designed to last a lifetime.

Performance

Both honeycomb shades and plantation shutters provide excellent light control and energy efficiency. However, honeycomb shades are available in light-filtering fabrics so you can still enjoy your view of the outdoors.

Installation Location

Honeycomb shades are versatile and can be installed just about anywhere in your home, including on specialty windows, skylights and sliding glass doors.

The same applies for plantation shutters, although you’ll want to keep material in mind. Wood works best for dry, cool rooms while polymer is better suited to take on high heat and moisture. They can also be customized for doors with handles, like French doors.

Color

Do you want bold colors or timeless neutrals? Honeycomb shades are available in the widest array of colors, patterns and textures, while plantation shutters are the most classic style. White plantation shutters and black plantation shutters are both popular options.

Operating System

Honeycomb shades have the most operating systems, including cord-free and smart. But while shades can only go up or down, you can slide or fold your plantation shutters out of the way with bypass or bifold frames.

Design the Right Window Treatments for Your Home with Louver Shop

With our free, expert assistance, your home can look just like how you pictured it. Start designing your honeycomb shades or plantation shutters by giving us a call at 888-249-5655 to schedule your free consultation now.