What Blinds Are Best To Help With The Cold
- Tracey De W
- 6 days ago
- 4 min read
What are cellular blinds?
Cellular blinds — often called cellular shades, honeycomb shades, or Duette/Architella (brand names) — are pleated fabric shades constructed into one or more rows of honeycomb-shaped cells that trap air.
Key advantages (at a glance)
Better thermal insulation than many other window coverings. The trapped air in the cells raises the effective R-value of the window assembly, reducing heat loss in winter and heat gain in summer.
Lower heating and cooling energy use. Studies and DOE fact sheets show cellular shades can reduce nighttime heat loss and daytime solar heat gain, producing measurable energy savings when used correctly.
Improved comfort (fewer cold/hot spots and draughts). They can reduce cold draughts near windows and reduce radiant temperature differences. By evening out the air temperature, they make rooms feel more comfortable.
Options for light control and privacy with insulation retained. They come in light-filtering, room-darkening and blackout fabrics while still providing insulation.
Scalable performance (single, double cells, low-emissivity linings). Choosing double- (or even triple) cell construction and low-emissivity coating increases insulating performance.
Aesthetics and a relatively slim profile. They provide a clean look and can be combined with other window treatments for added effect.
How cellular blinds insulate — the physics, simply explained
Cellular blinds reduce heat transfer through a window by addressing the three modes of heat transfer: conduction, convection, and radiation.
Conduction (through solid materials):
The fabric itself has low thermal conductivity. More importantly, the air trapped inside the cells acts as a poor conductor of heat, so fewer BTUs pass through the shade compared with an uncovered window. Multiple cells (double/triple) add more trapped-air layers, increasing resistance to conduction (higher R-value). PNNL+1
Convection (air movement):
The honeycomb cells isolate and limit convective loops immediately adjacent to the glass. When a shade fits close to the glass or seals against the frame, it reduces convective exchange between the cold glass and the warm room air, lowering heat loss and blocking drafts. Proper mounting (inside vs. outside, sealing edges) influences this effect.
Radiation (infrared heat transfer):
Some cellular shades include low-emissivity (low-e) linings or metallized layers that reflect long-wave infrared (radiant) heat back into the room in winter and reflect solar infrared in summer. This reduces radiant heat transfer through the window. DOE and research reports note low-e surfaces on shade cells improve overall insulating performance, similar to low-e window coatings.
Together these effects increase the effective R-value of a window plus shade assembly — in practical terms, cellular shades can substantially reduce heat flow compared with an uncovered window.
Typical performance numbers (what to expect)
R-value improvement: Depending on cell design, fabric and fit, cellular shades typically add roughly R-2 up to R-5 or more to a window’s overall thermal resistance (single-cell lower end; double/triple-cell and Architella-style at the higher end). Reported ranges vary by study and product; manufacturer info often shows the highest values for layered designs.
Energy impact: DOE fact sheets and technical reports show meaningful savings potential: reduced nighttime heat loss, reduced solar heat gain when shaded, and overall energy savings when shades are used strategically (e.g., closed overnight in winter, closed during hot afternoons in summer). Exact savings depend on climate, window type, and occupant behaviour.
What changes the insulating performance
Cell configuration: single vs double vs triple cell — more cells = more trapped air layers = higher R-value.
Cell size (depth): larger cells can trap more air but fit/appearance tradeoffs exist; DOE/technical tables list different cell geometries and properties.
Low-e/reflective linings: metallized linings reflect IR and boost performance vs plain fabric.
Fit & mounting: an inside mount with minimal gaps or a tight outside mount that seals to the frame reduces convective leaks and improves performance. Edge gaps reduce the effective R-value.
Window type & climate: single-pane windows see the biggest relative improvement; insulated double/triple glazing already helps so incremental gains are smaller. Cold climates benefit most from nighttime closure; hot climates benefit from reflective/opaque fabrics during daytime.
Practical tips to maximize insulating benefit
Choose double- or triple-cell or a branded multi-cell product for the best insulation if energy use reduction is the priority.
Use low-emissivity linings for extra radiant protection (especially in cold climates or where solar heat control is needed).
Mount close to the glass and minimize gaps at the sides and top (use side channels or tensioned fittings where available) to reduce convective bypass.
Combine cellular shades with curtains or inside secondary glazing for very poor windows (this stacks air gaps and increases overall R-value).
Close shades at night in winter; close them on sunny summer afternoons when you want to reduce solar heat gain. DOE recommends operating schedules to optimize savings. (Somfy motorised honeycomb blinds can be programmed to open and close at certain times to help with this)
Limitations & tradeoffs
Aesthetic vs performance: thicker/multi-cell shades deliver more insulation but may change the visual profile.
Not a substitute for high-performance glazing. Cellular shades improve window performance but are not identical to replacing windows with higher-performance insulated glazing.
Edge gaps matter. Poor fit or large gaps reduce the insulating effect.
In short
Cellular blinds work by trapping air in honeycomb cells (conduction), limiting air movement near the glass (convection), and—when lined—reflecting radiant heat (radiation). This combination raises the effective R-value of the window/shade system and can produce meaningful energy savings and improved indoor comfort. For the strongest insulation, use multi-cell constructions, low-e linings, and tight mounting.
Sources (selected, authoritative)
U.S. Department of Energy — Energy Efficient Window Coverings and DOE Building Technologies Office factsheet on cellular shades. The Department of Energy's Energy.gov+1
PNNL technical report — evaluation of thermal/moisture performance referencing cellular shade effects. PNNL
U.S. DOE technical/pdf on window attachments (detailed tables and definitions of cellular shades). The Department of Energy's Energy.gov
Manufacturer technical info (Hunter Douglas Duette / Architella explanation of multi-cell and low-emissivity options). Hunter Douglas+1
Research/overview papers on national energy savings potential of cellular shades. osti.gov
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