Window Shades
Window shades come in so many different styles, colors, fabrics and finishes, it's enough to make your head spin. You can instantly change the whole look of a room with the right pair of window shades.
Another important difference between window shades and blinds is that many window shades are available in patterned or textured fabrics which create a wonderful alternative to the boring solid colors we usually see in window treatments.
Window shades can be fun and ornate as well. Where blinds are simple slats with no adornment, window shades often include tassels, pom poms, decorative stitching or any number of room-popping trims. Additionally, these decorative additions are usually in attractive contrasting colors, making it that much more enticing from a decorative perspective.
Window Blinds
Utility is unmatched when it comes to window blinds, so if you're measuring usefulness of window shades and blinds, window blinds win hands-down. Why? Their vary nature (seperated slats) let air enter the room, even when they're closed. For this reason alone, I never use window shades anymore. There's nothing like having full privacy but still feeling a breeze enter the room. Ah, paradise!
What's more, adjusting light is also infinitely more effective with window blinds, since the slats swivel 180 degrees, depending on which direction you've adjust them, they can let in lots of light or a little. You can even decide if you want that light coming from the top down or the bottom up. And there's never any"dead space" at the top as you have when you roll window shades down even a bit, window blinds are as airy up top as they are on the bottom. Talk about your versatile window treatments.
Conclusion:
So when deciding between window shades and blinds, if a beautiful environment is your priority, then window shades are preferable. However, if versatility is what you're after, choose window shades.
