Aura
Program your window treatments so that they adjust themselves automatically, creating the perfect room ambiance morning, noon and night.
PowerView® Automation
Program your window treatments so that they adjust themselves automatically, creating the perfect room ambiance morning, noon and night.
Sheer Shades
Learn more about Hunter Douglas custom window sheers, including our shadings and privacy sheers. Innovative, light-diffusing sheers. Your trusted source for window treatments.
Cellular Shades
Cellular honeycomb shades from Hunter Douglas. An energy-efficient design that traps air in distinct pockets to help keep your house cool in the summer and warm in the winter.
Roman Shades
Custom-made fabric Roman Shades by Hunter Douglas, combining the look of soft folds with the ease and convenience of a shade. Custom-crafted.
Roller Shades
The Hunter Douglas roller shades & solar screen shades collections offer excellent light control and a clean, stylish look in a range of fabrics and materials.
Woven Shades
For a warm, natural look our Hunter Douglas Woven Wood Shades collection of window treatments transforms sunlight into captivating design statements. Choose yours today.
Vertical Shades
Find the right custom vertical shades for any room in your home. Search our most popular window shades.
Wood Blinds
From controlling light to their stylish, sleek look, wood blinds have been a favorite among homeowners for decades.
Metal Blinds
Find the perfect metal blinds for any room in your home. From controlling light to their stylish, sleek look, metal blinds have been a favorite among homeowners.
Vertical Blinds
Discover Hunter Douglas customized vertical blinds featuring elegant styling and translucency in a large selection of colors, treatments, and textures. Lifetime guarantee.
Shutters
Hunter Douglas custom window shutters provide superior light control and privacy with classic styles, long-lasting finishes, and exceptional craftsmanship.
Drapery
Choose from timeless and on-trend fabrics, including lofty textures and alluring jacquards, artisanal embroideries and luminous sheers.
Light Enhancing
Enjoy the beauty of natural light and make any space more captivating, with the following light-enhancing shades.
Room Darkening
Want a darker room for better sleep or optimal movie binging? These shades and drapes help block light at the window.
Energy Efficient
Live comfortably and save energy with these shades. Designer to keep a room warm in the winter and cool in the summer.
Door Coverings
Manage natural light and add privacy with these window treatments that work well for sliding-glass and patio doors.
Sound Absorption
Create a quieter, more relaxing room with these window treatments, which help absorb sound, reducing exterior noise.
Top-Down Bottom-Up
For privacy and natural light, position shades from the top, bottom or both. These shades have this feature available.
Custom Drapery
No matter if you choose to add custom drapes or curtains as a stand-alone feature or pair them with Hunter Douglas window treatments as a unique layered look, drapery is one of the easiest ways to transform a room.
Motorized Window Coverings
Enjoy the convenience of motorized window coverings.
Consumer Financing by Wells Fargo
We offer financing options for our customers, subject to approved credit.
Free Estimates
Get a free estimate for your next decorating project.
Window Covering Measuring & Installations
Our measuring and installation service will ensure an exact fit for your window coverings.
About Us
Classic Blinds & Shutters Design Center is your resource for the best quality custom window treatments available in the greater Alpharetta, GA area.
Our Team
We are here to assist you with your project, from one window to the entire home or office.
Reviews
Find out what our past customers think about the products and services that Classic Blinds & Shutters Design Center provides.
Showroom
We are excited to welcome you to our newly renovated Hunter Douglas Gallery Showroom!
Interior Design Ideas
All Design IdeasBlinds & Shades by Room
Bathroom Bedroom Home Office Kitchen Living Room Media Room Nursery & Kids RoomBlinds & Shades by Window Shape
Angled Windows Arched Windows Bay, Bow, Corner Windows French Doors Sidelights Sliding Glass Doors Skylights Large Windows Panel-Track Blinds Picture WindowsBlinds & Shades by Function
Automated Blackout Energy Efficient Light Filtering Child and Pet-Friendly Cordless Energy-Efficient ShadesAll Design Ideas
See current and past decorating ideas from our 'Fresh Ideas' Newsletter.
Bathroom
See window covering solutions for privacy and moisture-resistance.
Bedroom
See window covering solutions for privacy and room darkening.
Home Office
See window covering solutions for light filtering and glare control.
Kitchen
See window covering solutions for a variety of needs and kitchen styles.
Living Room
See window covering solutions for light filtering and UV protection.
Media Room
See room darkening window treatments for your media room.
Nursery & Kids Room
See child-safe window coverings for baby nurseries and kids rooms
Angled Windows
See blinds and shades for angled, sloped, and triangle-shaped windows.
Arched Windows
See blinds and shades for arched, half-circle or half-moon windows.
Bay, Bow, Corner Windows
See blinds and shades for bay, bow and corner windows.
French Doors
See shutters, blinds and shades for French Doors.
Sidelights
See blinds and shades for sidelight windows.
Sliding Glass Doors
See blinds and shades for patio and sliding-glass doors.
Skylights
See blinds and shades specifically suited for skylights.
Automated
See all options for automated blinds and shades.
Blackout
See our options for blinds and shades that best control light.
Energy Efficient
See blinds and shades that help save energy at the window.
Light Filtering
See blinds and shades for light filtering and UV protection.
Child and Pet-Friendly
See blinds and shades that are safer for children and pets.
Hunter Douglas Products
More Products & Services
Inspiration & Solutions
Interior Design Ideas
Blinds & Shades by Room
Blinds & Shades by Window Shape
Blinds & Shades by Function
Opacity 101: Light-Filtering vs Blackout Shades
Shopping for new window treatments can be challenging, especially when you hear different terms like “opacities” when your priority is the room you plan to enhance. Understanding various opacities is essential whether you're looking for kitchen, dining room, or bedroom treatments.
Today, our Classic Blinds & Shutters Design Center team is delighted to discuss the differences between blackout and light-filtering shades and learn more about Hunter Douglas room-darkening technology.
Which Shade Opacity Is Right for You?
Light-Filtering Shades for Enhanced Light
Light-filtering shades offer privacy without blocking out all of the light. They gently filter out sunlight and protect from UV rays, so you can rest assured that your furnishings, floors, and décor will not fade. Our light-filtering shades block out 95% of incoming light and provide insulation. They are perfect for kitchens, living rooms, and dining rooms where you don't require total darkness.
Light-filtering shades come in several opacities:
- Sheer opacity offers the most view-through and allow you to see the outdoors.
- Semi-sheer opacity allows for light to gently filter into your space—but with some view-through.
- Semi-opaque fabrics still allow for light, but with more coverage than sheer opacities.
- Opaque fabrics offer the most coverage and include room-darkening fabric.
Solar Shades are a popular light-filtering window treatment that comes in 5 different levels of sheer to semi-sheer opacity. They are transparent mesh and allow for viewing out without compromising privacy. Solar shades are perfect for porches, patios, and rooms with multiple windows.
Blackout Shades for Total Darkness
Blackout shades block out 100% of light, so you will enjoy complete privacy both day and night. They are perfect for bedrooms, nurseries, media rooms, and home offices when you want total darkness. Studies prove time and time again that a dark room promotes good sleeping, and there is nothing worse than an annoying glare when you are trying to view a movie or work on your computer.
Cellular Shades are a popular rm-darkening window treatment. Additional features can turn them into a blackout shade that creates a completely dark room while offering unparalleled energy efficiency.
Duolite® and LightLock®: Our Light Filtering and Blackout Technology
Duolite® by Hunter Douglas pairs two fabric panels in one shade: One panel is light-filtering, and the other is light-blocking. You can move each panel independently, and both span the width and height of the entire shade.
We offer Duolite® on:
- Vignette® Roman Shades
- Duette® Cellular Shades
- Silhouette® Sheer Shades
LightLock® by Hunter Douglas is an add-on for Duette® Cellular Shades. They feature unique U-shaped side channels that blend seamlessly into the window frame. LightLock® absorbs and deflects incoming light for unparalleled darkness.
Automate Your Light-Filtering and Blackout Shades
PowerView® Automation is a ground-breaking system that offers the highest level of window treatment operation and convenience. This intuitive program lets you control your shades from an app, via remote, or with your voice when paired with your smart home system. You can create various lighting scenarios by programming your shades to follow the sun’s path.
Visit Us for Light-Filtering and Blackout Shades Near Alpharetta, GA
Classic Blinds & Shutters Design Center is a certified Hunter Douglas Gallery dealer. We have over two decades of experience working with our customers to enhance their homes with luxurious window treatments. Our team of professionals is well-versed in all our products and services and stands by to assist you on any project, large or small.
When you are ready to discover the differences between light filtering and blackout shades, please request a consultation, and a member of our friendly expert staff will reach out to you.
We are honored to serve the Metro Atlanta area, including Alpharetta, Milton, and Johns Creek, GA.