Noise-Reduction Shades

You may be surprised to know that people who routinely suffer from sleep deprivation can actually have a small level of brain damage, leading to attention and memory problems. At the very least, regular loss of sleep can cause daytime sleepiness, leading you to feel less like doing the things you once enjoyed. Getting a good night's sleep is incredibly important, and while there may be many reasons you are not sleeping as well as you could, there are also certain things which can help. Even if you do not really realize it, outside sounds can wake you up many times throughout the night, severely compromising the overall quality of your sleep. Whether it is sounds from passing traffic, nearby trains or planes, or just normal neighborhood noise such as barking dogs or the teenagers next door, the addition of noise reduction shades can go a long way in blocking such noises. The two top sound-absorbing shades are cellular shades and fusion shades; if you are longing for a good night's sleep, read on!

Cellular Shades

Cellular shades are the top window coverings for blocking sound, and are the top choice for home theater blinds as they also block light. Cellular shades come in single cell, double cell or blackout shades. Single cell shades will offer insulating properties as well as light-filtering properties, while double cell shades have increased insulation, therefore also block noise. Cellular shades have evolved considerably over the past twenty years or so. The original cellular shades were comprised of a single honeycomb structure; when the shades were pulled, the hexagons collapsed, taking up little space--when extended, the hexagons draw air in from the sides. The newer cellular shades implement foam insulation as a more effective solution than empty air space, and incorporated the double honeycomb design in which two vertical stacks of honeycombs are staggered-this allows one stack of hexagons to be thermally connected to the window area, while the other stack of hexagons is thermally connected to the room, resulting in a significant slowdown of thermal transfer. While single honeycomb shades have an insulation value of R-2, double layered honeycombs can reach R-5, and block as much as 62% of the heat transfer through the window. If you don't need to let direct light filter into your room, double cell cellular shades can go a long way in blocking the noise and light that disturbs your sleep.

Fusion Shades

Fusion shades offer good noise reduction due to the cellular liner behind the shades. Fusion shades can give you a good selection of style and design, while serving to block a large percentage of the noise from outside. In addition to blocking noise, fusion shades can help insulate your home, and filter or block sunlight. Fusion Roman shades can combine the benefits of a cellular shade with the beauty of drapery fabric making it a good choice for the discerning designer. The horizontal fabric panels hang smoothly across the cellular liner, hiding the cords and offering superb insulation characteristics. When raised, the panels nest snugly behind one another.

Installation Considerations

For optimized sound reduction, you must have a perfect fit for your blinds; if they are less than the proper size, you will not get near the same level of noise reduction. Check with the manufacturer you choose for their recommendations on how to measure; in most cases you will measure the height and width in three different places. Not all blinds are installed in the same way, so if you are installing yourself, be sure to read the directions carefully and make sure you have all necessary tools. If you want to sleep better and spend your days more alert as well as help the energy efficiency of your home, consider noise reduction shades.