Glossary of window terminology used in window covering industry.

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Term	Definitions	Images
2 on 1 Headrail	Two shades or blinds that operate independently but are supported on one continuous headrail.
3 on 1 Headrail	Three shades or Blinds that operate independently but that are supported on one continuous headrail.
Aluminum Blinds	A type of horizontal blind with 1/2”, 1” or 2” slats made out of Aluminum.
Arch	A specialty blind or shade custom built into the arch shape.
Blackout	Letting in no light. Blackout Shades are made with non light filtering fabric or have “blackout” liner applied.
Blackout Liner	A liner applied to the backside of a shade to eliminate any light from filtering in the room. Also a good choice for complete privacy.
Blinds	A window blind is a type of window covering that is traditionally made with slats of wood, vinyl, plastic or metal. They adjust by rotating from an open position to a closed position by allowing slats to overlap. Normally Blinds are horizontal and are suspended by a ladder system.
Bottomrail	The rail at the bottom of a blind or shade. A Bottomrail can be made of wood, vinyl, hemmed fabric, or metal. When referring to vertical blinds a bottom vane may be weighted.
Braided Ladder	The string system that is used to hold horizontal blind slats together. A braided string is attached inside the headrail, runs through the middle of each slat and ends at the bottom rail.
Center Draw	How a blind, typically a vertical blind or a sliding panel, draws open and shut. A center draw would be split down the middle drawing the blind to each side.
Cord Cleat	Used to prevent window covering pull cords fromsitting on floor or sill. Cords are tied to cord cleat to insure child and petsafety.
Cordless	Shades that operate with a simple push or pull of the bottom rail. A no string system makes a cordless shade kid and pet safe.
Cordless Top down	Shades that operate with a simple push or pull of the bottom rail and can be pulled to let the shade down from the top.
Crown Cornice	A specific, even more decorative valance piece that covers the exposed headrail of a blind or shade. Typically made out of wood, Vinyl or Fabric.
Curtain Panels	Also know as Draperies are made of a fabric material. They can be lined and interlined. Typically you need at least 2 panels to create the drama that is needed for draperies.
Decorative Tapes	Decorative fabric that covers the braided ladder strings on a blinds. Most wood, vinyl, and aluminum horizontals can be ordered with this upgrade. Also known as Fabric tapes.
Deductions	An allowance that is taken into consideration when producing a window treatment depending on a whether a treatment is for inside or outside mount. We will take all necessary deductions for an inside mount. Simply give us the exact measurement you wish your shade to cover for outside mounts.
Double Cell	A cell refers to a honeycomb shape that is created for a Cellular Shade. Cells help block unwanted noise and help reduce energy loss. A Double cell has two honeycomb shapes for even more insulation.
Draperies	Also know as Curtain panels are made of a fabric material. They can be lined and interlined. Typically you need at least 2 panels to create the drama that is needed for draperies.
Duofold	Duofold or topdown bottom up shades have cords on either side of the shade. One cord lets the shade down from the top and one cord pulls the shade up from the bottom. This option is perfect for rooms where you would like sunlight to come in but still need to maintain privacy on the lower level of the room.
Eco Green	Products and Fabric that are offered that are environmentally conscious.
Edgebanding	1” -2” Decorative fabric that covers the edge sides and bottom of a shade. Most Woven Woods can be ordered with this upgrade. Also known as Decorative tapes.
Embossed	Textured Finish typically on faux wood horizontals and some verticals to obtain the look of “real” wood slats when painted.
Energy Efficient	Product made to help conserve energy loss.
Engineered Wood Composite	Poly vinyl composite that has been produced to look like it has a wood grain. Available in textured and “stain” colors.
Ez- Lift
Fabric Tape	Decorative fabric that covers the braided ladder strings on a blinds. Most wood, vinyl, and aluminum horizontals can be ordered with this upgrade. Also known as Decorative tapes.
Fauxwood Blinds	A type of horizontal blind that is constructed using slats made from poly vinyl and ladder string system suspended from headrail. May also know as a venetian blind.
Flame Retardant	A coating that is produced in the fabric or applied on wood and faux wood to discourage or resist spread of fire.
Flat Roman	A traditional accordion style roman fold when pull up but fabric lays completely flat when shade is is down position.
Fringe	Decorative string tassels that can be applied to the bottom hem of some shades.
Grade A Basswood	Basswood is a type of wood that is light and uniform making it perfect for wood blinds and shutters. A is the highest grade A basswood.
Greenguard (Eclipse Shutters)	Certifies that products meet standard for low-emitting products and are designed to control mold and moisture.
Headrail	The unit that all window covering hang from. The headrail also holds and supports any mechanisms such and tilt, lift clutch, and strings.
Hem	How a shades fabric ends and is seamed. Can be a standard fabric fold or decorative fold on many shades
Hobbled Roman	Fabric that is upholstered to a headrail that has graceful looped folds when laying in down position. Folds continue when shade is being pulled in up position.
Hold Down Brackets	Brackets that can be used to secure the bottom of a shade from moving or swaying.
Honeycomb Cellular Shade	A shade that is produced using a multiple cell construction. A cell refers to a honeycomb shape that is created for a Cellular Shade. Cells help block unwanted noise and help reduce energy loss. Honeycomb Cellular Shades can be ordered as a single cell or double cell.
Horizontal Shades	Like Horizontal blinds; horizontal shades have slats that run parallel to the ground but slats are produced using sheer- opaque fabric.
Imperfect Arch	A measurement that is not equal in every place of the arch from end to circle radius.
Inside Mount	Measurement or mounting of a window covering from inside window frame to inside window frame. Inside frame top to inside frame bottom.
Inside Mount allowancess	Measure from inside frame to inside frame in three places horizontally and vertically. Give us those exact measurements and we will take all necessary deductions to insure the covering fits within the frame appropriately with mounting brackets. Please do not deduct or add from any measurements on a inside mount or you blind will not fit the opening.
Ladders	Multiple braided strings attached to headrail to form a structure for horizontal slats to rest and operate.
Lift Mechanism	Mechanism inside the headrail that enables the blind or shade to lift covering up and down.
Liftcord	The cord that is attached to the lift mechanism that allows you to easily lift and lower blind with a gentle pull.
Light Filtering Fabric	Fabric or screen material that allows filtration of light to come into the room. You can see shadows and possible soft colors through most light filtering materials.
Light Filtration (concerning window coverings)	The amount of light that that a window covering will allow to come through the material/fabric.
Looped-Style Roman	Fabric that is upholstered to a headrail that has graceful looped folds when laying in down position. Folds continue when shade is being pulled in up position. Also known as a hobbled Roman.
Louver	Similar to a slat, a louver is a larger convex shape that allows a shutter or shutter blind to let in more or less light. Like a horizontal blind louvers will overlap and rest on one another in the structure.
Low Profile Headrail	A smaller less distracting headrail that enables a window covering to be placed in a shallow window depth or is better when trying not to obscure a window view.
Magnetic Valance	Magnets that are placed on the backside of a valance to secure itself to the metal headrail opposed to the traditional plastic valance clips.
Mitered cut (when used for window coverings)	A cut made diagonally, corner to corner in order to connect a new piece of material seamlessly. A mitered cut is used when placing a side return onto a valance front.
Motorized lift	A remote operated mechanism that allows a window covering to open and close. Good for large, tall windows that are hard to reach. Upgrade available on some shades.
Mounting Space	The allowance needed in order to mount a window covering appropriately within a window frame..
Off Center Draw	A draw is when multiple vanes pull to an area using a cord or wand. Traditionally a draw is to one side or the other. Some window coverings can be requested and produced with An Off Center draw that allows the vanes to pull to a specific area based on window or door requirements. An off center draw would require vanes to pull to both sides.
One Way Draw	Traditional way vanes are pulled to one side or the other to obtain open position.
Opacity %	The degree of how well background or outdoors can be seen through a fabric or material. Based on a Sheer (0%)-Opaque (100%) scale system.
Opaque	Not transparent or translucent; not allowing light to come through material. An opaque material would also be completely private.
Outside Mount	Refers either to a window treatment being mounted on a window frame or beyond a window frame (wall) opposed to inside a window frame.
Outside Mount Allowances	Deductions taken into consideration when planning the mounting process. Consider at least an 1” past a window frame when wall mounting a shade and at least 2.5” when wall mounting a blind.
Panel	Similar to a vane multiple Panels make up a type of vertical window covering structure. Panels run from headrail to floor an are approximately 47” in width.
Perfect Arch	An exact measurement that is equal in every place from end to circle radius.
Pleated Shades	Fabric folded and creased like an accordion or fan. Most fabrics can be “folded” every 1” or 2”.
Privacy Liner	A fabric liner that is applied to the backside of a shade to give more privacy in a room. Less light will come through. You may be able to see shadows through some privacy liners.
Projection Brackets	Brackets that will extend a shade from its mounting surface. Projection brackets can be used when mounting a shade to a wall that needs to project past a window frame.
PVC	Poly vinyl composite
PVC (fauxwood) Shutters	Shutters produced with a virgin poly vinyl composite to encourage longer lasting, easy to clean, environmentally friendly shutter system.
R-Value	The measurement of resistance to heat flow. Thehigher the R-value the greater the insulation value.
Rayon Ring Pull	Pull that can be attached to the shade for easy grasb when pulling shade down. Also can be for decorative purposes.
Reverse Roll	Referring to how a roller shade rolls around it’s pin. A standard roll moves to the back of the pin closer to the window pane. A reverse rolls to the front, closer to you, hiding the roll and making it more aesthetically appealing from the inside of you home.
Roller	The pin system that fabric rolls around to create a Roller shade
Roller Shades	Fabric or screen material that rolls around a pin and lays completely flat when shade is in down position.
Roman Shades	Fabric that is upholstered to a headrail that gracefully make large folds when being pulled up. Roman shades can be ordered flat or hobbled (folds).
Roman Style Fold	When referring to woven shades the shade will fold up just like a roman shade opposed to rolling up like a traditional tropical bamboo shade. A roman fold provides better wear and tear on the natural bamboo and weaves and is more aesthetically pleasing.
Room Darkening	Not transparent or translucent; not allowing light to come through material. A room darkening material would also be completely private. Opaque.
Routed	Horizontal blinds consist of a braided ladder system; The braided cords are run through holes in the slat that allow the slats to tilt open and close.
Routeless	Traditional Horizontal blinds operate with a string that runs through a hole in each slat. A Routeless system is similar to a spider web in that the slats rest on and through this string web in order to operate. This eliminates holes in the slat ultimately letting in less light./td>
Scallop	A design or cut on the bottom on a fabric to create a hem that is runs like upside down hills.
Semi Opaque	Like a privacy liner, semi opaque fabrics may block some light and offer minimal privacy. You may be able to see shadows through a semi opaque material.
Semi-Sheer	Semi- Sheer is a light filtering, translucent fabric. Do not consider this a good option if placed in a room that needs privacy.
Shades	An type of window blind that can completely cover or completely uncover a window. Can be opaque, semi opaque, or light filtering. Typically produced with a fabric or woven material.
Shutters	A type of window covering that works using Louvers that overlap to create a tilt for open and close position. Traditionally a tropical style covering; shutters are now produced to be fitting for any room style. Can be produced in Wood or PVC.
Side Returns	Small pieces attached in a miter cut to a valance or cornice forming a unit with 3 sides to completely cover any exposed headrail. When a window covering is mounted outside mount you may need side returns.
Single Cell	A cell refers to a honeycomb shape that is created for a Cellular Shade. A run of single cells help block unwanted noise and help reduce energy loss. Cellular shades are available in Single Cell or double Cell.
Skylight poles	Pole that can be purchased with blinds or shades mounted in a skylight for easier reach and access.
Slat	A horizontal wood, vinyl, or metal piece that runs the width of the window opening. Multiple slats operate together to create a blind.
Smooth (slat)	A slat with no texture or raised grain.
Speciality treatments	Any unique shaped window treatment that is made for a specific shape window such and a arch shape.
Stack	The gather of slats, vanes or panels when in complete open position. Knowing a stack width/height is good when concerned with how much view you will have through your window.
Support Bracket	A bracket made to support the center of a very wide blind. Many wide window coverings require a center support in order to insure the covering will not dip, bow, or sway in the middle.
Tassels	A decorative piece that can be attached to the pull string on some shades.
Tilt Mechanism	What makes a cord or wand move the slats or veins on a blind to allow in more or less light.
Top Down Bottom up	Topdown bottom up shades or Duofold have cords on either side of the shade. One cord lets the shade down from the top and one cord pulls the shade up from the bottom. This option is perfect for rooms where you would like sunlight to come in but still need to maintain privacy on the lower level of the room.
Translucent	Permitting the passage of light, clear, see through. Many of shades can have a privacy or blackout liner applied to give more privacy.
Twill Tape	Decorative fabric that covers the braided ladder strings on a blinds. Most wood, vinyl, and aluminum horizontals can be ordered with this upgrade. Also known as Decorative tape or Fabric tape.
Valance	A decorative molding piece that is attached and covers the headrail of a blind or shade. Also known as a Valance. Cornice/Valances are typically made from the same material and color that the rest of the window covering is produced with. A standard feature with most Wood and Vinyl Blinds.
Valance Clips	The clips that are used to attach a valance to the headrail. Typically are made of white or clear plastic.
Vane	A vane is a term typically used for vertical blinds referring to the 3.5” wide vertical pieces of fabric, wood, or vinyl that run from the headrail to the floor.
Vertical Blinds	A series of 3.5” vanes connected to a continuous heardrail that run vertically across a window opening. Typically can be produced with wood, vinyl, fabric and woven material.
Vinyl Blinds	A poly vinyl composite material that is used to produce the slats on faux wood horizontals, verticals, and Shutters. This composite material make these faux wood blinds and shades an excellent choice for bathrooms, kitchens or any other room with high humidity.
Wand tilt	A wand that is attached to the headrail of a blind that allows the slat or vane to tilt in and out for choice of light filtration.
Water Resistant	NOT waterproof. Blinds are water resistant when a sealant is applied that makes the unit better for high humidity areas such as bathrooms, kitchens, and sunrooms.
Weave	Refers to the braid or construction of a material such as bamboo, grass, jute, or screens in order to produce a shade with more or less opacity.
Window Depth	The depth of a window frame used to calculate how much room you have available for a window treatment. Some window treatments are better for shallow window depth while others need a specific or deep window depth.
Window Opening	From inside frame to inside frame, top frame to bottom frame the amount of opening space you have available for a window treatment.
Wood Blinds	From inside frame to inside frame, top frame to bottom frame the amount of opening space you have available for a window treatment.
Wood Shutters	From inside frame to inside frame, top frame to bottom frame the amount of opening space you have available for a window treatment.
Woven Woods (Bamboo)	From inside frame to inside frame, top frame to bottom frame the amount of opening space you have available for a window treatment.