NOTE: In May 2022, new government regulations in Canada came into effect regarding exposed cords on window coverings. As a result of these regulations, a number of blind manufacturers discontinued production of operable shades on specialty shaped windows. Non-operable, stationary shades can be made to fit specialty shaped windows. Depending on the chosen fabric, light can still come through the shade.
As a certified window covering dealer for over 20 years, I get asked to help find the right window covering for many types of specialty-shaped windows. And I will be the first to say that I can find the perfect window covering because I have a very talented and skilled window covering installer backing me up. His knowledge and experience complement my product knowledge and design aesthetic and together we measure (sometimes re-measure) to ensure a perfect end result for our clients.
That experience led us to be involved with a colleague’s client who needed to replace the blinds on their 3 angled windows.
Question: I have 3 angle-shaped windows and I need a window treatment for them. What type of blinds can fit these windows without blocking all the light?
Answer: Blinds for angled windows are not items you can buy off the shelf at your local hardware or home decor store. They need to be custom-made from a template that is sent to the manufacturer. An experienced window coverings installer would make the template and install the custom-made blind.
There are a surprising number of custom window treatments for your angled windows. Here are my top five specialty shaped blinds for angled windows:
1. Woven wood shades
Woven wood shades are made from natural grasses and reeds which add a unique natural style to your windows. Made to order for a perfect fit for the rectangle and angled-shaped windows. On a specialty angle-shaped window, they will only raise up to the bottom point of the angle. The angled part will be covered with an extra-long valance.
2. Roman Shades
Roman shade blinds are a classic style of window covering. The soft fabric fold fabrics are available in a wide range of patterns, textures, and colours. The fabric can be lined to be light filtering or blackout. In an angle-shaped window, they would be made as a stationary covering. The same would be true for other specialty shaped blinds such as hexagon, octagon, oval and arch.
3. Shutters
Polyvinyl or wood shutters are a perfect fit for triangle windows. Durable louvers move individually inside the custom built frame, offering the most custom light control of any of the specialty shaped window treatment options. If the louvers are made stationary because of the size of the window, they would be placed in an open or closed position. Shutters can be custom built for most specialty shaped windows.
4. Cellular Shades
Cellular shades made for angled windows can be stand-alone stationary shades or mounted over any rectangular shade. They are lightweight and do not have a large headrail or bottom rail. The part that covers the angled window will not move. The shade the covers the rectangular shade can operate up and down.
They are energy efficient because the fabric is a honeycomb shape. This traps the air coming through the window, which insulates the room from outdoor heat and cold air. The honeycomb fabric can be light-filtering or opaque. The latter is typically preferable for sleeping quarters and media rooms. In the photo below, another client chose this type of blind for their large specialty-shaped windows because they needed sun protection without blocking too much of their view and daylight.
5. Sheer horizontal shades
Different manufacturers will have different design styles for this product in a specialty shape window. One manufacturer will have only a bottom rail and clear clips holding the fabric at the top of the window. This option is preferred by those who do not want raised trim around their window frames.
Another manufacturer builds a custom shutter frame, inserting the sheer fabric inside. You can choose to have the fabric vanes in an open or closed position.
This is what the client who asked the above question decided to go with.
A template is made for the manufacturer to ensure a picture-perfect fit.
The end result. Sheer shades in a custom-built frame, providing privacy and light control for the client’s over-height angled windows. These shades are stationary. They do not tilt open or move up and down.
If you live in the Vancouver, BC area and have a window that is not a standard-size window and would like to have a consultation with me to find the right custom specialty shaped window coverings, call or email Nancy to find out what your options are.
Here are the links to the window covering manufacturers that I use:
To view more window covering options, check out the Urban Aesthetics Hunter Douglas website
14 Comments
David Pefley
Is it possible to have shutters that open and close on a trapezoid shaped window? (Either battery or electric powered).
Nancy DeVries
The shutters would have louvers that would be operated by moving the lovers by hand. No battery or electric powered option for specialty shaped shutters.
lynn buch
CAN YOU DIRECT ME TO SOMEONE WHO WOULD CUSTOM MAKE THE SHUTTERS? WE TYPICALLY DEAL WITH GRABER, BUT IT DOES NOT APPEAR THAT THEY WILL MAKE THAT SHAPE??
Nancy DeVries
As far as I know, Graber does make angle top shutters. Hunter Douglas also makes an angle top shaped shutter. You can find a local dealer in the dealer locator section of their websites.
Barb Bunk
Are there any shades available for windows that angle downward in a sunroom? The small window pains(panes?) are above my head, bending slightly downward. The large flat window panes in front of me are also at a slight angle, leaning from the ground and inward into the room. The present shades are very old and broken. They run from the floor, upward, and curve overhead to stop. They are on runners, or tracks on each side. Thanks.
Nancy DeVries
Hi Barb, Thanks for your message. To give you the correct information, it might be best if you can email me a photo of your sunroom. There might be a product from Hunter Douglas that could work but I want to know the layout of your windows. You can email me at info@urbanaesthetics.ca – Nancy
joe
Aloha Barb!
I had the same issue in my sunroom. I ended up getting wood trim that is for stairs/steps that is L shaped. Just screw them into the sides of your window frame and it becomes a guider/track. About $20 worth of trip will do it
Karen
Hi Nancy,
I hope you’re well. I found your email in an article I was reading and I was wondering if you can help me with blind covering my slanted window. I wanted to do a motorized zebra blinds for them but I’m not sure if it’s recommended for the fit. Do you have any suggestions?
Nancy DeVries
Hi Karen, The zebra blinds that I sell are only motorized when they are a rectangle or square shape. They are only stationary panel when they are made to fit in an angle window.
Valerie Moore
I need to purchase angled blinds for my home.
Melissa Strahl
I would like to know if any Hunter Douglas can measure and order the shades for my tall angled windows in our A-frame cabin in Montana?
Nancy DeVries
Hi Melissa, Sorry for my late reply. You can find a Hunter Douglas dealer by going to the hunterdouglas.com website and type in your zipcode in the Find A Specialist tab top right corner.
Heidi
Thanks for the useful overview. We have a window shaped like your first and second examples but much wider. Would a bottom up blind work? We don’t want to permanently block the top part of the window.
Thanks!
Nancy DeVries
Hi Heidi,
There may be options that might work for your windows. The best way to find out is to email me the sizes (height on both sides of the window, width at the bottom and also the width of the angle line) of the window. Also, tell me what you need the window covering to do for example, do you need room darkening or only reduce sun glare? You can email me through the contact page. Nancy
Comments are closed.