The 15 Best Roller Shades In NYC

Roller shades are a swath of material such as vinyl or fabric attached to a wooden or metal tube. Being an ideal combination of practicality and style, they are the perfect choice for both traditional and contemporary interiors.

You can roll and fix these shades up to any height to let the sun stream through your windows and enjoy a perfect outdoor view. Or, you can roll them down to block the sun and enjoy peace and dark in the middle of the day. Other window treatments like draperies, curtains, and blinds don’t offer this level of ease and control. 

In this article, we’ll discuss 15 best places where you can buy roller shades in NYC. This article also includes a quick guide on the basics of roller shade shopping in NYC.

1: Horizon Window Treatments

ProsCons
1. A wide selection of roller shades 
2. Customization and motorization options
3. Experienced design consultants
4. Fast and friendly installation team
1. Only two showrooms in NYC

If you wish to customize the look of your windows and add an extra layer of texture and warmth to your living space, we recommend visiting Horizon NYC. The company opened the doors to its first location in 1999 and established one of the biggest window treatment showrooms in Manhattan in 2006.

Horizon NYC specializes in designing and installing a wide range of custom window treatments, including motorized roller shades from some of the best brands in the industry. 

At their showroom, you can see and touch fabrics and finished product samples to make the most informed decision. The company has been rated best for window treatments by The Strategist and the Expertise. You can contact them anytime for a free consultation and window measurements.

2: Manhattan Shade & Associates

ProsCons
1. Local manufacturing
2. Custom designs
3. Both hard and soft window treatments available
4. Quick installation service
1. A few customers report product quality issues

Manhattan Shade & Associates is a third-generation, family-owned, and operated business servicing its customers since 1926. The company offers a broad range of custom window treatments, such as drapes, curtains, blinds, solar shades, and roller shades in NYC.

The company offers a full range of services, from soft to hard window treatments along with a high level of customization. If you have any issues you can file a complaint; their repair department is second to none in quality and efficiency.

Manhattan Shade & Associates also specializes in motorizing and providing control systems from brands such as Lutron and Somfy. You can visit their showroom by appointment only.

3: Stylish Windows

ProsCons
1. Quick installation service
2. Motorization options available
3. Free in-home consultation within NYC
1. Blackout roller shades not available

Located at 1st Ave, Midtown East, Stylish Windows is a small, family-owned and operated business. The company was established in 2004 with an intent to provide customers with excellent service and craftsmanship.

You can hire them for a variety of custom window treatments, including blinds, shades, drapes, curtains, shutters, and motorized window treatments. You can schedule a free in-home consultation with them anytime. 

Their window treatment specialist arrives at your home with samples and helps you choose based on your current furniture, lighting, and home decor. 

4: The Shade Company

ProsCons
1. Affordable prices
2. A large selection of window coverings
3. Professional design consultants
4. Experts in blinds
1. Some customers report a poor product quality
2. Not a good choice for custom treatments

If you’re looking for a reasonably priced option with a free consultation, we found The Shade Company to be a good window treatment store. The company has been in operation since 2006. It has a team of professionals who offer a broad range of window treatments from the industry’s top brands, such as Mermet, Fabricut, Duralee, and Hunter Douglas.

Their custom treatments give better value compared to their competitors that provide products and services at comparable or cheaper rates. The Shade Company also donates $20 to The Children’s Aid Society for every project it takes up. 

5: Unique Window Treatments

ProsCons
1. Skilled installers
2. Experts in motorization 
3. Variety of solutions for unconventional windows
1. Pricey service
2. Solar shades not available

Unique Window Treatments has been serving New York and New Jersey for over 20 years. They are one of the largest window treatment installers and dealers in NYC.

Besides there are a variety of customization options for available products, Unique carries a vast selection of solutions for odd-shaped windows and hard to reach areas. 

Motorized shades come with regular specials and cash-back programs. They are the best choice for your home or office if you’re considering motorization. As for Unique’s customer service, it’s incredible and a pleasure to deal with.

6: Vogue Window Fashion

ProsCons
1. A large variety of fabrics and shades
2. Motorized window shades available
3. Free in-home consultation from interior decorators
1. High price point
2. Installation issues
3. Blackout roller shades not available

In service since 1999, Vogue is committed to serving New York and New Jersey with a variety of window treatments for both residential and commercial use. They create high-end custom solutions for all types of blinds, drapes, and shades, including solar, roman, and roller shades in NYC.

It’s a high-end luxury brands company with a high price point compared to Horizon and The Shade Company. Their services include in-home consultations from interior designers. You get to choose from a large selection of fabrics and enjoy zero sales pressure at Vogue.

7: The Shade Store

ProsCons
1. Large selection of shades
2. Best for custom window treatments
3. Free shipping and handling
4. Motorized roller shades available
5. Free swatches available
1. High-priced solutions
2. Quality issues

Established in 1946, The Shade Store is a third-generation family-owned business acquired by Leonard Green & Partners in 2018. The company has 90+ showrooms nationwide and offers a large selection of handcrafted custom window treatments. 

The Shade Store sells soft and hard window treatments like roman shades, wood blinds, blackout shutters, draperies, and roller shades in NYC stores. You can also order free swatches to help you envision the treatments and come to the right conclusion. Their customer service is not as impeccable as their top competitors.

8: BSD NYC – The Blinds Source

ProsCons
1. Free in-home consultation
2. Motorized options
3. Custom blackout roller shades available
1. Expensive service
2. Solar roller shades not available
3. Durability issues

BSD NYC – one of The Blind Source showrooms – is a family-owned and operated business committed to delivering a high standard service for over two decades. They offer all types of window treatments, including blinds, shades, drapes, curtains, as well as roller shades across NYC.

BSD NYC has partnered with top quality brands like Hunter Douglas, Appeal Smart Blinds, Crestron Home Shades, and Axis Gear Motorize. Their window treatments offer a good value for the price, but unlike Horizon or Unique Window Treatments, some customers complain about their products’ durability. 

9: Manhattan Window Fashion

ProsCons
1. Free in-home consultation
2. Customization options
3. Electric roller shades available
1. A few complaints of uneven roller shades

Manhattan Window Fashion is a custom-designed window treatment store in Midtown East. Since 1994, they have been working to deliver solutions that perfectly align with your taste.

They have a team of designers who craft top-quality window solutions, including custom blinds, drapes, wood blinds, and roller shades. You can enjoy a complete Hunter Douglas experience from Manhattan Window Fashion.

Like Unique Window Treatment, customers praise the service they receive at Manhattan Window Fashion. Some customers complain about defective products, but the company offered them free product replacements.

10: Strachman Blinds

ProsCons
1. Reasonable price point
2. Fast installation
3. Free design consultation
1. Only Sonnette™ cellular roller shades available

Serving since 1911, Strachman is a licensed custom-made window treatment company located near the Upper Westside in NYC. They specialize in all types of blinds, shades, and drapes. The company also offers installation services for glass, mirrors, and shower doors.

Strachman earned a “Super Service Award” from Angie’s List in 2015, and it has also been 2016’s best window treatment company on Yelp. However, some customer reviews note that Strachman provides subpar customer service.

11: Amerishades

ProsCons
1. Free design consultation
2. Designer roller shades available
3. Motorization and customization options
4. Free measurement and installation
1. Only one showroom in NYC

One of the best picks on our list, Amerishades was established in 2015. The company opened its first store in New Jersey and a second showroom in New York City. The Amerishades window treatments are nearly as good as Horizon NYC

They cover a wide range of window solutions including roller shades, horizontal blinds, skylight systems, wood blinds, vertical blinds, shutters and more. The company specializes in Hunter Douglas window treatments. Customers praise them for their professionalism and high-value products and services.

12: Window Horizons

ProsCons
1. Free home consultation
2. Free installation service
3. Specialize in shades and blinds
1. Expensive service
2. Only Sonnette™ cellular roller shades available

Window Horizons has been a premier provider of window treatments across New York City and New Jersey for over 20 years. It is a Hunter Douglas approved firm, so there’s a lifetime warranty against all of its products. 

The company offers exceptional customer service and provides customized shop-at-home solutions for contemporary residential and commercial living spaces. 

Like Horizon NYC and Manhattan Shades & Associates, Window Horizons also operates on an appointment-based system. You can schedule a quick quote for their treatments, such as energy-efficient blinds, blackout shades, and roller shades for your NYC homes and apartments.

13: New York Window Fashion

ProsCons
1. Customized window treatments
2. Blackout and solar roller shades available
3. Motorization options
1. Expensive treatments
2. Sometimes incompetent installation

If you are looking for a full-service window treatment agency with best in class craftsmanship, we recommend New York Window Fashion. The company has been providing a premium selection of window treatments to NYC residents since 1915.

You can hire them for high-end custom solutions such as room darkening, privacy, insulation, noise reduction, and roller shades. The products, though, offer good value, a lot of reviews report the prices to be too high when compared with other good companies like Strachman or Horizon NYC.

14: Innovation Shades

ProsCons
1. Satisfaction guarantee
2. Skylights available
3. Motorization options available
4. Blackout feature available
1. Solar roller shades not available

Innovation Shades has been a trusted store serving New York City and its boroughs for over the last 25 years. The team has earned a solid reputation by providing people with custom window treatments for residential and commercial living spaces.

They offer a broad variety of products such as aluminum blinds, ripple fold blackout curtains, motorized skylights, and roller shades. Though the entire process from consultation to installation might take longer than other popular window treatment stores, Innovation Shades offers a satisfaction guarantee on all of its products.

15: Prestigious Blinds

ProsCons
1. A wide selection of window treatments
2. Both commercial and residential solutions
3. Customization and motorization options available
1. Solar and blackout roller shades unavailable

Prestigious Blinds has been serving New York City and the surrounding areas for over eight years. The company features a range of designs for custom-made Hunter Douglas shades, sheers, louvers and panels. However, as opposed to many other window treatment companies, it doesn’t offer solar and blackout roller shades.

Convenient motorization options are available for all types of shades, blinds, and drapes, including skylights, dormers, and other hard to reach areas. Prestigious Blinds also gives discounts and savings on bulk purchases.

Types Of Roller Shades in NYC

Besides the traditional, inexpensive corded designs, roller shades come in different styles, colors, and textures. And each feature changes the overall functionality of your windows.

Fabric and vinyl are two of the most popular roller shade materials.

Fabric roller shades can be light-filtering or black-out depending on the color and the material you choose. While darker colors block more light, white and beige shades filter the light and give a warm glow to your room.

Vinyl roller shades are affordable alternatives. They block most of the sun’s rays, but if you want a bit of light to filter in, 5 mil thick vinyl roller shades will be the best option for you.

So let’s have a quick look at different famous roller shades in NYC.

Manual Roller Shades

Typically controlled with a steel bead chain and clutch system, manual roller shades are versatile and affordable shading solutions. You can get them in top-quality materials. They are usually durable and so they are suitable for regular use. 

Manual roller shades are operationally smooth and may come with single, double, and coupled rollers. From rollers to fabric and design, you get many customization options.

Cordless Roller Shades

The second best and relatively less expensive window treatment is cordless roller shades. They offer a classic yet clean appearance without any dangling cords.

They are easy to operate, and since they don’t have any tangling external cords, they are child and pet safe. To lower the shade, you just need to pull it down, and to lift it, simply raise the shade. The ratchet and spring system keeps the shade at the height you want.

Motorized Roller Shades

Though expensive, these shades add convenience and luxury to your life. Motorized shades are quiet. They are easy to install, and easy to control with a remote controller or a smartphone. 

That’s why motorized roller shades are an excellent solution for wide and hard-to-reach windows. Their durability, however, depends on your usage and the brand you choose. If it is a reputable brand like Lutron or Somfy, the battery is expected to last for 1 to 2 years.

Solar Roller Shades

These eco-friendly shades reduce the glare coming in through your windows and protect you from the sun’s harmful UV rays. Solar shades are made of a weave fabric that comes in several openness factors (1%, 3%, 5%, and 10%). 

The tightness of the weaves corresponds to the percentage of the shade it provides. For instance, with a 10% openness a solar shade will have looser weaves to allow more light and air to pass through than the one with less openness factor.

Also, solar shades function differently during different times of the day. During the day, you can see outside, but passers-by can’t see in. However, at night, with the lights on inside, you can’t see out, but your neighbors can see inside.

Blackout Roller Shades

Durable and aesthetically appealing, blackout roller shades are economical window treatments and a luxurious way to keep the light at bay. Their minimal, smooth design is ideal for spaces such as bedrooms, offices, nurseries, and home theaters.

Blackout shades have a tightly woven vinyl back lining that blocks 99% of outside light. They also function as a noise absorber and an insulator against heat. As a result, they improve your home’s energy efficiency as well. 

Custom Roller Shades

If you want the best of both worlds, custom roller shades are the perfect choice for you. They are made from scratch to fit your windows and give endless customization options that you just don’t get with store-bought shades.

You can choose the fabric you want in the size you require. If you have odd-shaped windows like circles, triangles, trapezoids, and other arches, custom roller shades will make them look clean and attractive.

The Best Roller Shades for Your Home

Roller shades generally suit decor styles from traditional to contemporary. However, choosing the best one depends on your home and your preferences.

Here’s a quick rundown of how you can choose the best roller shades for your home.

  • Manually operated window shades are the most economical. So, if you have a tight budget or you don’t prefer remote-controlled roller shades, manual or cordless shades are the best choice for you.
  • Motorized roller shades are higher-priced but way more beneficial in terms of convenience and control. If you can afford to spend a few more bucks, they are really worth the cost!
  • If you have kids or pets at home, you can choose cordless shades for safety. Cordless shades are hand-operated but leave no dangling cords for your little ones to play with and get hurt. Motorized rollers are another safe but comparatively costlier option.
  • If you seek complete privacy, you have no other option than blackout shades. They are suitable for shift workers who sleep during the day and may require complete darkness and sound proofing. Blackout shades are usually affordable and durable as well.
  • Completely tailored to your needs, custom roller shades are the perfect option if you want personalized window treatments.

When it comes to installation, you can mount the roller shades either inside the window frame or the outside.

  • Inside mounted shades fit within your window frame. Though they may leave a gap between your blind and the wall, they give a cleaner look.
  • The outside mounts are screwed into the wall. They take up more space, but unlike inside roller shades, they don’t allow the light to leak.

Below are a few brands you can choose from to get the best roller shades in NYC.

Hunter Douglas

Since 1946, Hunter Douglas has been a leading manufacturer of window treatments and architectural products. They have the largest selection of high-quality products in hundreds of colors, styles, and textures.

Lutron

Established in the late 1950s, Lutron is a well-established smart home manufacturer. It has been at the forefront of both lighting control and motorized shade control innovation.

Somfy

Somfy is a French group of companies and a registered trademark. For over 50 years, It has been a global leader in designing and manufacturing specialized motors and electronic controls for motorized window coverings.

Kravet

Founded in 1918, this is a family-owned home fashion brand and a worldwide distributor of high-quality, to-the-trade fabrics, furniture, wall coverings, carpets, and other accessories.

Carole Fabrics

Founded in 1960, this is a private regional company. Carole Fabrics is a great national source for interior design fabrics.

You can visit Horizon Window Treatments to find them all under one roof. Schedule an appointment with us to get a personalized consultation and free window measurements. We will help you choose the best roller shades in NYC that are suitable for your windows and room personality.

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