When it comes to upgrading your home’s comfort, energy efficiency, and overall aesthetic, cellular shades are one of the smartest choices you can make. Known for their signature honeycomb design, these shades don’t just look refined—they actively work to insulate your space, soften light, and improve everyday living.
In this complete guide, you’ll learn what makes cellular shades unique, explore the different types of SmartWings cellular shades, and discover how to choose the right option for your home—from standard windows to skylights and custom-shaped frames.
Why Cellular Shades Are Worth Considering
Cellular shades (also called honeycomb shades) are designed with a unique honeycomb construction that traps air. This layer of insulation helps regulate indoor temperature while also improving sound absorption and light diffusion.
Homeowners often choose cellular shades because they offer:
- Excellent energy efficiency
- Soft, glare-reducing light control
- Improved privacy
- A clean, modern appearance
- Versatility for standard and specialty-shaped windows
Whether you’re furnishing a bedroom, living room, or home office, cellular shades adapt effortlessly to both function and style.
Key Benefits of SmartWings Cellular Shades
SmartWings cellular shades are engineered not only for beauty, but also for performance and smart-home living.
Energy Saving & Insulation
The honeycomb structure traps air inside the cells, helping reduce heat loss in winter and heat gain in summer—supporting a more energy-efficient home.
Light Control for Every Space
From light filtering cellular shades that gently brighten a room, to blackout cellular shades that create total darkness, you can customize how light enters each space.
Noise Reduction
The cellular pockets also absorb sound, helping create a quieter, more comfortable environment.
Custom Fit for Any Window
SmartWings offers solutions not only for standard windows, but also for arch window shades, skylights, trapezoid windows, and specialty shapes.
Smart & Motorized Options
With motorized cellular shades, you can control light and privacy using remotes, apps, voice assistants, or automation schedules.
Types of SmartWings Cellular Shades
1. Hazel Cellular Shades
Hazel cellular shades feature a compact 1.50" honeycomb structure, making them an excellent choice for narrower windows or spaces where a slimmer profile is preferred.
They are equipped with an externally mounted battery stick on the valance, allowing for easier access and simplified charging. This practical design keeps daily use convenient while maintaining a clean, modern appearance.
Key Benefits:
- Ideal for narrow or compact windows
- Slim honeycomb structure
- Easy-access external battery design
2. Nowa Cellular Shades
Nowa cellular shades stand out with a wider 1.77" honeycomb construction, delivering enhanced insulation, sound absorption, and overall energy efficiency.
Unlike most shades on the market that rely on external battery packs, Nowa features a built-in lithium battery, creating a streamlined, fully integrated design. The result is a cleaner look and a more refined presence at your window.
Key Benefits:
- Superior thermal insulation
- Integrated lithium battery
- Sleek, modern appearance
3. Levitate Cellular Shades
Levitate cellular shades are designed for homeowners who want maximum flexibility in both light and privacy control.
You can lower the top section to bring in natural light while keeping the bottom closed for privacy. Or raise the bottom for outdoor views while maintaining shade above. This dual-direction movement gives you precise control throughout the day.
Key Benefits:
- Top-down and bottom-up functionality
- Ideal for street-facing windows
- Perfect balance of privacy and daylight
4. Day & Night Cellular Shades
Day & Night cellular shades combine two independent honeycomb fabrics in one system—one light filtering, one blackout.
During the day, enjoy softly diffused natural light. At night or during movie time, switch effortlessly to blackout for full privacy and darkness.
Key Benefits:
- Light filtering + blackout in one shade
- Independent fabric operation
- Flexible lighting for every moment
5. Premium Skylight Cellular Shades
Step into your room and look up—rather than harsh overhead glare, imagine your space filled with a calm, gentle glow. That’s the experience Premium Skylight Cellular Shades are designed to deliver.
Built with a sleek four-sided aluminum frame, these shades wrap seamlessly around skylight windows. Whether your skylight is angled, horizontal, or vertical, they mount inside or outside to contour every edge with architectural precision.
Key Benefits:
- Designed for angled and overhead windows
- Strong insulation for heat control
- Elegant frame structure
- Ideal for hard-to-reach spaces
6. Trapezoid Cellular Shades
Trapezoid windows bring architectural character—but they’re often challenging to cover. Trapezoid cellular shades are custom-crafted to match slanted top edges while preserving both beauty and performance.
These shades gently diffuse sunlight, protect interiors from UV exposure, and help maintain comfortable indoor temperatures. Motorized options allow effortless adjustment with remote, app, or voice control.
Key Benefits:
- Custom fit for trapezoid windows
- Soft light diffusion
- Motorized smart control available
- Energy-efficient insulation
7. Arched Cellular Shades
Arched windows are stunning design features, but traditional rectangular blinds often hide their beauty or leave light gaps. Arched cellular shades are custom-shaped to follow the curve of the window, preserving its elegance while delivering practical benefits.
They offer effective insulation, privacy, and glare control—without compromising architectural charm.
Key Benefits:
- Precisely shaped to match arches
- Enhances natural window aesthetics
- Available in motorized options
- Supports smart home integration
How to Choose the Right Cellular Shades for Your Home
Consider Your Needs
Choosing the right cellular shades begins with identifying what you need most from your window coverings. Different households prioritize different functions—some focus on privacy, others on light control, insulation, or noise reduction.
If your main concern is blocking light for better sleep or screen viewing, blackout cellular shades are often the best choice, as they significantly reduce incoming light and enhance privacy. If you want to maintain brightness while softening glare, light filtering cellular shades allow natural daylight to pass through gently without overwhelming the space.
Thinking clearly about how you use each room will help narrow down the type of fabric, opacity, and design that best suits your lifestyle.
Factor in the Room
The room itself plays a major role in determining which cellular shades will work best.
Bedrooms and nurseries typically benefit from stronger light control and insulation, while living rooms, dining areas, and home offices often require a balance between brightness and comfort. Bathrooms and street-facing rooms may call for designs that protect privacy without sacrificing natural light, such as top-down or levitate cellular shades. It’s also important to consider the size and shape of your windows.
Specialty windows—including skylights, trapezoid windows, and arches—require custom solutions like skylight cellular shades or arched cellular shades to ensure proper coverage, insulation, and visual harmony.
Think About Fabric and Color
Fabric choice affects more than just appearance—it directly influences how your cellular shades perform. Lighter fabrics create an open, airy feel and are ideal for diffusing sunlight throughout a room. At the same time, darker or denser materials enhance room-darkening performance and add a sense of warmth and depth.
Color also contributes to how a space feels overall, whether you’re aiming for a minimal, modern look or a cozier atmosphere.
Selecting the right fabric and color ensures that your cellular shades complement both your décor and your functional goals.
Set a Practical Budget
While budget is always a consideration, it’s helpful to think beyond initial cost and look at long-term value. Manual cellular shades can effectively meet basic needs, but upgrading to higher-performance fabrics, specialty shapes, or motorized systems often delivers greater comfort, improved energy efficiency, and better everyday usability. Investing in the right cellular shades can enhance not only the look of your space, but also how comfortable and functional your home feels over time.
Enhance Your Home with SmartWings Motorized Cellular Shades
When you choose SmartWings motorized cellular shades, you’re not just adding motorization—you’re building a smarter control system around how you live. SmartWings offers multiple smart motor options, allowing you to connect your shades to the platform that best fits your home. Whether you use Apple HomeKit, Google Home, Amazon Alexa, or Matter-enabled systems, you can select the appropriate smart motor to integrate seamlessly into your existing setup.
Once connected, your cellular shades can be controlled in several intuitive ways:
-
Smartphone Apps – Control your shades from anywhere, set schedules, create preset positions, and manage multiple rooms through your preferred smart home app.
- Voice Control – With compatible smart motors, you can operate your shades hands-free using voice commands through Alexa, Google Assistant, or Apple HomeKit.
- Smart Home Integration – By connecting to your smart home ecosystem, your shades can work alongside lighting, thermostats, and sensors to build routines and automations that adapt to your lifestyle.
- Automated schedules – Automated schedules allow your shades to open with sunrise, close at sunset, or adjust based on your lifestyle—supporting comfort, privacy, and energy efficiency effortlessly.
This flexibility allows you to design a control experience that fits your home—whether you want basic motorized convenience or a fully connected smart shading system.
Tips for Installing and Maintaining Cellular Shades
Accurate Measurement & Installation
Accurate measuring is the first and most important step. A precise fit ensures smooth operation, better insulation, and a cleaner appearance. Before ordering, always measure carefully based on whether you plan an inside or outside mount, and double-check window depth, width, and height. Correct installation not only improves visual alignment but also enhances the energy-saving benefits that cellular shades are known for.
Clean Often
Many homeowners ask how to clean cellular shades, and the good news is that regular upkeep is simple. Light dust can be removed using a feather duster, compressed air, or a vacuum with a soft brush attachment. For small spots, gentle blotting with a damp cloth and mild detergent is usually sufficient. Avoid soaking the fabric or using harsh chemicals, as this can damage the honeycomb structure.
Seasonal Care
Seasonal maintenance is another smart habit. Over time, dust can accumulate inside the cells, and batteries in motorized systems may need recharging or replacement. Periodically inspect mounting hardware, check that shades are moving evenly, and confirm that motors are operating smoothly. In rooms with higher humidity, such as kitchens or bathrooms, extra attention to ventilation and light cleaning can help prevent buildup and preserve fabric quality.
Conclusion
From everyday comfort to architectural statement windows, SmartWings cellular shades provide an elegant, energy-efficient, and highly customizable solution for modern homes.
Whether you’re seeking blackout privacy, soft daylight, specialty window coverage, or smart automation, cellular shades deliver versatility that few other window treatments can match.
Explore your options, consider your space, and discover how cellular shades can transform not only how your home looks—but how it feels.
