What Are Roller Shades?

Roller shades are a diverse family of window coverings that get their name because they feature a rolling action that allows you to pull them down over a window or skylight. Traditional versions of these shades often have a pull cord that passes through a clutch-like mechanism. This mechanism holds the cord in place when engaged, and with simple hand motions, you can use it to adjust a shade to any position between fully open and fully closed. Some roller shades don`t have a pull cord, and allow you to make positional adjustments by pulling on the shade itself. In addition, some modern versions of these shades rely on a wired or wireless motorized system to adjust their position.
Roller shades come in a broad range of transparency levels. Sheer shades let in large amounts of light and allow you to see the world outside your window. Translucent or semi-sheer shades also let in large amounts of light, but don`t let you clearly see outside. Opaque or room-darkening shades block out most of the light coming through a window and sharply lower the light levels in a room. Blackout shades block out almost all sunlight and essentially produce complete darkness in the interior of a room.
Roller shades are also made from a wide variety of materials, from traditional fabrics like linen to thoroughly modern composite fabrics made by blending things such as vinyl and fiberglass. In addition, roller shade fabrics may have unique properties that make them especially useful for specific groups of consumers. For example, some shades are capable of rejecting the potentially damaging UV radiation found in all sunlight. People affected by chemical sensitivities can buy shades made by companies that reduce or avoid the use of possible chemical irritants during the manufacturing process. You can also purchase shades designed to help limit the growth of harmful microorganisms such as mildew, mold and bacteria.