The window covering industry uses a lot of unique terms and names. If you are not used to the terminology, don't worry! We will explain what each term means if you are not familiar with it!

Glossary of Window Covering Terms

Aluminum Blinds 

Horizontal blinds made of aluminum.

Automation

Window coverings can be controlled and programmed to open and close at specific times or for specific scenarios.

Bead Chain

Made of metal or plastic and can be continuous or have a connector. Used to lift blind and shades with clutch systems.

Blackout Shades

Material that blocks out up to 99% of incoming light. Mostly used for bedrooms or entertainment rooms.

Blind 

Window covering made of "hard" material such as wood or metal.

Bottom Rail

Used to keep window covering handing down and hanging straight. The piece at the very bottom of the window covering.

Bottom Up

Window covering that only opens from the bottom up.

Brackets

Installation part that attaches to the frame, wall, or other surface. The headrail installs into the bracket.

Cellular Shades

Window treatment with honey-comb shaped cells. These cells are air pockets that are used to insulate against heat and cold.

Clearance

The depth available for the installation of an inside mounted window treatment.

Cloth Tape

Piece of fabric that is put over the ladders on horizontal window coverings. Used to support and control the slats.

Clutch

Device that helps raise and lower the shade or blind.

Cord Loop/Continuous Cord Loop

Cord mechanism used to raise or lower a shade.

Cord Cleats

Used to keep dangling cords out of reach from small children or pets. Usually installed on the side of a window treatment.

Cord Tilt

Mechanism used to tilt slats of a horizontal blinds.

Cornice

Used to hide the top hardware of a window treatment.

Deductions

A measurement taken off when producing a window treatment. Mostly used for inside mounted shades and blinds.

End Cap

Used to cover the ends of the bottom and head rails of blinds and shades.

Flush Mount

The depth to mount a blind or shade so that no part of the window treatment extends beyond the window frame.

Head Rail

The unit that the window covering hangs from. Holds other hardware and mechanisms as well.

Hold Down Brackets

Brackets used to hold the bottom of the shade from moving.

Inside Mount

Window treatment that is mounted on the inside of a window frame.

Layering

When two or more types of window treatments are used together. For example, using drapery with a blind or shade.

Light Filtering

Window coverings that allow some light through when closed.

Louvers

Parts of a shutter that control how much light is let into a room.

Openness

The amount of light that a solar shade lets through.

Outside Mount

Window treatment that is mounted on the outside of a window frame.

Panel Track

Window treatment with panels attached to a sliding track.

Pleated Shades

Shades with fabric that is folded and creased.

Projection

Distance between wall and the front of a window covering.

Reverse Roll

Roller shade option that has the fabric roll off the front of the shade.

Roller Shades

Shade that is made of vinyl or fabric attached to a tube.

Roman Shades

Shade that rolls up from the bottom accordian-style.

Shade

Window covering made of a continuous material.

Shade Tube

Tube that is used to wrap shade fabric around.

Shutters

Window treatment with louvers to control incoming light.

Slats

Part of a horizontal blind that controls the amount of incoming light.

Solar Shades

Shades made to filter UV rays and incoming light.

Tensioner

Keeps tension on loops of a bead chain or cord.

Tilt Mechanism

Allows the cord or wand to move the slats on a blind or shade.

Track System

Head rail that vertical blinds hang on.

Top Down

Window covering that opens from the top down.

Valence

Additional piece of decorative material placed in front of the headrail.

Venetian Blinds

Horizontal blinds with larger slats.

Vertical Blinds

Blinds that have the panels hang vertically. The panels can be moved side to side or opened and closed.

Wand

Rod used to open or close a blind.

Wood Blinds

Horizontal blinds made of wood slats.

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