Woven Wood / Natural Shades

Buying Guide

How to Choose Woven Wood Shades

Woven wood shades bring texture that a printed fabric can't copy. Made from natural materials such as bamboo, reeds, grasses and jute, each one is a little different, and each filters light into a warm, dappled glow. Here's how to choose them well, and where they work best in a home.

Materials and weaves

Woven shades are made from bamboo, reeds, grasses, jute and seagrass, and the material sets the look. Bamboo and reeds give a more structured, linear texture; grasses and jute look softer and more casual. Tighter weaves let through less light and feel more tailored, while looser weaves glow more and read as more relaxed.

Because the materials are natural, expect variation in color and texture from shade to shade. That character is part of the appeal.

Bamboo is strong, with a slight natural sheen, and is usually woven in flat, even strips. Reeds are rounder and give a ribbed look. Grasses and seagrass are finer and more varied in tone, and jute has a chunky, rustic texture that sits well with linen and wool. The difference between them is as much about feel as color, so it's worth seeing them side by side in your own light.

Choosing the right weave for the light

Look at a window's light before choosing a weave. On a bright west- or south-facing window, a tighter weave or a light-filtering liner keeps glare down while still showing the texture. On a north-facing or shaded window, a looser weave lets more of the softer light through and makes the most of the shade's glow.

Light and privacy

On their own, woven shades filter light rather than block it, and at night, with lights on inside, you can see through the gaps in the weave. They're lovely in rooms where you want daylight softened and texture on show, but in a bedroom or a street-facing room you'll want a liner.

Liners

A liner attaches behind the shade and changes how it performs while keeping the natural look from inside. A light-filtering liner stops people seeing in and softens the light further. A blackout liner blocks the light that comes through the weave, which makes woven shades workable in bedrooms. Liners also give the back of every shade the same clean color from the street, which is worth considering on the front of a house.

Sun and moisture

Natural materials react to their surroundings. In strong, direct sun, some materials can lighten or change color over the years, much as wood furniture does, and a liner helps protect the back of the shade. Woven shades also aren't the best choice for very humid spots such as a shower window, where moisture can affect natural fibers. In those rooms, faux wood blinds hold up better.

Cordless and motorized

Woven shades come with cordless and motorized options. Cordless shades lift by hand from the bottom rail, with no cords for children or pets to reach. Motorized versions raise and lower at the touch of a button, and they suit wide windows, where a large woven shade is heavier to lift, and windows that are hard to reach.

Mounting and stack

Woven shades mount inside the frame for a built-in look, or outside to cover more of the edges and make a window look larger. When raised, the shade folds into a stack at the top of the window; on shorter windows, mounting above the frame lets the stack sit clear of the glass so you keep the whole view.

Layering and style

Woven shades work with many styles, from coastal and farmhouse rooms to modern spaces that need warmth. They layer well with drapery: the shade brings texture and light control, and the panels add color and softness at the sides. In a room with several windows, using the same woven material throughout keeps the texture feeling intentional rather than busy. Woven shades under stationary linen panels are a classic pairing that works in almost any room.

Where woven shades work best

They're a natural fit for living rooms, family rooms, sunrooms and dens, and anywhere that feels a little cold or plain. With a blackout liner they work in bedrooms too. They're also a thoughtful choice if you'd like a window treatment made from renewable natural materials. In a sunroom they soften strong light while keeping an outdoors feel, and in a dining room they add warmth without the formality of drapery.

Woven shades across a whole house

Woven shades don't have to be everywhere to work. Many homes use them in living spaces, where the texture shows best, and use cellular or roman shades in similar tones in bedrooms and bathrooms. Keeping colors related from room to room, and using liners on street-facing windows, keeps the outside of the house looking consistent.

Common mistakes to avoid

The most common is skipping the liner on a street-facing or bedroom window, then discovering how much the weave shows at night. Another is expecting every shade to match perfectly, when natural variation is part of the product; ordering all the shades for a room together gives them the best chance of sitting well side by side. Woven shades also don't belong in a shower window or a steamy bathroom. And in a home office, a very loose weave lets in more glare than you'd like, so choose a tighter weave or add a light-filtering liner.

Cleaning and care

Dust woven shades regularly with a soft brush or a vacuum on low with a brush attachment, working with the direction of the weave. Avoid water and cleaning sprays, which can stain natural fibers; a professional cleaner is the safest option for anything more than dust. If something stops working later, such as a stuck lift or a broken part, our repair team can diagnose and fix most problems, and can often source replacement parts.

Questions to think about before your consultation

Which rooms need privacy at night, and which only need softened daylight? Do you prefer the structured look of bamboo and reeds or the softer look of grasses and jute? Are any windows in steamy rooms or strong, direct sun? And are any wide or hard to reach? Answers to those questions tell us which materials, liners and lifts suit each window.

What to expect

At your free in-home consultation we bring samples, measure each window precisely, and give you a detailed quote, with no obligation. Everything is made to order; most custom products arrive in three to six weeks, and most installations are finished in a single visit. Before we leave, we'll show you how to operate and care for everything.

Serving Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky

We measure and install across Greater Cincinnati, including Hyde Park, Oakley, Mariemont, Madeira and Montgomery, and throughout Northern Kentucky from our showroom in Florence. Consultations are free, and we bring the samples to your home so you can judge colors and fabrics in your own light.