So, are custom window treatments from The Shade Store worth the premium price tag? Yes, if you value extensive customization, professional service, and high-quality materials that outperform off-the-shelf options. While they are a significant investment, their products offer impressive durability and a tailored aesthetic that big-box stores can't match.
The Shade Store occupies a sweet spot between mass-market retailers like Blinds.com and ultra-premium brands like Hunter Douglas. Here’s a breakdown of their quality, value, and what you should know before you buy.
How Is The Shade Store's Quality?
The Shade Store's quality is consistently in the mid-to-high tier, focusing on durable materials, premium hardware, and solid American craftsmanship. Here’s a closer look at what to expect:
- Materials & Hardware: Their shades are built with durable components like kiln-dried hardwood, metal rollers, and stainless-steel parts. Roman shades feature natural fibers like linen and cotton, while their best-selling cellular shades use high-grade polyester fabrics that resist fading and stretching.
- Construction & Craftsmanship: Most products are manufactured in the United States, allowing for tight quality control. Customization is their strength, ensuring precise fits and a high-end finish. Stitching, hardware attachment, and overall build quality are significantly better than what you'll find at mass-market retailers.
- Durability & Longevity: With proper care, most shades and blinds should last well over five years. Manual shades tend to be the most durable. Motorized systems are reliable but may require maintenance or motor replacement after 5-7 years of daily use.
- Common Complaints: The most frequent issues reported by customers include occasional motor failures on automated shades after several years of use and minor fabric fading on treatments exposed to intense, direct sunlight over 4+ years.
Is The Shade Store Good Value for the Price?
The Shade Store offers solid value, but it comes at a premium. You are paying for a combination of product quality, customization, and full-service experience.
Price Positioning
The Shade Store is priced competitively against other custom window treatment specialists but is more expensive than big-box or online-only retailers. Expect to pay $200-$600 for a standard roller shade, $300-$900 for a Roman shade, and $150-$400 per drapery panel. This places them below elite brands like Hunter Douglas but significantly above brands like Blinds.com or Bali.
What You're Paying For
The higher price tag covers an extensive fabric selection, precise custom dimensions, and a seamless professional experience. You're paying for in-home consultations, accurate measurements, and professional installation - services that eliminate the guesswork and potential for costly mistakes that come with DIY options.
Where You Get Good Value
- Large or Uniquely Shaped Windows: For windows that are not standard size, their custom manufacturing is invaluable and ensures a perfect fit.
- Motorized & Smart Home Shades: Their motorized systems are high-quality and the professional installation ensures they are set up correctly for long-term use.
- Designer Fabrics & Custom Looks: If you're matching a specific aesthetic or need a high-end material, their vast library of options provides excellent value.
Where You Don't Get Good Value
- Standard-Sized Windows: If your windows are a standard size, you may find comparable quality from a brand like Bali or Smith & Noble for a lower price.
- Budget-Driven Projects: For rental properties or temporary solutions, the investment may not be justified when more affordable options exist.
- Basic Roller or Faux-Wood Blinds: For simple, functional treatments, you are paying a premium for The Shade Store name when the quality difference might be negligible.
The Shade Store Quality by Category
Quality and value can differ depending on the product line. Here’s what you need to know about their most popular categories.
Roller & Solar Shades
Priced from $200-$600, their roller shades feature high-quality fabrics (light-filtering, blackout, and solar) and smooth-gliding metal hardware. They are a significant step up from vinyl off-the-shelf shades and are particularly worth it for preserving views while blocking UV rays. Verdict: A solid choice for a clean, modern look.
Roman Shades
Ranging from $300-$900, Roman shades are one of their strongest categories. The craftsmanship is excellent, with fine stitching and a wide array of premium fabrics, from linen to rich velvets. This is where the custom, high-end look truly shines. Verdict: Worth the investment for primary living spaces.
Cellular Shades
These shades, priced at $250-$700, are excellent for insulation and energy efficiency. The Shade Store often uses durable, double-cell construction that provides a noticeable barrier against heat and cold. The fabrics hold their shape well over time. Verdict: Great for bedrooms and climates with extreme temperatures.
Drapery
At $150-$400+ per panel, their custom drapery is a strong value proposition, especially when you factor in professional measuring and installation. The quality of the fabrics and the precision of the tailoring provide a much more luxurious result than ready-made curtains. Verdict: Excellent value if you need a perfect fit and high-end fabric.
Our Verdict: Is The Shade Store Worth It?
The Shade Store is worth it for homeowners who prioritize a specific design aesthetic and a full-service experience over pure cost savings. You are investing in a product and a service that delivers a hassle-free, professionally finished result designed to last.
Quality Grade: B+
The Shade Store earns a B+ for their use of high-quality fabrics, reliable hardware, and solid American manufacturing. Their products are built to look good and perform well for years. Points are deducted for some variability in motorized component longevity and the potential for fabric fading in extreme sun exposure over time, which are common issues in the industry.
Value Grade: B
For value, The Shade Store gets a B. The price is fair for a fully custom, professionally installed product. The cost is justified by the precise fit, extensive fabric options, and convenience of their consultation-to-installation service. However, it's not the best value for budget-conscious shoppers who can find similar materials via DIY online retailers.
Better Alternatives to The Shade Store
If you're looking for different features or a better fit for your budget, consider these excellent alternatives.
Hunter Douglas
Hunter Douglas is a step up in quality and price, known for industry-leading innovation and exceptional materials. They offer longer warranties and patented designs like Silhouette® shades, making them ideal for homeowners who want heirloom quality and cutting-edge features.
Shop now at hunterdouglas.com
Lutron
Lutron is the leader in motorized shades for smart home integration. Their systems are known for ultra-quiet motors and seamless automation. If your top priority is a high-tech smart shade solution, Lutron is often considered the benchmark for performance and reliability.
Shop now at lutron.com
Bali Blinds
Sold through retailers like Costco and Home Depot, Bali offers custom solutions at a more accessible price point. While their service is less hands-on, their mid-tier products offer surprisingly good durability and material quality, making them a fantastic value play.
Shop now at baliblinds.com
Smith & Noble
Smith & Noble occupies a similar market position to The Shade Store, offering in-home design consultations and custom-made products. They are a direct competitor with comparable quality and pricing, making them worth cross-shopping for different sales or fabric options.
Shop now at smithandnoble.com
Blinds.com
As a leading online retailer, Blinds.com offers an enormous selection from various brands at highly competitive prices. It's a DIY-focused option, but if you're comfortable measuring and installing yourself, you can get high-quality products for significantly less than a full-service brand.
Shop now at blinds.com
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do shades from The Shade Store last?
With normal use and proper care, shades from The Shade Store should last 5-8 years or more. Manual shades generally have a longer lifespan than motorized versions, as the motors themselves typically have a functional life of 5-7 years before potentially needing replacement.
Is The Shade Store better than Hunter Douglas?
Hunter Douglas is generally considered a higher-end brand with more innovative, patented products and longer warranties, but this comes at a higher price. The Shade Store offers excellent quality and design at a more competitive mid-to-high-end price point, making it a better value for many customers.
Is professional installation from The Shade Store worth it?
Yes, for most people the professional installation is a key part of the value. It ensures a perfect fit, correct operation (especially for motorized shades), and saves you hassle and potential mistakes. This is particularly true for large, hard-to-reach, or unconventionally shaped windows.
Are The Shade Store products made in the USA?
The majority of The Shade Store's products - including their roller shades, Roman shades, and drapery - are handcrafted in manufacturing facilities within the United States. This allows them to maintain a high level of quality control, though some specific components may be sourced globally.
At Interior Insider, we're dedicated to curating the best in home decor, interior design, and home essentials to help you discover brands we think you'll love. Every brand we feature is independently selected by our editorial team based on quality, design, and craftsmanship. When you make a purchase through our links, Interior Insider may earn a commission - which helps support our small team and allows us to continue bringing you inspiration and expert advice for creating your perfect space.
Looking for more inspiration? Explore our curated design guides to find your next favorite piece.
