FAQs

Ready-made window treatments are designed and mass-produced to appeal to a broad audience and sized to fit average windows. But interior spaces and design preferences vary widely, and so do window sizes.

Shade Love offers personalized designs without any compromises. This can be achieved affordably, and you can get window treatments that properly fit your windows, helping you to control sunlight, boost energy efficiency and achieve privacy and visual appeal.

Shade Love is based in New York City. We source our fine fabrics from around the world. Our products are made by skilled craftspeople and fabricators with whom we collaborate in the United States, Asia, and beyond. Our drapes and shades are hand-made by dedicated craftspeople in Europe and Asia, while our hardware is manufactured in the U.S. Many of our window treatments undergo careful handcrafting to ensure top-notch quality and a level of personalization that surpasses mass-produced options.

It’s easy! View our Measuring Guides.

If you are in the New York City metro area and would like us to measure your windows for Shade Love window treatments, please contact us at [email protected]. We provide this service to our customers free of charge.

We provide up to four complimentary swatches; you only need to cover shipping. Additional swatches are available for $4.00 each plus shipping.

We try our best to capture the look of our products with professional photography and we offer swatches so that you can feel the fabrics. But all Shade Love products are custom made to order and some are either hand-sewn or include pieces that are handmade. Given the custom and handmade nature of our products, there may be some variation in the shading, color, shape, and texture.

After you place your order and we confirm that the fabrics you selected are in stock, your order goes into production within a few days. Our current lead times are:

• Swatches: If the swatch you select is in stock, we will ship it within 3 business days.
• Drapery & Roman Shades: If the fabric(s) you select are in stock, we will ship your order within 6 weeks. 
• Roller Shades, Blinds, Wooden Weave Shades, and Hardware: If the material(s) you select are in stock, we will ship your order within 4 weeks.

Shipping and delivery to your address will generally require another 1 – 2 weeks. In many cases, expedited shipping is available at an additional charge. Please inquire about expedited shipping by contacting us at [email protected].

For orders with fabrics that are not in stock, we will contact you to provide the approximate lead time and propose alternative fabrics that are available if you want your custom window treatments sooner.

We pride ourselves on prompt delivery and try to ship your products within the expected time. On rare occasions, it's possible the lead time on orders could change during production. Should that happen, we will contact you.

Once Shade Love confirms your order, we will begin to custom-make your window treatments, a process that can take up to six weeks if the fabric(s) you select are in stock. Once production is complete, your custom window treatment is carefully packaged and sent directly to your shipping address. Please note that due to varying lead times, certain items may ship before others. We'll provide tracking information as items ship. If you need further details on the status of your order, feel free to contact us at [email protected].

We're happy to assist you with any changes within two business days of when you place the order. Whether you need to update shipping details, cancel items or orders, or modify product specifications, we're here to help. Simply reach out to us with your order number, and we'll process your change requests promptly. It’s important to note that since we begin custom making your window treatments promptly, we can’t cancel/modify an order after this two-day period.

You may cancel an order for a full refund within two business days of your initial purchase. After this period, your order is no longer eligible for cancellation. This policy is in place because of the personalized nature of our products and their prompt entry into production. If you wish to cancel your order within the specified time, please reach out to us at [email protected].

Because of the highly customized nature of our window treatments, all purchases are final, and we cannot process returns. If your order arrives incorrectly, damaged, or defective, please contact us at [email protected] within seven days of receiving your order. Our team will work with you to address the issue and provide a replacement, repair, or other appropriate resolution. Please note that proof of damage or defect will be requested and subject to review.

Motorized Roman shades have a one-year warranty. All other motorized products come with a three-year warranty on the motor.

General installation manuals can be downloaded from our website. Due to the custom nature of our products, we are unable to provide detailed installation instructions that would fit every product combination and installation area. We recommend hiring a professional window treatment installer for the best results. If you are in the New York City metro area, we provide installation services for a reasonable fee.

Shade Love window treatments come with standard screws and fasteners. Given the wide range of mounting surfaces where a window treatment might be installed, including wood, drywall, plaster, steel, concrete and more, specialty fasteners may occasionally be needed that we do not provide. These are available at home improvement stores. We recommend hiring a professional installer to ensure your custom window treatments are properly installed.

Yes, we do. Our uniquely designed paper gift cards make a great present throughout the year, especially as a housewarming or baby shower gift. Please contact us at [email protected] to purchase a gift card.

Absolutely! We have a fabric library of over 10,000 fabric choices to cater to a wide variety of needs and design preferences. If you'd like to explore options beyond what's available on our website, please contact us at [email protected]. We'll be delighted to assist you in finding the perfect fabrics for your project. Just keep in mind that orders requiring fabrics or styles not offered on our website will require more lead time.

Drapery and hardware beautifully enhance their surrounding architecture, adding a touch of sophistication and romance to a room. Drapery and hardware can be used in any space, most often in the living room or master bedroom where a more elevated look may be desired.

If you've decided on drapery, think about the look you want, whether it's striking or calming, structured or relaxed, classic or modern. Shade Love offers a wide selection of drapery options, from classic pleats to modern folds, luxurious silks to laid-back linens, hemps and cottons, and soothing neutrals to vibrant colors.

Once you’ve selected your drapes, consider their length. Typically, drapes should be long enough to skim the floor or a little longer to create an elegant pooling effect, and wide enough to achieve the desired fullness. But the ideal size depends on your specific window and space.

Shade Love’s website is designed to help you create the perfect drapery and hardware for your windows. Our website provides useful design tips as you customize your window coverings. Additionally, please reach out if you need assistance!

Shade Love offers drapery in the three styles we love most, and hope you will, too - Pinch, Tailored & Ripple Fold.

• Pinch Pleat: This classic style features double pinch pleats, stitched a few inches from the top, each pleat gradually widening, offering a traditional aesthetic.
• Tailored Pleat: With three fabric folds pinched at the top and widening downwards, this style provides a transitional look that complements both contemporary and traditional decor.
• Ripple Fold: With uniform wave-like folds, the ripple fold drapery provides a sleek, modern appearance. Shade Love's ripple fold drapes come with white, ceiling mounted, metal tracks.

We offer three lining options to choose from - unlined, privacy and blackout.

• Unlined: If you choose this option, we will not add a lining to your drape. 
• Privacy: A light polyester lining will be added for more privacy, allowing natural light to softly illuminate the room.
• Blackout: A thicker polyester layer will be used to prevent light from entering, ensuring virtual darkness when the drapes are drawn.

Our drapes are lined with polyester for its strength, durability, and resistance to UV damage, mold, and bacteria, effectively protecting natural fabrics like linen, cotton, silk, and wool.

Our hardware manufacturers make all types and styles of drapery hardware in different finishes right here in the U.S. 

Hanging Pinched or Tailored Drapes Using Rods & Brackets

We make hardware selection easier by offering three popular finishes - Iron Black, Dark Bronze, and Glossy Brass – in three styles that look great with Pinched and Tailored style drapery: Rods with Finials, Curved French Returns, and Mitered French Returns. Our rods are made to length and do not telescope.

When you order drapery and hardware from Shade Love, we provide the correct number of brackets and rings needed for your rods, ensuring a straightforward installation process.

If your order includes rods that are longer than 90 inches, we will contact you to inquire if you would like to splice the rods. Rods between 93 and 105 inches incur an additional shipping surcharge for non-splice shipping. 

Hanging Ripple Fold Drapes on Tracks

To ensure easy installation and smooth gliding of your drapes, we sell ripple fold drapes and hardware together. Our ripple fold drapes come with hooks attached to the top hem, which hook easily to our tracks. Our ripple fold tracks are white, ceiling mounted, metal tracks that create a sleek, modern look for your space.

For orders that include tracks exceeding 93 inches in length, we will reach out to inquire if you would like to splice the track. An additional charge of $150 applies for non-spliced shipping of track segments ranging from 93 to 104 inches. Tracks from 104 to 240 inches can be shipped via a freight shipper at an extra cost for non-spliced delivery.

If you are looking for options beyond the standard white track or have any questions about hanging Shade Love ripple fold drapes on tracks, please contact us at [email protected]. Our track manufacturer in the U.S. makes all types of tracks, including premium motorized tracks.

Great choice! Layering drapes and sheers together is a sophisticated, timeless look that elevates any space. We recommend hanging drapes and sheers together on double rods, as shown in the picture.

To order drapes, sheers and hardware for the same window or window area, just make sure you add both the drape and sheer to your cart with the same measurements, and two sets of hardware to your order. Upon receipt of your order, we will contact you to confirm that the order is for drapes, sheers, and double rods. If you need help placing the order, please contact us at [email protected].

Choosing how to mount your window shades is one of the initial decisions that affects both their look and function.

Inside-mounted shades are popular for their sleek look, fitting within the window frame. For a proper fit with Shade Love products, there should be enough depth inside the frame, typically 2.5 inches, so the shade can be flushed with the frame. However, because the shade lies within the frame, complete blackout might be difficult to achieve.

Outside-mounted shades, on the other hand, create a bold, decorative statement. They are ideal for rooms where maximum light blockage is desired or when the window lacks the depth for an inside mount. These shades are mounted on the exterior of the window, whether on the frame, the wall above, offering not just light blockage but also noise and draft reduction by covering the window completely.

All three have their own appeal, so it may be hard to choose. It depends on the desired appearance and features.

Roman shades provide a sophisticated look akin to drapes and are perfect when drapes are impractical, such as for small windows or when obstructed by heaters or radiators.

Woven wood shades offer a balance between aesthetics and functionality, giving an earthy and natural feel while allowing for excellent light control. Constructed from renewable materials like reeds, bamboo, jute, and grass, woven wood shades are the most environmentally friendly option.

Roller shades present a sleek, contemporary appearance and are the epitome of ease in maintenance. They can be operated either manually or with motorized controls.

Shade Love offers these three types of shades in an array of styles, materials, and colors to cater to your preferences.

Both are popular Roman shade styles to help you achieve your desired look. Flat Roman shades hang as a solid, flat fabric with a smooth front and stacking folds at the bottom, providing a clean, modern look. Pleated Roman shades feature pleats sewn every few inches into the fabric, providing a tailored and sophisticated appearance. 

Wooden weave shades add warmth, texture, and style to nearly any space. When shopping for wooden weave shades, you want to select the material and color that best meet your needs. The material's weave style determines the visibility through the shade; a thicker bamboo reed will block more light and provide greater privacy compared to a thinner grass weave. If privacy is important, we recommend choosing a liner for your shade. For the color, consider how the wooden weave looks with both your walls and floor, especially if you have wooden floors. 

You may want to consider layering Shade Love drapes over a wooden weave shade. This look offers the best of all worlds – warmth, multiple textures, elegance, and sophistication. 

To maintain woven wood shades and preserve their beauty and durability, consider the following care tips:

• Regular Dusting: Use a soft cloth, a duster, or a vacuum with a brush attachment to dust your woven wood shades regularly. This helps prevent dust and dirt buildup on the surface.
• Gentle Cleaning: For more thorough cleaning, lightly dampen a soft cloth or sponge with a gentle solution of water and mild detergent. Avoid using harsh chemicals, abrasive cleaners, or excessive water, as these can damage the natural fibers.
• Moisture Control: Since woven wood shades are made from natural materials like bamboo, grass, or reeds, they are susceptible to moisture. To prevent warping or discoloration, refrain from using too much water or exposing them to extreme humidity levels.
• Sunlight Rotation: If the shades are in direct sunlight, rotate them periodically to promote uniform wear and minimize fading on any one side.

When shopping for roller shades, it is important to choose the right fabric to meet your light and privacy preferences. Light filtering fabric is ideal in spaces where you want to enjoy natural light while maintaining privacy, such as living rooms, blackout fabrics are favored in rooms where complete darkness is desired, like bedrooms. 

The light-filtering property of a roller shade is measured by its opacity percentage. Notably, a fabric with a lower opacity percentage will admit less light, meaning it provides greater light blockage and less visibility. For instance, a fabric with 1% opacity is highly opaque, ensuring maximum privacy and light blockage, whereas a fabric with 5% opacity is less opaque and allows for more visibility.

Shade Love offers a wide range of light filtering and blackout fabrics in popular colors with interesting textures.

If you open and close your shades daily, you should expect to charge your lithium battery once every three months or so. Charging your battery once every three months also helps to keep it in good condition.

Soft verticals can “open up” a space, giving the appearance of a larger room. They are a great option for sliding glass doors, large windows, or any window where the width exceeds the height. Since soft verticals move smoothly along a track or rail, they provide easy access to the window or door while offering light control and privacy.

If you open or close your soft verticals daily, you should expect to charge your lithium battery once every three months or so. Charging your battery once every three months also helps to keep it in good condition.

Our Trade Program offers many benefits including an exclusive Trade discount, complimentary swatches, and personalized support from our customer service team. Our Trade discount applies throughout the year and increases as you spend more with Shade Love. Once you've established an active Trade account, this discount will be applied to all your orders.

Our Trade Program is exclusively offered to design professionals. To qualify for the Program, please complete our Trade application and submit the requested credentials during the application process.

You can complete and submit your Trade Application right on our website. You can expect to receive notification of your membership within 3 business days.

Yes, our network of craftspeople and fabricators can make almost any window treatment to your specifications. For a unique design or large Trade orders, please contact us at [email protected]. Our team would be happy to assist you.