If you're looking for good value, a fairly easy installation and an operational convenience for a window treatment, pleated shades might just be the alternative that you are looking for. These soft window coverings can offer some high fashion in an economical package. Not only are they built durable to last visaully appealing to the eye , you can count on them for years to come.

Pleated shades are constructed of a material fabric that has been pleated and given a much more rigid feel.There's quite the variety when looking at these types of window shades. You'll be able to choose from a wide range of colors and patterns or weaves and textures to achieve that desired look and feel you are trying to gain in your home. One of the biggest advantages of these types of shades is that you gain the "curtain" look without having to deal with the curtain drama of tying them back and having a bulkier feel to a window. In fact, pleated window shades when pulled shut, line up quite evenly at either the top or the bottom of the window depending on what kind you get. The pleats will simply gather on top of each other to form a nice clean line which make pleated shades quite pleasing for most homeowners.

Ever gotten tangled up in the cords of your blinds? Well you can forget about that with these as they have none. Cordless pleated shades go up and down simply by pulling or pushing them with your hands. And it doesn't really take much to get them in the appropriate position as they have built-in tension springs that make moving the shade up and down a breeze. They will allow some light to come in but for the most part they do offer some light filtering for privacy. Most of them are made of a durable 100% polyester that will have the same color on both sides to not only give the inside of the home some charm but also add to the outside appearance as well.

Cordless pleated shades are spectacular for homes with small children because there are no cords. Those hanging cords on other window treatments can be dangerous choking hazards for infants and small children as there little eyes go right to it and their brain says "hey something to play with".

If you are looking for a truly customized look while maintaining an appropriately level of privacy AND continue to let the light in, top down bottom up pleated shades can offer just that. These shades are becoming an increasingly popular option for homeowners today as they do provide a genuinely unique look. These shades can be moved up or down independently in either direction for superb light control. If you were to lower the shade from the top down, you can still maintain a level of privacy and let the sunshine in from the top portion of the window. One thing to note here though, and it's really not that big of a deal is that with these types of shades, because of the way they are made, they do leave a little gap at the top of the window that light can come in. You can find these in both polyester and rayon and with a multitude of styles and designs to meet any level of elegance that you may want.

Bali is a huge name in window shades and is very evident when you start to look at their pleats. Bali pleated shades are truly innovative. They've got a new patented "Neat Pleat" system that has a pioneering back ladder support that is guaranteed to keep pleats evenly spaced and prevent sagging year after year. Not only that, they offer some great privacy options in both their "Dayliner" and "Midnight Liner" that will allow you to gain that perfect light control for any room. They are a bit pricey, but well worth it. They do have a standard line of pleated shades that don't have the "Neat Pleat" system that might be a little more economical for most, but you'll still get the same great pleats just without the added support.

If you're looking at top of the line window treatment options, you certainly cannot rule out Hunter Douglas. The "Brilliance" collection from Hunter Douglas is phenomenal. These Hunter Douglas pleated shades can be found in a variety of shapes and style to fit any window. Sporting some crisp and clean 1" pleated fabric, they will definitely beautify any room and maintain the functionality that you expect from a window shade.

If you are looking or maybe worried about the privacy factors with these shades or that too much light might come thru the window, most manufacturers have different packages providing for additional backings and liners to be installed on the pleats. Room darkening and privacy liners are typically offered as an alternative only when you are customizing your shades, but they'll give you that consistent appearance when being viewed from the outside of your home. The most typical fabric used in this type of installation is a white liner but other fabrics and backings could be selected depending on your requirements and just how dark and private you want the room to be. But just remember, the actual pleated shades don't have to be that dark to have that effect on your room, but the darker the better.

Because these window shades are quite different from the likes of mini-blinds, most people might be wondering just how you would go about cleaning them. Really, it's not very difficult to keep pleated window shades clean. Typically you just treat them like any other objects that you might use a feather duster on. You could even use some of the attachments from your vaccuum cleaner to give them a light dusting. I wouldn't recommend using any type of liquid on them but if you get those stubborn areas, use your own judgement with a damp sponge. All in all though, pleated shades are wonderful substitutions for those more costly window treatments.

Pleated window shades go perfect in almost every room of the home. From bedrooms to bathrooms, kitchens to dens, you'll find styles that would match and compliment most any decor. As a matter of fact, these shades can be made to order to fit basically any kind of window shape or size you may have. It doesn't matter if they are square or rectangle, arched or bay, you can get custom pleated shades made to fit virtually any window in your home. You could use cool and relaxing colors and patterns in a bathroom or even bright coordinating colors in a kitchen. I wouldn't even rule them out from using in a kid's bedroom with some of the fun patterns and cool prints you can get on some of these shades.