How Does a Day/Night Shade Work?

Unsure how a day/night shade works? You’ve landed at the right place! This post covers all you need to know about the functionality of day night shades. Also known as a duo roller shade or a zebra shade, a day and night shade is a dual-layered fabric window covering with alternating sheer and solid bands of 2 to 5 inches (5.08 to 12.7 cm) in width. It combines a range of benefits, such as flexible control of natural light emitted, enhanced privacy, energy efficiency, sound absorption, and durability, making it a versatile functional addition to various rooms.

Typically transparent strips of day/night blinds are 2” high while the stable strips are 3”, to allow for 1” overlap of fabrics when in the blackout (night) mode. The narrower light filtering stripes can still let in lots of light to moderately illuminate your room while also providing daytime privacy.

The contrasting transparent and opaque fabrics allow you to fully control the amount of incoming light by precisely adjusting the overlap of the fabric panels by simply rolling the blind up or down.

Scroll on to learn about functionality, types, pros & cons, FAQs, and other information about day and night window coverings.

How do day and night shades work?

A day/night shade is a 2-shades-in-1 option, typically available in two designs: (1) zebra shades and (2) cellular honeycomb shades.

How do day & night zebra shades work?

Zebra day & night shades have a dual layered banded zebra-like design. They allow easy transition between fully-closed and fully-open modes by sliding the fabric layers past each other by 3 to 5 inches, depending on the size of slats.

How do day night cellular shades work?

Day night cellular shades are made from longitudinally joined sheer & blackout honeycomb fabrics – pull the shade all the way down to cover the window with a sun filtering fabric, or pull the shade up to have a blackout window covering. Each type of fabric is long and wide enough to fully cover the window. Also available in dual-layered cellular fabric, this is an equally suitable product for brick-and-mortar residences and RVs or motor homes.

Pros & Cons of Day/Night Window Coverings

Pros

• 4 Opacity Levels in 1 Shade – Transition between light filtering, partially light filtering, partially dark, dark to customize light according to your needs and mood!
• 3 See-through Options – Switch between window-like open (when blind is rolled up), partially obstructed (when sheer slats are open), and totally obstructed (when blackout slats are open) view.
• Increased Insulation – Double-layered fabrics with air trapped in between add two-fold energy efficiency to your window coverings.
• Excellent UV Protection – Day and Night blinds will either totally block all sunlight or only let in safe, filtered glow (free from ultraviolet rays), preserving the shine, integrity, and vibrancy of your furniture, flooring, paintings, etc.
• Noise Absorption – Two layers of fabric act as an effective sound barrier, creating a calmer and quieter environment in homes situated along busy, bustling streets.
• A Lighter, Sleeker Option – A better alternative to bulkier and space-consuming window treatments, such as drapes, Roman curtains, shutters, & faux wood blinds.
• Easy Inside Mounts & Operation on Low-Depth Windows – Mount inside the recess of windows measuring as low as 2 1/2” in depth and enjoy obstruction-free, friction-free operation.
• Child-Safe Styles – Modern day/night shades are available in cordless designs that 100% conform to CPSC-approved New Federal Safety Standards for Custom Window Coverings.
• Integrated with Smart Motorized Technology – Products like Motorized Sheer Light Filtering Zebra Shades Elegance can be raised, lowered or adjusted using a wireless remote control, voice commands, or a smartphone app.
• Two-fold Affordability – A day/night is literally a 2-blinds-in-1 option at the price of one! While a Sheer Horizontal Light Filtering Shade Elite will cost $148 and a Blackout Roller Shade Exclusive will cost $65 (amounting to $213 collectively) for a 36×48” window, you can get a Day and Night Blackout Shade Eclipse for just $127 to cover the same-sized window. It will also save nearly $100 on installation cost, as you’ll need to install a single blind instead of two.

Cons of Day-Night Blinds

• The “Light Bleed” Dilemma – Day/Night shades may not completely darken your space due to potential misalignment of slats. If blackout and light filtering are not aligned, or there isn’t an overlap of at least an inch, some external light may seep through.
• Nighttime Privacy Concerns – If the blackout fabric isn’t opaque enough or the interlocking slats don’t create sufficient overlap (at least an inch), you’ll need to invest in a blackout liner for privacy.
• Slower Operation – Precise alignment of sheer and solid fabrics will need careful operation and may also consume more time than raising and lowering single-fabric blinds.
• Possible Dust Accumulation – Loose, holed weave of sheer fabric band may collect dust, dirt, and pollen, giving rise to maintenance and health issues (for people suffering from pollen allergy). Dust trapped in the gap between two fabric layers may also cause maintenance woes.
• Durability Concerns for High Traffic Areas – Frequent raising and lowering may result in thinning or tearing of the fabric friction between fabrics sliding past each other.
• Hard Objects May Get Stuck Between Layers of Fabric – Any hard object stuck/trapped between two layers of fabrics may hinder or jam the sliding operation, affecting both blackout and light filtering abilities of the blind. Look for and remove the obstacles to solve the issue.

How to Install Day & Night Blinds on Windows, Doors & Outdoors Spaces

• Step 1: Accurately measure the space, i.e., frame height, width and depth (for an inside mount), wall around the window or door (for an outside mount), and width and tallness of outdoor spaces, like patios, balconies, sunrooms, decks, etc.
• Step 2: Position, level, and mount brackets.
• Step 3: Attach headrail to the brackets and hang the day/night fabric panel on it.
• Step 4: Integrate child-safety features, such as a cordless lift.
• Step 5: Test operation and make readjustments, if needed.

Expert Advice

When installing day/night blinds on doors, make sure the brackets are positioned at a suitable distance away from the door handle to prevent the interference of the blind with the operation (opening/closing) of your door.

Troubleshooting Tips

• Tangled Cords – untangle the strings and secure them using cord locks.
• Jamming of the Blinds – look for and remove objects (such as insects trapped between two layers of fabrics, and window/door handles) that are obstructing the smoother operation. 
• Tilted Headrail – consider realigning the brackets, making sure they are levelled at a perfect 180-degree angle.
• Motor is Noisy – If you have purchased motorized day/night shades and the motor is malfunctioning, contact the manufacturer and request a replacement.

FAQs

Are day-night shades worth it?

Absolutely! Here’s why:

• Superior light control and privacy adjustment compared to many other window coverings, such as Roman shades, rollers, and mini blinds.
• Built-in blackout fabric for complete privacy, especially for street-facing windows, bedrooms, and bathrooms.

Do sheer and solid fabric panels of day/night shades need to be installed separately?

No, the independent sliding operation of two fabric panels is a built-in feature. You only need to install them as a single window treatment.

Can you see through day-night blinds at night?

Yes, day-night blinds are usually easier-to-see-through window coverings at night when the interior lights are on, because the brighter interior contrasts with the darker exterior. Partially open or light-filtering bands of fabric will allow visibility, while the non-sheer or blackout ones will provide better privacy at night. To further enhance privacy, order day/night shades with 3” sheer slats and 5” opaque slats to allow an overlap of at least 2” inches when the dark mode is on.

Need More Help?

Need design consultation or any other help related to the working of day/night shades? We’re ready to assist and invite you to 24/7 live chat. Or contact us at (800) 863-6109, or customerservice@affordableblinds.com for further assistance.