Honeycomb blinds, also called cellular shades, trap air in fabric cells that slow heat loss through glass. Oak Ridge National Laboratory tests show they cut heating energy by up to 20% compared with bare windows. With a blackout fabric, one shade darkens the room for sleep and insulates it against winter cold. The best blackout blinds for bedroom windows in a cold climate are blackout honeycomb blinds, mounted to limit edge gaps and closed every night.
Why Your Bedroom Is Too Bright in June and Too Cold in January
Waking at 5 a.m. because sunlight is pouring around the curtains is a familiar Prairie complaint. In Calgary, the sun rises around 5:22 a.m. in mid-June, and the sky brightens well before that. Most people buy blackout blinds for bedroom windows and call the problem solved.
By January, the same window causes a different problem. It becomes the coldest surface in the room, drawing heat out all night. Honeycomb blinds can handle both seasons if you choose the right fabric and fit them properly.
How Honeycomb Blinds Hold Heat
Honeycomb blinds are pleated fabric bonded into rows of hexagonal cells. Each cell holds a pocket of still air, which conducts heat poorly. The shade forms an insulating layer between cold glass and a warm room, so less heat escapes and less chilled air spills toward the floor. A flat roller blind or curtain can block light just as well, but neither has that built-in air chamber.
What the Research Shows
In a test home studied by Oak Ridge National Laboratory, cellular shades saved up to 20% on heating energy compared with no shades. A later study measured daily heating savings of 17% to 36% across two heating seasons, along with better comfort.
There is a catch few product pages mention. Pacific Northwest National Laboratory found that when shades were raised and lowered casually, winter savings mostly disappeared. A shade only insulates when it is down, which is why bedrooms, where shades stay closed through the coldest hours, suit them so well.
Choosing Blackout Blinds for Bedroom Windows That Also Insulate
Pick blackout cellular shades for a bedroom, not light-filtering ones. Light-filtering honeycomb shades soften daylight but still glow at sunrise. Blackout honeycomb blinds add an opaque liner inside the cells, so the fabric blocks light while the cells keep insulating.
Inside Mount vs Outside Mount
Mounting causes most blackout disappointments. An inside-mount shade sits within the frame and must be slightly narrower than the opening to move freely, leaving a thin strip of light down each side. Three fixes work:
- Outside mount: the shade overlaps the opening by several centimetres on each side.
- Side channels: tracks that close edge gaps on an inside mount.
- Layering: a blackout shade inside the frame with lined drapery over it.
For an inside mount, measure the width at the top, middle, and bottom, and the height at the left, centre, and right, then order the shade using the smallest figures. Shallow frames and casement window cranks, both common in Alberta homes, often make an outside mount the better choice.
Honeycomb Blinds Compared With Other Options
| Option | Winter insulation | Bedroom darkness | Best fit | Watch for |
| Blackout honeycomb blinds | Highest of these, thanks to air-filled cells | Very dark; edges depend on the mount | Bedrooms, nurseries, cold windows | Side gaps on inside mounts |
| Blackout roller blinds | Moderate; single fabric layer | Very dark fabric, visible side gaps | Minimal look, media rooms | Less insulation than cells |
| Zebra blinds | Low to moderate | Room darkening, not full blackout | Living areas with adjustable daylight | Light passes through the bands |
| Lined drapery | Moderate when lined and full length | Dark with blackout lining | Layering over shades, tall windows | Light at the top and sides unless the rod extends past the frame |
Basement Window Coverings That Fight the Chill
Cordless honeycomb shades are among the best basement window coverings. Basement windows are small, sit near or below grade, and are often the coldest glass in the house. Use blackout fabric for a basement bedroom and light-filtering fabric where daylight is scarce. On a bedroom egress window, make sure the shade lifts fully clear of the opening so it never slows an exit.
Using Cellular Shades Through an Alberta Winter
Open the shades on sunny days and close them at sunset. Winter sun sits low in the southern sky, and Calgary’s frequent clear days let south-facing glass bring in free heat. Lower the shades as the light fades, and the cells hold that warmth overnight.
Watch for condensation. Natural Resources Canada notes that closed blinds can let cool air pool against a window and cause condensation. Keep indoor humidity moderate during cold snaps, open the shades by day, and wipe the sills when a chinook melts the frost on the glass.
Cordless, Motorized and Canada’s Cord Rules
Cordless honeycomb shades are the safer default in homes with children. Under Canada’s Corded Window Coverings Regulations, in force since May 1, 2021, a reachable cord must not exceed 22 cm and any loop must not exceed 44 cm. Health Canada’s advice goes further than the law: the safest coverings have no cords you can see or touch.
Motorized honeycomb shades solve the consistency problem the research found. A schedule that lowers bedroom shades at sunset keeps the insulation working even when nobody remembers. Keep any charging cord secured and out of reach.
A Quick Checklist Before You Order
- Blackout fabric for bedrooms, light-filtering for living spaces
- Outside mount, side channels or drapery for true darkness
- Three width and three height measurements, plus frame depth
- Cordless or motorized operation
- Full clearance on basement egress windows
Blackout blinds for bedroom windows don’t have to be a summer-only purchase. Chosen and fitted well, honeycomb blinds give you a darker room in June and a warmer one in January. Before you order, ask a custom blinds company in Calgary to show you samples on your own windows. MET Blinds, which offers honeycomb blinds in its custom range, explains that “Honeycomb blinds feature a unique cellular design that creates air pockets, providing superior insulation and energy efficiency compared to traditional blinds,” adding that “they’re particularly effective in bedrooms, living rooms, and areas requiring temperature control.”
FAQs
Do honeycomb blinds really keep a house warmer in winter?
Yes, as long as they are closed. Lab tests found cellular shades cut heating energy by up to 20% compared with bare windows. Left open, they insulate nothing, so close them at night or put them on a schedule.
Are blackout cellular shades completely dark?
The fabric blocks light, but inside-mount shades leave narrow gaps at the sides. For full darkness, choose an outside mount, add side channels, or layer lined drapery over the shade.
What are the best basement window coverings for a cold basement?
Cordless honeycomb shades are usually the best fit. They insulate the coldest glass in the house and suit small windows. Keep egress windows fully clear.
How much do honeycomb blinds cost?
US cost guides put installed cellular shades at about $70 to $350 per standard window, with custom shades running roughly $250 to $2,600. Blackout liners, larger sizes, and motorization raise the price. Canadian pricing differs, so get an in-home quote that separates product and installation costs. See more