What are Honeycomb Shades: Honeycomb Shades Buying Guide

Published 07/28/2025

What are Honeycomb Shades? 

Honeycomb shades, also known as cellular shades, are window coverings designed with a unique honeycomb-shaped structure that resembles a honeycomb. These cells trap air, forming a layer of insulation that improves energy efficiency while providing a sleek, modern look. Whether you are updating a bright living room, a cozy bedroom, or a home office, honeycomb shades offer the perfect balance of style, comfort, and performance. 

How Honeycomb Shades Save Energy  

Windows are often the weakest link in a home’s energy performance. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, around 30% of heating energy escapes through windows, while 76% of sunlight hitting double-pane glass turns into unwanted interior heat. Instead of replacing every window, installing high-performance window treatments like honeycomb shades offers a more affordable way to boost energy efficiency. 

Studies from Oak Ridge National Laboratory show that cellular shades can reduce heating energy use by up to 20% and total heating and cooling energy by up to 15%. In a 2023 pilot program, Baltimore Gas & Electric reported a 13% drop in participants’ electric bills after one year of automated shade use. 

By trapping air in each cell, honeycomb shades create an insulating barrier that slows heat loss in winter and blocks solar heat in summer. Because they cost far less than new windows, honeycomb shades can quickly pay for themselves through energy savings. 

Single Cell vs Double Cell

As you explore your options, you’ll come across both single-cell and double-cell honeycomb shades. Understanding the difference can help you select the best fit for your space and energy needs. Norman®’s Portrait™ Honeycomb Shades are available in single-cell and double-cell constructions. 

Single Cell

• One layer of air pockets 
• Lightweight and suitable for large windows 
• Offers solid insulation 
• Cost-effective and energy-saving 
• Ideal for rooms with moderate insulation needs 

Double Cell

• Two layers of cells for double the insulation 
• Features Norman®’s exclusive D-cell design for superior thermal performance 
• Helps maintain a comfortable indoor temperature in all seasons 
• Most energy-efficient option 
• Great for small to medium-sized windows or areas with high heating/cooling demands 

Types of Honeycomb Fabrics 

Norman® offers a wide range of honeycomb fabrics to match your design needs and performance goals. Choose from:

• Sheer Fabrics: These fabrics allow light to filter through while providing a degree of privacy. They are ideal for creating a soft, diffused light effect in a room. 
• Light Filtering Fabrics: Designed to soften and diffuse sunlight, these fabrics help reduce glare while still allowing natural light to enter the space. They are suitable for areas where you want to maintain brightness without sacrificing privacy. 
• Room Darkening Fabrics: These fabrics are designed to block more light, making them ideal for bedrooms or media rooms where enhanced privacy and light control are desired. 

With hundreds of colors, textures, and opacity levels available, you can easily find a fabric that fits your space. 

Durability and Maintenance 

Portrait™ Honeycomb Shades are built to last, combining expert craftsmanship with user-friendly maintenance features to ensure long-term satisfaction. 

Durability 

• Quality You Can Trust: Each shade undergoes rigorous testing for color fastness, heat resistance, and overall performance, ensuring it withstands everyday use and sun exposure. 
• Backed by Warranty: Every Norman® Honeycomb Shade is supported by a limited lifetime warranty, offering peace of mind and a promise of lasting performance. 

Maintenance 

• Effortless Operation: Designed for smooth and reliable use, these shades raise and lower with ease, reducing wear and extending their life span. 
• Low Maintenance: A simple dusting or gentle vacuuming with a brush attachment is typically all that’s needed to keep your shades looking like new. 

Browse Our Honeycomb Selection

SmartRise™: Effortless Cordless Lift

SmartRise™ features a fully cordless, self-leveling lift system with no dangling cords. Simply give the bottom rail a gentle pull to raise or lower the shade—the internal mechanism locks it securely in place at any height. This cordless system is also designed to accommodate large window sizes, combining convenience, safety, and wide coverage in one sleek solution. 

SmartFit®: Sleek Cordless Top-Down/Bottom-Up

Adjust from the top or bottom without unsightly cords in the middle, SmartFit® sits closer to the window edge for less light leakage and a cleaner profile. You can lower the shade from the top to bring in natural light or raise it from the bottom like a traditional cordless shade. Its exclusive design delivers a clean, uncluttered look. SmartFit® is Best for Kids certified. 

SmartFit® Dual Shade: Dual Fabric Innovation

SmartFit® Dual Shades offer the next evolution in light control and privacy. An upgraded version of the original SmartFit® design, this innovative solution features two independently operated SmartFit shades allowing for a wider variety of fabric combinations in one sleek system. It functions like a cordless top-down bottom-up shade, but without any visible cords down the center. 

Honeycomb Shades for Patio Doors

Patio doors call for a smooth-gliding, energy-efficient solution—and Norman®’s Patio Door Vertical Honeycomb delivers exactly that. Available in ¾″ and 1¼″ single-cell sizes, these shades operate on a sleek, low-profile track system. Choose from stack left, stack right, traveling center, or center opening configurations to suit your space. The honeycomb design traps insulating air pockets to block winter drafts and reduce summer heat, all while offering the same clean look and reliable performance as horizontal honeycomb shades. They are perfect for bedrooms and living rooms.

Norman® Smart Motorized Honeycomb Shades

For a truly seamless automation experience, Norman® Smart Motorized Honeycomb Shades offer whisper-quiet operation and effortless control. Manage your shades via remote, smartphone, or voice commands using Alexa, Google Assistant, or Apple HomeKit. With the ShadeAuto™ app, you can adjust individual or grouped shades from anywhere in the world and set custom schedules—from sunrise openings to afternoon closings—for enhanced comfort and energy efficiency. 

For Norman® Smart Motorization, charging is simple and convenient with the innovative wireless charging wand. What also makes the system unique is the built-in sensor that detects obstructions to automatically stop the shade for added safety. It also enables manual operation when neither the remote nor a smart device is available. 

Choosing the Right Honeycomb Shade for Your Home 

Whether remodeling a bedroom, updating a sunlit living room, or boosting energy savings in your home office, the ideal honeycomb shade balances insulation, light control, and style. Opt for single-cell shades for standard efficiency or double-cell for superior thermal performance on large windows and patio doors. Control options range from cordless Top-Down/Bottom-Up SmartFit® and dual-fabric SmartFit® Dual Shade to self-leveling SmartRise or Smart Motorized Shades with app and voice control. Finally, select fabrics from sheer to blackout to complement your décor while reducing energy bills. 

Choose Your Ideal Honeycomb Shade with Norman®! 

Experience the craftsmanship, energy savings, and quality Norman® is known for. Explore the complete Portrait™ Honeycomb Shade collection—including SmartRise®, SmartFit®, SmartFit® Dual Shade, Vertical Cellular Shades, and Smart Motorized Honeycomb Shades—and visit your nearest retailer for personalized guidance, professional measuring, and expert installation. 

FAQs 

Are honeycomb shades better than roller shades? 

Honeycomb shades and roller shades each have their strengths, but honeycomb shades are often considered better for insulation and energy efficiency. The unique cellular structure of honeycomb shades traps air, helping regulate indoor temperatures and reduce energy costs. While roller shades offer a sleek, minimal look and easy operation, honeycomb shades are better for homes needing improved thermal performance and noise reduction.  

What is the best honeycomb shade for insulation? 

The best honeycomb shade for insulation is typically a double cell honeycomb shade. These shades offer multiple layers of insulating air pockets that enhance thermal performance. Shades with larger cell sizes, such as ¾″ or 1¼″ also improve insulation. For maximum energy efficiency, look for Norman® SmartFit® with minimum side gaps. 

Do honeycomb shades really help with energy bills? 

Yes, honeycomb shades can significantly reduce your energy bills by improving insulation. Their cellular structure traps air in pockets, acting as a barrier against outdoor heat in summer and cold in winter. According to energy experts, properly installed honeycomb shades can reduce heat loss through windows by up to 40%, leading to noticeable savings on heating and cooling costs throughout the year. 

Can honeycomb shades be motorized? 

Yes, Norman honeycomb shades can be motorized, offering cordless convenience, enhanced safety, and seamless integration with smart home systems. Motorization isn’t just for hard-to-reach windows—it allows you to control an entire house full of shades simultaneously, whether you’re at home or away. With smartphone apps, remote controls, or voice assistants like Alexa, Google Assistant, or Apple HomeKit, you can schedule or adjust your shades anytime, from anywhere. 

Motorized honeycomb shades also help enhance home security by simulating occupancy through automated shade movements while you’re on vacation or at work. It’s a perfect blend of comfort, control, and peace of mind.