November in Pittsburgh means the furnace is running again, and if you sit near a window in the evening you can feel the cold coming off the glass. A lot of our homes were built long before anyone worried about heating bills. Brick colonials in Mt. Lebanon, older homes in Dormont and Brookline, big two-story great rooms out in Cranberry Township and Wexford. They all lose heat through the windows.
The right window treatments won’t replace new windows or a good furnace, but they do make a real difference in how warm a room feels. Here’s what we’re seeing Pittsburgh homeowners choose this season, and why.
Cellular Shades: The Workhorse for Cold Pittsburgh Windows
If you ask us which shade does the most for a drafty room, the answer is usually a cellular shade (also called a honeycomb shade). The fabric is folded into little pockets that trap air between the glass and your room. That trapped air slows down the heat leaving your house at night.
This isn’t just sales talk. In testing by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, double-cell cellular shades saved up to 20% on heating energy compared to a home with no shades. The catch is that you have to use them: down at night, and open on sunny south- and west-facing windows during the day so the sun can help warm the room.
A few tips from our installers:
- Go double-cell for north-facing rooms and older single-pane or thin glass.
- Inside mount, measured tight. Gaps around the edges let cold air spill in. That’s why we measure every window ourselves and re-measure before we make anything.
- Top-down, bottom-up lets you keep privacy on a busy street and still let daylight in up top.
See the full lineup on our custom shades page.
Motorized Shades and Blinds: Easier to Use, So You Actually Use Them
Here’s the honest truth about energy savings: shades only help when they’re down at the right time. Most people don’t walk around the house lowering eight shades every evening. Motorized shades fix that. Set a schedule and they close at sunset, open in the morning, and you never think about it.
Motorization is the biggest trend we’re seeing in Pittsburgh window treatments right now, and not just in new builds. It’s great for:
- Tall foyer and great-room windows you can’t reach without a ladder
- Homes with kids and pets, since there are no cords
- Anyone who already uses Alexa, Google Home or Apple HomeKit
Older city homes with plaster walls can usually go battery-powered, so there’s no cutting into walls to run wire. We carry motorized options from Hunter Douglas (PowerView), Graber and other top brands. Learn more on our motorized and smart home page, or read our guide to motorized vs. manual blinds.
Lined Custom Drapery: Warmth You Can See
Draperies have been keeping Pittsburgh living rooms warm for generations, and they’re back in a big way. Full-length panels hung close to the ceiling, with a thermal or blackout lining, add another layer between you and the cold glass. Pair them with a cellular shade underneath and you get the best of both: insulation from the shade, plus the softness and color that only fabric gives a room.
Because we sew our draperies right here in our Dormont factory, we can line them, size them to the inch, and match them to your hardware. Pick from thousands of fabrics, including our in-stock fabrics, and see the pleat styles in our drapery styles guide. Start on our custom draperies page.
Don’t Forget the Hardware
A good rod does more than hold up fabric. Mount it wide and high so the drapery stacks off the glass when it’s open and covers the whole frame when it’s closed. Return rods that wrap back to the wall cut down on the cold air that sneaks around the sides. Brushed bronze and matte black finishes are the most popular choices we’re hanging this year.
For Pittsburgh Offices and Storefronts
Commercial spaces feel the cold too, especially street-level storefronts and older office buildings downtown and in the neighborhoods. Solar shades and roller shades cut glare in the summer and add a layer in the winter, and motorized groups let you open or close a whole floor at once. See our commercial window treatments.
Which Treatment Is Right for Your Room?
- Drafty bedroom or older windows: double-cell cellular shade, plus lined drapery if you like the look.
- Big great room or two-story windows: motorized cellular or roller shades on a schedule.
- Formal living or dining room: custom lined draperies over a shade.
- Home office with glare: solar or light-filtering roller shades.
Every house is different, which is why we’d rather see your windows in person.
Get Ready for Winter with Lachina Drapery & Blind Factory
Lachina Drapery & Blind Factory has been making custom window treatments in Pittsburgh since 1963. We make our draperies in our own factory in Dormont, sell factory-direct with no middleman, and install everything with our own team. Stop by our Dormont or Wexford showroom, or let us come to you. Our free shop-at-home service brings samples and measuring right to your door, anywhere from the South Hills and Mt. Lebanon to the North Hills, Cranberry Township and beyond.
Call (412) 665-4900 or schedule your free in-home consultation at LachinaDrapery.com. The Quality You Deserve at Prices You’ll Appreciate.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do cellular shades really help with heating bills in Pittsburgh?
They can. Department of Energy lab testing found double-cell cellular shades saved up to 20% on heating energy compared to no shades, as long as they were lowered at night. Your results depend on your windows, which way they face and how you use the shades.
Can I get motorized shades in an older home with plaster walls?
Yes. Battery-powered motors mean no new wiring in most cases. We’ll look at each window during your free consultation and recommend the right setup.
Do you come to my house?
Yes. Lachina’s free shop-at-home service covers Pittsburgh and the surrounding townships. We bring samples, measure every window and give you a quote with no pressure to buy.
Where is Lachina’s factory?
Our drapery factory is in Dormont. We also have showrooms in Dormont and Wexford.
