Start with the room's job, not the fabric color
Custom roller shades work best in a design package when the specification begins with the room's job. A south-facing living room may need glare control while preserving a view; a bedroom may need blackout fabric; a home office may need a screen that softens daylight without making the room feel closed. Those are different performance requirements, even when the windows share the same trim color.
World Wide Shades gives designers a way to specify those choices window by window. The catalog spans more than 500 colors across 40+ fabric families, including blackout and light-filtering options from Phifer, Mermet, Ferrari, Copaco, Senbesta and Texstyle. Each fabric listing includes the mill's published openness factor and a genuine fabric swatch photo, so the decision can be made from documented fabric information rather than a guess from a room photograph. Review the World Wide Shades fabric catalog before locking the finish schedule.
Choose light control and view as separate criteria
Opacity and color answer different questions. Blackout is the right starting point when limiting light is the project's priority, such as a bedroom or media room. Light-filtering fabric diffuses daylight and maintains a brighter room, while a solar-screen-style fabric can preserve more of the outward view depending on its openness and color. The window's orientation, exterior view, nighttime privacy needs and interior palette all affect the best selection.
Openness factor is not a color code. Mermet defines it as the proportion of physical openings in a woven fabric; the mill's glossary of openness-factor terms is a useful reference. Phifer's interior SheerWeave collection ranges from blackout through fabrics listed up to 25% open, with styles designed for different light-control goals. Those are examples from the mills, not a promise that every opening percentage is available in every color or WWS fabric family.
Use the published specification for the exact fabric under consideration. A lower openness figure generally describes a tighter weave, but it does not, on its own, guarantee a particular view, privacy result or room-darkening outcome. Fabric color, glazing, lighting contrast and side gaps also matter. World Wide Shades presents the mill information alongside the fabric images so a designer can evaluate the actual choice. Compare available fabric families at World Wide Shades.
Build a window schedule that protects the design intent
For a multi-room project, list each opening with its room, width and height, mount type, preferred fabric, control and any nearby obstruction. This is not busywork: it keeps an office screen from accidentally being specified in the adjoining bedroom and prevents a motorized treatment from being ordered for a shallow frame without checking depth. A schedule also lets the owner review rooms in a consistent order.
For repeated windows, decide whether visual uniformity or room-specific performance takes priority. Matching fabrics and bottom-bar finishes can make a series of windows read as one composition. Choosing blackout in a bedroom and light filtering in an adjacent sitting room may serve the actual use better. Record both the reason and the selection so the client understands why two shades that look similar from across the room may have different fabric specifications.
The custom shade builder lets the buyer choose the shade type, fabric, size and control and see live pricing. World Wide Shades does not quote a universal per-window price in this guide; project cost depends on the selected configuration, so use the builder for the live quote rather than carrying an unverified allowance.
Verify mount and depth before finalizing sizes
An inside mount gives the shade a contained, architectural appearance when the frame is deep enough. World Wide Shades requires at least 1.5 inches of frame depth for an inside mount and recommends 2.5 inches for motorized shades. If the frame is shallower, use an outside mount rather than forcing an inside-mount specification that the opening cannot support.
For inside mount, measure width at the top, middle and bottom, then use the narrowest measurement. Measure height at the left, center and right, then use the tallest measurement. Enter the exact opening size in the builder; the factory makes the deductions, so do not subtract from the width yourself. The World Wide Shades measuring guide explains the order and the shade builder accepts the dimensions.
For outside mount, add 2–3 inches on each side and 3 inches above the frame. Check the finished projection against casing, handles, window cranks, millwork and any planned drapery. Designers should distinguish the visible glass from the full frame and identify which surface the installer or homeowner will use as the mounting reference.
Specify the control that matches the opening
Manual control can suit a reachable window with occasional use. Motorization is worth evaluating for a high transom, a bank of windows, a wide opening or a room where shades will be adjusted as part of a daily routine. World Wide Shades offers rechargeable battery motors, so no wiring is required. Automate motors are the default; a customer who already has a Somfy remote can choose a Somfy motor paired to it.
A remote is required. The Push 5 remote runs up to five shades, which can simplify a small room or a coordinated group. For app, voice and scheduled operation, the Automate Pulse 2 hub adds those functions for Automate motors only. Treat the hub as a separate control decision, not an automatic inclusion: the Automate Pulse 2 setup guide describes its app and automation functions.
If the client prefers rechargeable motors, note the charging plan in the handoff. A charger is not included in the box; any USB-C charger works, or the buyer can add the Motor Charger. See motorized shade choices from World Wide Shades and configure a shade with the chosen control.
Balance project timing, quality and fit risk
Every World Wide Shades shade is 100% custom-made by hand in the USA. Standard delivery is 2–4 weeks from order; limited-stock fabrics and specialty shapes take 3–4 weeks. Free shipping is included in the United States. For a design schedule, count backward from the desired installation date and leave room for final field dimensions, client approval and order review. Do not promise a faster delivery window.
Custom fabrication is an investment in a measured opening, a selected mill fabric and a specific control package. Compare it with a ready-made shade by considering whether the stocked dimensions, color, opacity and lift fit the room; compare it with an in-home designer brand by reviewing the available customization, fabric mills, lead time, motor options and buying process. World Wide Shades offers live configuration pricing in the builder so the buyer can assess the chosen specification directly. For a criteria-based look at another custom-shade buying process, see how to compare custom shades with The Shade Store and how to compare online roller-shade options with Hunter Douglas.
Set expectations about custom-order fit before submitting. Manufacturing defects are remade free within 30 days, with motor coverage for one year. If a shade is mismeasured, the customer receives a one-time free recut and covers shipping. Custom orders are not returnable. World Wide Shades states the policy clearly so the person responsible for the dimensions understands the tradeoff before approving the order. Contact World Wide Shades to discuss a project question or call (844) 674-2716.
Make a room-by-room selection
For bedrooms, start with blackout versus light filtering, then decide whether a motor and schedule are useful. Browse the bedroom shade options and the blackout roller shade collection. For a living room, weigh daytime glare, view and privacy; compare living-room shades with the light-filtering collection. For a home office, the home-office options help keep the selection tied to how the room is used.
When an opening is not rectangular, do not treat it as a standard roller-shade order. World Wide Shades makes custom shades for specialty shapes including triangles, trapezoids, pentagons, hexagons, arches and skylights. Pure triangles are fixed panels; trapezoids operate on the rectangular section. See specialty-shape shade options before finalizing the design.
Continue the project research with World Wide Shades' guides to motorized shades across floor-to-ceiling windows, motorized shades with a Somfy remote, and rechargeable motorized shades without new wiring. This batch also covers custom motorized shades in Westchester and Fairfield County, Automate motor, remote and hub choices, replacing vertical blinds with roller shades, and planning upgrades in a new home.
Frequently asked questions
Record the room use, opening dimensions, inside- or outside-mount plan, available frame depth, desired opacity, fabric and color, control preference, window obstructions and target delivery date. A consistent schedule makes it easier to review the specification with the client and order each window correctly.
The frame needs at least 1.5 inches for an inside mount. World Wide Shades recommends 2.5 inches for a motorized shade; if the frame is shallower, choose an outside mount.
No. Measure width at the top, middle and bottom, use the narrowest value, and enter the exact opening size. The factory makes the deductions. For height, measure left, center and right and use the tallest value.
World Wide Shades' delivery window is 2–4 weeks from order. Limited-stock fabrics and specialty shapes take 3–4 weeks. Every shade is custom-made by hand, and US shipping is free.
World Wide Shades does not offer a swatch or sample program. The online fabric listings include the mill's published openness factor and a genuine swatch photo; review those details before selecting the fabric.
Ready to order?
- Measure each opening using the measuring guide: narrowest width and tallest height for an inside mount, without subtracting.
- Choose a fabric and opacity from the fabric catalog, then select the mount and control.
- Enter the exact dimensions in the World Wide Shades builder and review live pricing for the configured shade.
- Confirm the specification and place the custom order, allowing 2–4 weeks for delivery or 3–4 weeks for limited-stock fabric and specialty shapes.
For project questions, contact World Wide Shades or call (844) 674-2716. To compare motor options before ordering, start with motorized shades and the Automate ordering guide.
