September 8, 2026 · 4 min read · By Pierre-Marc Lareau

Function or design: a choice, not a judgment

Some blinds are designed first for function: controlling light and providing privacy, especially when neighbours are close. Others are designed for the look, and that is just as valid: many clients choose a blind because they like it. This article does not choose for you; it explains what you are buying.

Row houses: a special case

Close to a neighbour, a solar shade on its own is generally not enough for privacy in the evening: with the lights on, people can see through it. A dual zebra shade or a Shangri-La blocks the view more. To keep your view during the day, pair the solar shade with a curtain or a second, more opaque shade for the night.

At the front and the back, it's different

Where the neighbours are generally farther away (the front façade, the backyard), the solar shade becomes a very good choice again: it keeps the view, filters the heat, and being seen in the evening matters much less.

Beautiful and functional are not always the same blind

A light-filtering shade diffuses the light, but it does not let you adjust the view precisely the way a slatted blind or a dual zebra shade does. How a Roman shade performs depends mostly on the fabric and its lining: decorative, privacy or blackout. So we choose the look after defining the function you need.

What about vertical blinds?

The vertical blind follows the same logic: useful mainly if there are neighbours to block, in front of a patio door or a large window. With no one facing you, a good part of its usefulness disappears, and other products do the job just as well with a more current look.

In short

For privacy and light control, compare the dual zebra shade, the Shangri-La, the cellular shade or the blackout shade, depending on the room. To keep your view during the day, choose a solar shade and plan a second solution for the night. For design, the light-filtering shade and the Roman shade remain excellent choices when their level of privacy suits you.

The products we talk about here