What are the safest window treatments for children?

Window treatments with no accessible cords: cordless lift systems you raise and lower by hand, or motorized shades controlled by a remote, keypad, app or schedule.

Are cordless shades hard to use on large windows?

On very wide or tall windows, a cordless shade can be hard to reach or heavy to lift. That's where motorization is the better choice.

What window treatments hold up best with dogs and cats?

Durable materials like faux wood blinds or shutters hold up well at windows pets love. Top-Down/Bottom-Up shades can also keep the bottom of a window clear or covered, depending on your pet.

Should I replace old corded blinds?

If older blinds or shades in your home have long or looped cords, especially in kids' rooms, replacing them with cordless or motorized options is a good idea.

Cordless Window Treatments for Homes with Kids & Pets

If you have little ones at home, or a cat who treats every blind cord as a toy, how your window treatments raise and lower matters as much as how they look. Loose and looped cords can be a strangulation hazard for young children, and pets chew them, tangle them and break them.

The good news is that custom window treatments no longer need dangling cords at all. Here’s how we help families choose options that are safer and easier to live with.

Option 1: Cordless lift

With a cordless lift, you raise and lower the shade by hand, usually by gently lifting or pulling the bottom rail. There’s nothing hanging down, and the shade stays exactly where you leave it.

Cordless is available on most styles, including:

Cellular shades, one of the most popular choices for kids’ rooms because they also darken and insulate.
Roman shades for a softer, tailored look.
Wood blinds and faux wood blinds for a classic look.

Cordless shades also simply look cleaner. Without cords, the window reads as calm and uncluttered, which is one reason many clients choose them even in homes without kids.

Option 2: Motorized lift

Motorized shades go one step further: there’s nothing to pull at all. Shades move with a remote, a wall keypad, the PowerView® App, your voice or a schedule. Remotes can live up high, and schedules mean shades open and close without anyone touching them.

Motorization is especially helpful on:

Large or tall windows, where a cordless shade would be hard to reach or heavy to lift.
Windows behind furniture, like a crib, dresser or sofa.
Many windows at once, such as a family room you want to open every morning.

New to motorization? Our beginner’s guide to PowerView® explains how it works.

Kids’ room with shades lowered behind a white bed

Tips for homes with children

Ask for cordless or motorized operation on every window, not just the nursery. Toddlers explore the whole house.
Move cribs, beds and climbable furniture away from windows so children can’t reach the window treatments.
Check older blinds and shades in your home. If they have long cords or loops, it’s time to replace them.
Think about naps. Room-darkening fabric helps daytime sleep. See bedroom window treatments for better sleep.
Plan for grown-up kids too. A nursery becomes a playroom and then a teen’s room. Neutral, durable shades last through every stage.

Designer tip: In kids’ rooms, choose a fabric color that forgives. Soft neutrals and mid-tones hide fingerprints and sticky hands far better than bright white.

Tips for homes with pets

Choose durable materials for the windows your pets love. EverWood® Alternative Wood Blinds and shutters stand up well to noses and paws.
Use Top-Down/Bottom-Up shades to your advantage. Lower the top for light and keep the bottom clear for a dog who watches the street, or keep the bottom covered so a cat can’t reach the ledge. More in our Top-Down/Bottom-Up guide.
Raise shades on a schedule so they’re already up before your dog starts pushing at the window.
Keep fabrics clear of the floor. Drapery that puddles on the floor becomes a cat bed. Panels that just touch or float above the floor stay cleaner.
Pick colors and textures that hide fur. Your designer can steer you toward fabrics that don’t show every hair.

Upgrading an older home

Many families come to us when they realize the blinds that came with their house have long cords, or when a new baby is on the way. We’ll walk through every window, recommend cordless or motorized options that fit your style and the way you use each room, and take care of measuring and installation from start to finish.

You can see cordless cellular shades throughout a real home in this bright family home, including two kids’ rooms.

Bedroom door and windows with matching cellular shades

A safer home that still looks beautiful

Safety doesn’t mean compromising on style. Cordless and motorized options come in the same fabrics, colors and styles as everything else, and they give the whole house a cleaner look.

Want to feel the difference? Stop by our showrooms in Champaign, Normal or Orland Park and try a cordless shade and a motorized one side by side, or request a free in-home consultation and we’ll bring samples to you.