Zebra Shades
Zebra shades: light and privacy on one roller
Alternating sheer and solid bands that align for privacy or overlap for a clear, filtered view, one shade, two very different rooms.
Zebra shades (also called dual or banded shades) roll like a standard roller shade, but the fabric alternates between sheer and opaque stripes. Line the solid bands up and the room closes down; offset them and daylight filters through evenly.
They are especially popular in apartments and condos where one window has to handle a bright view during the day and a close neighbour in the evening.
Every project is measured on site, ordered to your exact openings, installed by our own team, and tested with you before we leave.
Where it works best
- High-rise apartments and condos
- Living rooms facing a close neighbour
- Bedrooms that need both a bright and a dark setting
- Home offices with variable glare
Zebra Shades
Considering zebra shades for your home?
Tell us which rooms you are working on and we will bring zebra shades samples to your home, measure the openings and recommend the version that suits the light, privacy and budget you have in mind.
Options
Choose the version that fits the room.
Standard zebra shades
Classic banded fabric in neutral, textured and darker tones.
Blackout zebra shades
Room-darkening solid bands for bedrooms that still want a daytime sheer setting.
Cassette headrail
A closed valance that hides the roll and finishes the top edge cleanly.
Motorized zebra shades
Quiet motors with remote, wall or app control for tall or grouped windows.
Benefits
Why homeowners choose it.
- Two modes, one product
- Privacy and filtered daylight without adding a second treatment.
- Modern, architectural look
- The banded texture suits contemporary interiors and high-rise glass.
- Keeps the view
- In the open position you still see out clearly.
- Simple to operate
- Chain, cordless or motorized, the adjustment takes a second.
Made to measure
Customization.
- Band width and fabric texture
- Light filtering or blackout solid bands
- Open or cassette headrail
- Manual or motorized operation
How It Works
One fabric, two settings
A zebra shade is a single roll of fabric woven in alternating sheer and solid stripes. Moving the fabric slightly shifts whether the sheer bands or the solid bands line up in front of each other.
Align the solid bands and the window closes down for privacy; offset them and the sheer bands overlap, letting daylight filter through evenly while still softening the view.
Two Modes
Privacy setting vs view setting
Bands aligned
Solid stripes overlap for privacy and light control, similar to a light filtering or blackout roller.
Bands offset
Sheer stripes overlap so daylight filters through and the outward view stays soft but present.
Applications
Built for close neighbours and bright views
Zebra shades are especially common in apartments and condos, where a window has to manage a genuinely good daytime view alongside a neighbour's window a short distance away in the evening.
A single shade handling both jobs also keeps the window treatment simpler than layering a sheer and a solid shade separately.
Installation
What happens on install day
01
Bracket fitting
Brackets are mounted level, checked against the actual window rather than the frame's nominal size.
02
Roll and headrail
The banded fabric is hung and the headrail (open or cassette) is fitted.
03
Alignment check
We confirm the bands line up cleanly in both the open and closed positions.
04
Operation test
Chain, cordless or motorized lift is tested with you before we finish.
Options
When a standard zebra shade isn't enough
Blackout zebra shades
Solid bands in a room-darkening fabric, for bedrooms that still want a bright sheer setting by day.
Motorized zebra shades
Motorized lift for tall or grouped windows, controlled by remote, wall control or app.
Cassette headrail
A closed valance for a tidier, more finished top edge.
Our work
Zebra Shades we have installed.
Photographs from finished ModuShade jobs, not stock images.
Related
Often specified alongside.
Service areas
Zebra Shades near you.
We measure and install throughout Northern New Jersey and selected New York areas.
Frequently asked questions
Zebra Shades: your questions answered.
Are zebra shades private at night?
In the closed position they behave like a light filtering or blackout shade depending on the fabric chosen. If evening privacy is the priority, we recommend the room-darkening band option.
Can zebra shades be motorized?
Yes. Zebra shades motorize the same way as standard rollers, which is worth considering for tall or grouped windows.
Do the bands ever misalign over time?
A properly tensioned zebra shade holds its alignment through normal use. If a shade does drift, the tension or bracket can usually be adjusted rather than replacing the fabric.
Is a zebra shade as private as a solid roller when closed?
In the aligned position it behaves similarly to a light filtering or blackout roller, depending on the fabric chosen, the solid bands are doing the same job.
Can zebra shades be paired with drapery?
Yes, they work well layered under drapery panels, giving daily light and privacy control with drapery adding softness and framing.
What fabric colours work best for zebra shades?
Neutral and textured tones tend to suit the banded look and most interiors; we bring samples so you can see how a specific colour reads with the bands aligned and offset.
Free in-home consultation · Free professional installation
One shade, two very different rooms
We'll show you how the banding looks aligned and offset in your own window before you choose a fabric.
Talk to Leo directly
(201) 846-6181
info@modu-shade.com
Bergen County, Northern New Jersey, Hudson County, Manhattan and selected NYC areas