Best Balloon Window Shades of 2026
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Balloon window shades are a popular choice for homeowners looking to add a touch of elegance to their windows. These shades are named for their distinctive, rounded shape, which gives them a soft, billowy appearance when raised. They are typically made from lightweight fabrics like cotton or linen, and come in a variety of colors and patterns to suit any decor style. Balloon shades are easy to install and operate, and can be adjusted to let in just the right amount of light. Whether you're looking to add privacy to your bedroom or dress up your living room, balloon window shades are a versatile and stylish option.
At a Glance: Our Top Picks
Top 10 Balloon Window Shades
H.VERSAILTEX Pure White Curtain Thermal Insulated Tie Up Window Shade
H.VERSAILTEX Tie Up Window Shade is a beautiful and functional curtain that can be used in various rooms of your home. It is made of triple weave pure blackout fabric, which blocks out 50% of sunlight and 100% of UV rays. This curtain is not only aesthetically pleasing but also has smart functions such as room darkening, thermal insulation, noise reduction, energy saving, and privacy protection. Its upgraded version allows for three different ways of hanging, making it versatile and luxurious. The 4" rod pocket fits up to 2" diameter curtain rods, and it comes in a size of 42"W x 63"L. With its essential blackout feature and smart functions, H.VERSAILTEX Tie Up Window Shade is the perfect addition to your kitchen, breakfast room, dining room, bathroom, living room, or bedroom.
DriftAway Blackout Linen Tie Up Curtain
DriftAway Tie Up Curtain is a linen textured blackout curtain that comes in a single piece. Its natural color complements any home decor, creating a stylish and relaxing atmosphere. You can easily adjust the height for shading and privacy. The curtain offers light reduction, thermal insulation, noise reduction, energy efficiency, and privacy protection. Perfect for small windows in various rooms, it is eco-friendly and easy to maintain.
NICETOWN Thermal Insulated Blackout Tie Up Shade
The NICETOWN Thermal Insulated Blackout Tie Up Shade is a ready-made curtain with a 46" width x 63" length (117cm x 161cm) and 3" pocket that fits various standard or decorative curtain rods. These curtains impede 85%-99% light and UV rays while serving as home decoration for small windows in the kitchen, bathroom, living room, and bedroom. They are easy to adjust and maintain, being machine washable in cold water and quick to iron or steam clean when needed.
DriftAway Farmhouse Linen Blend Blackout Tie Up Curtain
Enhance your home decor with the DriftAway Tie Up Curtain. This printed lined window curtain is constructed with a 3” rod pocket on top, making it easy to install. The linen blend fabric and premier workmanship make it sturdy, durable, and soft. The vertical striped pattern with gray color adds a stylish and artistic element to your space. The tie-up design allows you to adjust it to the height you need for shading and privacy protection. It also has high performance on light reducing, thermal insulating, noise reducing, and energy saving, leading to better temperature regulation of the room. This curtain is perfect for your bedroom, living room, dining room, office or any space and can complement all your existing decor. Machine washable for easy care.
H.VERSAILTEX Tie Up Linen Curtains 42x63 Natural
The H.VERSAILTEX Linen Tie Curtains offer a natural and elegant look with their open weave linen blend fabric, giving your windows a soft, draped appearance while being eco-friendly and free from harmful chemicals. Each panel is sold individually, making it easy to customize your space with the 42 by 63-inch size and a rod pocket that fits most standard rods. This upgraded curtain style is versatile, allowing you to hang it in three different ways—whether as a valance, a traditional rod pocket curtain, or a tie-up shade—so you can adjust the height and style to suit any room. Plus, the light, airy fabric lets in gentle natural light while still providing privacy and helping reduce energy costs.
DriftAway Chris Striped Blackout Tie Up Curtain
DriftAway Striped Tie Up Curtain is a luxury window panel made of durable linen blend fabric. The Chris vertical striped pattern looks elegant and rich, while the classic gray stripe pattern adds a touch of sophistication to your room. The tie-up design makes it easy to adjust to your preferred height for shading and privacy protection. Lined with a blackout liner, the curtain efficiently blocks light, insulates against heat and cold, and reduces noise. The 3” Rod Pocket header type makes installation quick and easy. Machine washable for easy care.
H.VERSAILTEX Blackout Tie Up Curtain
H.VERSAILTEX Tie Up Curtain is a beautiful window treatment solution that can block out 90% sunlight and prevent 100% UV ray. Made of high-quality polyester fabric, it is vinyl-free, eco-friendly, and safe for kids and nurseries. This curtain comes in a 42"W x 63"L size with a 4" rod pocket that fits various standard or decorative curtain rods. The upgraded version of the curtain allows you to hang it in three ways: as a curtain valance, a rod pocket normal curtain, or a tie-up shade with any height you prefer. The graceful flower pattern adds a customized, clean, and modern style to your space, making it perfect for your kitchen, breakfast room, bathroom, living room, or bedroom. Let H.VERSAILTEX Tie Up Curtain add an amazing look to your home's decor.
Petaholic 100% Blackout Curtains
Petaholic Blackout Curtains are made of 100% polyester material, providing a thick and sturdy fabric that blocks out all lights and UV rays. The opaque thermal insulation coating keeps your room cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter, improving sleep quality for both babies and adults. These curtains feature high-quality PU Nano-Adhesive, making them easy to apply and remove without leaving any residue. They are lightweight and come with a handy travel bag, making them perfect for travelers and renters. With multiple uses, these blackout curtains can be attached directly to glass windows or doors using the super strong suction cups, instantly creating a dark sleeping environment or private space. Machine washable and easy to cut to fit any window size and shape, Petaholic Blackout Curtains are a convenient and versatile solution for any room.
DriftAway Julia Watercolor Floral Tie Up Curtain
The DriftAway Floral Tie Up Curtain is made from soft, 100% polyester fabric that feels gentle to the touch. Its charming watercolor floral design adds a relaxed and natural look to any small window, making it perfect for kitchens, bathrooms, bedrooms, or living rooms. You can easily adjust the height of this curtain to control light and privacy, thanks to its durable triple weave blackout material. This fabric also helps keep your room cooler or warmer by insulating against temperature changes, reduces noise, and saves energy. Installation is simple with a 3-inch rod pocket that fits most curtain rods for quick setup.
H.VERSAILTEX Grey Tie Up Thermal Insulated Curtain
The H.VERSAILTEX Tie Up Curtain offers you a stylish and practical window treatment with its blackout and thermal insulation features. Made from soft microfiber polyester, this curtain blocks out nearly all light and harmful UV rays, helping you create a dark, comfortable space and protect your interiors. Its unique design allows you to tie it up for a charming gathered look or let it down for full coverage, giving you control over light and privacy. You can also hang it in various ways, including as a Roman shade or a traditional curtain, making it a versatile choice for many rooms. Plus, it’s easy to clean in the washing machine, saving you time and effort.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. How do balloon shades work?
Balloon shades work by using an attached cord that lifts the fabric and creates pleats. The cords run through rings installed on the back of the shade, allowing the fabric to gather into billowy poufs when pulled open. This creates a romantic and elegant look for your windows.
2. How to make a balloon blind?
To make a DIY balloon shade, you will need to gather your supplies and measure your window. Then, sew a hem around the fabric to create the shade. Finally, hand sew plastic rings to the shade, which will be used to create the balloon effect when the shade is lifted.
3. Do thermal window shades work?
Thermal window shades can help reduce the amount of hot air entering a room during the summer. They trap heat behind the layers of fabric, providing some insulation. However, the overall impact on energy waste is small, and they may not significantly reduce your air conditioning load.
4. How does a retractable window shade work?
Retractable window shades are operated by a strong coil spring inside one end of the roller. A flat pin holds the shade up and tightens or loosens the spring when the shade is rolled up or down. This mechanism allows for easy and smooth operation of the shade.
5. How much fabric do I need for a balloon shade?
The fabric for a balloon shade should be slightly longer than the width of the window so that it can drape nicely. A general guideline is to buy fabric that is double the width of the window. For example, if you have a 10-foot window, you would need approximately 12 feet (4 yards) of fabric. Hem the ends of the fabric and sew ring tape on top for attaching the rings.
6. How wide should balloon curtains be?
For balloon curtains, the curtain should measure double the width of the window to create fullness and a beautiful gathered appearance when the curtain is lifted.
During our balloon window shade research, we found 24 balloon window shade products and shortlisted 10 quality products. We collected and analyzed 108,094 customer reviews through our big data system to write the balloon window shades list. We found that most customers choose balloon window shades with an average price of $21.72.
The balloon window shades are available for purchase. We have researched hundreds of brands and picked the top brands of balloon window shades, including H.VERSAILTEX, DriftAway, NICETOWN, Petaholic. The seller of top 1 product has received honest feedback from 3,342 consumers with an average rating of 4.8.
Rebecca Cantu grew up in a family-owned retail store for home and kitchen products. She worked online and gave assistance to people to buy ideal products for their sweet home after graduating from Northwestern University with a marketing degree. She has been writing content for online shopping guides since 2011 with her professional knowledge and natural sensitivity of appliances.
Balloon Window Shades Comparison Table
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| Brand | H.VERSAILTEX | DriftAway | NICETOWN | DriftAway | H.VERSAILTEX | DriftAway | H.VERSAILTEX | Petaholic | DriftAway | H.VERSAILTEX |
| Color | Pure White | Beige | Grey | Grey | Natural | Grey | Bluestone/Taupe | Black | Julia Navy | Dove Gray |
| Material | Polyester, Polyester Blend | Polyester | Polyester | 5% Linen, 95% Polyester | 70% Linen, 30% Polyster | 5% Linen, 95% Polyester | Polyester Blend | Polyester | Polyester | Microfiber Polyester |
| Opacity | Blackout | Blackout | 0.5 | Blackout | Light-filtering | Blackout | Blackout | Blackout | Blackout | Blackout |
| Special Feature | Noise Reduction, Thermal Insulated, Washable | Noise Reduction, Thermal Insulated | Bagged, Blackout, Window Treatments | Noise Reduction, Thermal Insulated | Adjustable | Noise Reduction, Thermal Insulated | Noise Reduction, Thermal Insulated | 100% blackout, DIY shape, Easy to install, Portable, Uv Protection | Noise Reduction, Thermal Insulated | Blackout |
| Room Type | Bedroom, Dining Room, Living Room | Bedroom, Dining Room, Home Office, Kitchen, Living Room | Bedroom, Kitchen, Living Room, Nursery | Bedroom, Dining Room, Home Office, Kitchen, Living Room | Bathroom, Bedroom, Dining Room, Living Room | Bedroom, Dining Room, Home Office, Kitchen, Living Room | Dining Room, Kitchen, Nursery | Bathroom, Bedroom, Living Room, Media room, Office | Bedroom, Dining Room, Home Office, Kitchen, Living Room | Bathroom, Bedroom, Dining Room, Kitchen, Living Room |
| Style | Contemporary | Solid | Modern | Striped | Classic | Striped | Classic | Modern | Floral | Modern |
| Pattern | Solid | Solid | Solid | Striped | Solid | Striped | Floral | Solid | Floral | Solid |
| Size | 42"W x 63"L (Pack of 1) | 31"W x 47"L (Pack of 1) | 46"W x 63"L (Pack of 1) | 45"W x 63"L (Pack of 1) | 42"W x 63"H | 45"W x 63"L (Pack of 1) | 42"W x 63"L (Pack of 1) | 57"W x 118"L (Pack of 1) | 31"W x 47"L (Pack of 1) | 42"W x 45"H |
| Recommended Uses For Product | Indoor | Indoor | Bathroom, Kitchen, Living Room, Bedroom | Indoor | Indoor | Indoor | Indoor | Car, Door Window, Window | Indoor | Indoor |
| Specific Uses For Product | Privacy, Room Darkening, Sun Protection | Room Darkening | Privacy | Decorative, Room Darkening | Privacy | Room Darkening | Decorative | Privacy, Room Darkening, Sun Protection | Decorative | Room Darkening |
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