Everything you need to know to select the right coverings for your home.

If you’ve ever stood in front of a wall of swatches feeling overwhelmed, you’re not alone. The right window covering doesn’t just block or filter light — it sets the tone for how you live in a space. It can transform a Racine dining room into a warm, textural retreat, make a Lake County home office usable all afternoon, or give a Waukesha nursery the calm and darkness it needs.

This guide was created for homeowners in Milwaukee, Racine, Kenosha, Walworth, Waukesha Counties in Wisconsin and Lake, and McHenry Counties in Illinois who want more than one-size-fits-all solutions. Instead of drowning you in specs, it’s designed to help you picture how each option looks, feels, and functions in real homes like yours.

Before You Start: Why Pros Make the Difference

Custom window coverings are as much about precision as they are about aesthetics. That’s why the process begins with an in-home design consultation. Colors that look soft in a showroom can shift completely in the afternoon sun of a Milwaukee bay window. Trim that seems easy to measure suddenly complicates how a Roman shade stacks or how a shutter panel clears. Professionals translate your design goals into fabrics, finishes, and forms — then measure and install so the finished look feels seamless.

Bring room photos or paint names if you have them, but most important, bring how you live: Do you want privacy in the evenings without losing daylight? Is glare an issue when you work from home? Are you designing for easy cleanup in a kitchen or quiet naps in a nursery? Those lifestyle notes guide everything.

Custom Blinds: Clean, Tailored, Versatile

Blinds are often the first choice for homeowners who want fine-tuned control of light without committing to fabric. In Kenosha kitchens, faux-wood blinds handle humidity and wipe down easily after a busy day. In Milwaukee offices, real wood blinds add richness while still tilting open for natural light. The look can shift dramatically — crisp white paint for modern simplicity, or deep stains for warmth and texture.

The magic lies in proportion and detail. Narrow slats feel more traditional and dressy, while wide 2½-inch slats open up the view. Inside-mounted blinds hug the window for a clean architectural line, while outside mounts are often used in older Racine and Walworth homes with elaborate trim. Even the smallest choices, like whether you prefer visible cords or a cordless lift, change how the window feels in daily use.

Custom Shades: Soft, Streamlined, or Textural

Shades bring softness where blinds feel structured. They roll, fold, or weave into place, offering everything from sheer glow to complete blackout. In McHenry County’s newer builds, roller shades are a favorite — low profile, nearly invisible when raised, and available in fabrics that filter light without closing off the view. In Racine and Kenosha’s lakefront homes, woven wood shades add organic warmth, echoing the natural setting outside.

Roman shades deliver more drama, stacking into folds that can feel tailored and dressy or relaxed and casual depending on the fabric. Opacity becomes the main decision point: sheer for light-filled living rooms, blackout for bedrooms where rest is the priority. And while all shades lift to open, the details matter: a continuous loop keeps large spans balanced, while cordless and motorized systems make everyday use effortless.

Custom Shutters: Architectural & Timeless

Shutters are more than window treatments — they’re furniture for your walls. In Waukesha, homeowners often choose bright white shutters to add crisp definition to open-concept spaces. In Milwaukee’s historic bungalows, stained wood shutters preserve warmth and period charm. Wherever they’re installed, they read as permanent, architectural, and intentional.

The choice of louver size sets the tone: smaller louvers lean traditional, while larger ones feel modern and open. Panels can fold, swing, or stack depending on your window size, and frames can either sit neatly inside the trim or extend outside to cover it completely. Composite shutters are the practical pick for bathrooms and kitchens, where humidity is a factor, while natural wood makes a statement in formal living or dining rooms.

Custom Honeycomb Shades: Quiet Comfort

If blinds are about control and shutters about structure, honeycomb shades are about comfort. Their pleated construction traps air, adding insulation against both winter cold and summer heat — a big plus in Wisconsin and Illinois homes where seasons swing dramatically. They also soften sound, making them a go-to for nurseries in Racine or bedrooms in Lake County where quiet is as important as light control.

Visually, they’re sleek and discreet. Lowered, they add a subtle, contemporary texture; raised, they all but disappear into the headrail. Options like top-down/bottom-up operation give flexibility for privacy without sacrificing daylight, while blackout fabrics make them ideal for media rooms or spaces where darkness is essential. It’s no wonder honeycomb shades are among the most versatile and popular choices across Waukesha and McHenry homes.

ROOM-BY-ROOM INSPIRATION

• Living Rooms: Roman shades for softness, or shutters for structure.

• Bedrooms: Blackout honeycombs or rollers layered with drapery for style and sleep.

• Kitchens: Faux-wood blinds or composite shutters for durability and easy care.

• Bathrooms: Shutters or privacy shades that filter light while protecting views.

• Home Offices: Light-filtering rollers or blinds to reduce glare without cave-like darkness.

Ready to Style Your Windows?

Rise Up Window Coverings makes custom feel effortless. From Racine to Waukesha, Kenosha to McHenry County, we bring the showroom to you, help narrow your choices, and handle every technical detail — all at no extra cost. You focus on how you want your home to feel; we make it happen.