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Zebra Shades

Light or privacy in one move. Slide the stripes to go from bright and open to fully closed, without raising the shade.

  • Alternating sheer and solid bands
  • Light filtering or room darkening fabrics
  • Chain, cordless or motorized
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Zebra shade half open in a bright New York room

Why New Yorkers choose zebra shades

Adjust light like blinds

Shift the bands to let light in through the sheer stripes or close them for privacy, the way you’d tilt blind slats.

Modern, soft look

Fabric instead of slats: clean and contemporary, without the dust-collecting edges of blinds.

Daytime privacy with light

Ideal for street-facing apartments: keep the room bright while the stripes break up the view in.

How zebra shades work

One continuous loop of fabric with alternating sheer and solid bands, in two layers. Moving the shade slides the layers past each other.

1. Two positions, one shade

Open

The sheer bands line up. Light comes through the stripes and you can see out.

Closed

The solid bands cover the sheer ones. The shade looks solid and blocks the view in.

2. Choose the solid band fabric

Light filteringSoft glow even when closed. Great for living rooms and offices.
Room darkeningMuch darker when closed. Good for bedrooms that don’t need full blackout.
Good to know

Zebra shades aren’t true blackout. A little light always comes through the sheer bands. For a fully dark bedroom, see our blackout shades.

3. How do you want to operate it?

ChainA continuous loop for precise stripe adjustment.
CordlessNo cords, a clean look and child-safe.
MotorizedAdjust the stripes from your phone or a remote.

Are zebra shades right for you?

An honest guide. If zebra isn’t the best fit, we’ll tell you at your estimate.

Great for

  • Living rooms where you change the light all day.
  • Street-facing apartments that need daytime privacy.
  • Home offices, to tame screen glare without going dark.
  • Modern spaces that want a softer look than blinds.

Think twice if

  • You need a fully dark bedroom. Blackout shades do that better.
  • You want a clear view with the shade down. The stripes are always visible; solar shades keep the view cleaner.
  • It’s for a bathroom or over a stove. Faux wood blinds handle moisture better.

Zebra shade questions

How do zebra shades work?

The fabric has alternating sheer and solid bands in two layers. Pulling the chain or moving the shade slides the layers. Line up the sheer bands for light, or overlap the solid bands for privacy. Raise it fully for a completely open window.

Are zebra shades blackout?

No. Even with room darkening fabric, some light comes through the sheer bands. They’re great for dimming a room, but for full darkness choose a blackout shade.

Zebra shades or blinds?

Both let you adjust light without raising them. Zebra shades are fabric, softer and more modern, with no slats to dust. Blinds suit kitchens and bathrooms better and give a more classic look.

Can zebra shades be motorized?

Yes. You can open, close and fine-tune the stripes from your phone or a remote.

How do I clean zebra shades?

Dust them with a soft brush or a vacuum on low with a brush attachment. Spot-clean marks with a damp cloth and mild soap.

See how zebra shades move on your own windows.

Book a free estimate