PowerView® Automation

Program your window treatments so that they adjust themselves automatically, creating the perfect room ambiance morning, noon and night.

Sheer Shades

Learn more about Hunter Douglas custom window sheers, including our shadings and privacy sheers. Innovative, light-diffusing sheers. Your trusted source for window treatments.

Cellular Shades

Cellular honeycomb shades from Hunter Douglas. An energy-efficient design that traps air in distinct pockets to help keep your house cool in the summer and warm in the winter.

Roman Shades

Custom-made fabric Roman Shades by Hunter Douglas, combining the look of soft folds with the ease and convenience of a shade. Custom-crafted.

Roller Shades

The Hunter Douglas roller shades & solar screen shades collections offer excellent light control and a clean, stylish look in a range of fabrics and materials.

Woven Shades

For a warm, natural look our Hunter Douglas Woven Wood Shades collection of window treatments transforms sunlight into captivating design statements. Choose yours today.

Vertical Shades

Find the right custom vertical shades for any room in your home. Search our most popular window shades.

Wood Blinds

From controlling light to their stylish, sleek look, wood blinds have been a favorite among homeowners for decades.

Metal Blinds

Find the perfect metal blinds for any room in your home. From controlling light to their stylish, sleek look, metal blinds have been a favorite among homeowners.

Vertical Blinds

Discover Hunter Douglas customized vertical blinds featuring elegant styling and translucency in a large selection of colors, treatments, and textures. Lifetime guarantee.

Shutters

Hunter Douglas custom window shutters provide superior light control and privacy with classic styles, long-lasting finishes, and exceptional craftsmanship.

Drapery

Choose from timeless and on-trend fabrics, including lofty textures and alluring jacquards, artisanal embroideries and luminous sheers.

Light Enhancing

Enjoy the beauty of natural light and make any space more captivating, with the following light-enhancing shades.

Room Darkening

Want a darker room for better sleep or optimal movie binging? These shades and drapes help block light at the window.

Energy Efficient

Live comfortably and save energy with these shades. Designer to keep a room warm in the winter and cool in the summer.

Door Coverings

Manage natural light and add privacy with these window treatments that work well for sliding-glass and patio doors.

Sound Absorption

Create a quieter, more relaxing room with these window treatments, which help absorb sound, reducing exterior noise.

Top-Down Bottom-Up

For privacy and natural light, position shades from the top, bottom or both. These shades have this feature available.

PowerView® Automation Sheer Shades Cellular Shades Roman Shades Roller Shades Woven Shades Vertical Shades Wood Blinds Metal Blinds Vertical Blinds Shutters Drapery Light Enhancing Room Darkening Energy Efficient Door Coverings Sound Absorption Top-Down Bottom-Up

Motorized Window Coverings

Enjoy the convenience of motorized window coverings.

Window Covering Measuring & Installations

Our measuring and installation service will ensure an exact fit for your window coverings.

Motorized Window Coverings Window Covering Measuring & Installations

About Us

Benchmark Shutters & Shades is a family owned, locally operated business specializing in interior window coverings for your home or business.

Raleigh, NC

Since 2005, Benchmark Shutters & Shades Incorporated has been the place to get stunning interior window treatments near Raleigh, North Carolina.

Durham, NC

We all come to a point with our homes when we decide that the window treatments need to be updated.

Chapel Hill, NC

At Benchmark Shutters & Shades, we can’t wait to help you transform your home by upgrading your window treatments.

Apex, NC

At Benchmark Shutters & Shades, we provide the best Hunter Douglas custom blinds, shades, shutters, and drapery on the market alongside generation 3 of their motorized window coverings, PowerView® Automation.

About Us Raleigh, NC Durham, NC Chapel Hill, NC Apex, NC

All Design Ideas

See current and past decorating ideas from our 'Fresh Ideas' Newsletter.

Fall Tablescapes

Shades vs Drapes

Bathroom

See window covering solutions for privacy and moisture-resistance.

Bedroom

See window covering solutions for privacy and room darkening.

Home Office

See window covering solutions for light filtering and glare control.

Kitchen

See window covering solutions for a variety of needs and kitchen styles.

Living Room

See window covering solutions for light filtering and UV protection.

Media Room

See room darkening window treatments for your media room.

Nursery & Kids Room

See child-safe window coverings for baby nurseries and kids rooms

Angled Windows

See blinds and shades for angled, sloped, and triangle-shaped windows.

Arched Windows

See blinds and shades for arched, half-circle or half-moon windows.

Bay, Bow, Corner Windows

See blinds and shades for bay, bow and corner windows.

French Doors

See shutters, blinds and shades for French Doors.

Sidelights

See blinds and shades for sidelight windows.

Sliding Glass Doors

See blinds and shades for patio and sliding-glass doors.

Skylights

See blinds and shades specifically suited for skylights.

Large Windows

Panel-Track Blinds

Picture Windows

Automated

See all options for automated blinds and shades.

Blackout

See our options for blinds and shades that best control light.

Energy Efficient

See blinds and shades that help save energy at the window.

Light Filtering

See blinds and shades for light filtering and UV protection.

Child and Pet-Friendly

See blinds and shades that are safer for children and pets.

Cordless Energy-Efficient Shades

All Design Ideas Fall Tablescapes Shades vs Drapes Bathroom Bedroom Home Office Kitchen Living Room Media Room Nursery & Kids Room Angled Windows Arched Windows Bay, Bow, Corner Windows French Doors Sidelights Sliding Glass Doors Skylights Large Windows Panel-Track Blinds Picture Windows Automated Blackout Energy Efficient Light Filtering Child and Pet-Friendly Cordless Energy-Efficient Shades

PowerView® Automation

Shades

Sheer Shades Cellular Shades Roman Shades Roller Shades Woven Shades Vertical Shades

Blinds

Shutters Drapery

Featured

Light Enhancing Room Darkening Energy Efficient Door Coverings Sound Absorption Top-Down Bottom-Up

Products

Services

About Us Raleigh, NC Durham, NC Chapel Hill, NC Apex, NC

Interior Design Ideas

All Design Ideas Fall Tablescapes Shades vs Drapes

Blinds & Shades by Room

Bathroom Bedroom Home Office Kitchen Living Room Media Room Nursery & Kids Room

Blinds & Shades by Window Shape

Angled Windows Arched Windows Bay, Bow, Corner Windows French Doors Sidelights Sliding Glass Doors Skylights Large Windows Panel-Track Blinds Picture Windows

Blinds & Shades by Function

Automated Blackout Energy Efficient Light Filtering Child and Pet-Friendly Cordless Energy-Efficient Shades

Coastal Décor Ideas

Brightly lit living room featuring coastal colors and décor.

Channel a relaxed vibe with this cool, laidback look

Comfortable and serene, coastal style makes you want to kick off your shoes and go barefoot, as if you were spending a day at the beach. But you don’t need to live near the ocean, a lake, or any body of water to evoke this breezy aesthetic in your own home. Incorporate a few of the design ideas below that borrow from ocean blues and sandy shores, and you’ll channel the calm energy that’s inherent with this approach to decorating.

Pay Attention to Color

A neutral color palette is the most soothing, with white, ivory, beige or warm grays working well as foundational colors. For a timeless appeal, layer neutrals in a variety of textures.

To make the coastal seaside connection, as well as to add depth, incorporate pops of blue or green in varying shades.

Add Texture

Natural materials, such as jute, sisal, rattan and bamboo are a beautiful way to add texture to coastal-inspired décor. Look for baskets, trays, rugs or lamps in those materials, which pair well with a neutral color scheme.

Layer Area Rugs

Speaking of texture, layering area rugs is an easy way to not only add texture to coastal décor, but to also incorporate color and pattern. Use a natural-colored rug with texture for your base and then top it with a smaller rug with an interesting pattern or colors that pop.

Incorporate Wood

Another way to bring a beachy vibe into your home is with wood. Whether you do it through a dreamy, pale-toned shiplap wall, a coffee table crafted of driftwood, or a whitewashed wood floor, you can’t go wrong with the weathered appearance of wood.

Use Foliage

If you’re going for tropical coastal décor, palm fronds or palm plants, whether artificial or real, are a must. A single artificial stem in a vase serves as an eye-catching focal point, while a real potted palm or two lends a light and airy feeling.

Dress Up Your Windows

When planning your coastal décor, don’t forget about window treatments—key for providing light control during the day and privacy after the sun sets.

The clean lines and minimal design of roller shades pair well with the understated style of a coastal look. And a wide variety of solids, prints and patterns means you’ll easily be able to find a roller shade fabric that complements your interiors. Shutters also connote a beachy aesthetic, as do woven wood shades, both of which help create visual interest in rooms that are primarily white.

Include Accent Pieces

It goes without saying that seashells, coral, sea glass and fishing floats all bring the beach indoors, and are ideal accents for a coffee table or bookshelf. Try not to go overboard, though, when it comes to seaside extras, as too many will take a room from tasteful to tacky.