Pirouette® vs Silhouette® Sheer Shades

Hunter Douglas window treatments are stylish, luxurious, and function-forward. Ifg you’re looking for a shade solution made with sheer material, Hunter Douglas Pirouette® Sheer Shades and Silhouette® Sheer Shades are no exception.

The A Shade Above design team understands that it’s common for homeowners to confuse these two different types of sheer shades. Both feature sheer materials, but the differences help us determine if you one is a better choice for your home over the other.

What Are Pirouette® Sheer Shades?

These horizontal sheers combine soft, adjustable, opaque front-facing fabric vanes attached to a single sheer back panel. The vanes move in tandem, and you can raise the whole system into the cassette for unobstructed views. When closed, Pirouette® Sheer Shades have an architectural look that remind us of a Roman shade; open them, and the pleats face forward, almost like shutter louvers.

Hunter Douglas customizes these sheer window shades in more than 90 luxurious, high-quality fabrics and colors.

Heights: 15” – 144”

Widths: 12” – 144”

Pirouette® Sheer Shades come in 4” or 5” vane sizes, and the single back sheer controls light, UV rays, and privacy. These are some of the different options:

Specialty shapes, like arched windows, bay windows, and sliding glass doors
ClearView® for superior see-through
Exclusive Alustra® Collection fabrics
UltraGlide® retractable wand
Continuous cord loop control
PowerView® Automation

All About Silhouette® Sheer Shades

Silhouette® Sheer Shades also diffuse sunlight for privacy and a lovely daytime glow. The first difference that the opaque vanes are sandwiched between two front and back sheer panels; the 2”, 3”, or 4” vanes seemingly float in between. Its UltraGlide® Lift system allows the entire shade to retract pulled up straight; lower it by pulling the system’s cord on an angle.

Height: 12” – 136”
Width: 6” – 144”

You can order these sophisticated shades in over 150 fabrics and color choices. The fabrics also offer UV protection to keep your furnishings and floors from fading. Ask us about these options for your Silhouette® Sheer Shades:

Fits specialty shapes, like arched windows, bay windows, and sliding glass doors
ClearView® sheers offer superior see-through
Exclusive Alustra® Collection fabrics
Duolite® system or Silhouette® A Deux™ for room darkening
Two automation styles: SoftTouch® Motorization Wand and PowerView® Automation

Which Should I Choose, Pirouette® or Silhouette® Sheer Shades?

These Hunter Douglas custom window treatments have much in common: sheer materials, UV protection, and fabric vanes for light and privacy control. These differences can help you decide:

Pirouette® Sheer Shades

This window treatment has one back panel with vanes in the front and comes in 90+ fabric/color choices. It has a more defined look. Pirouette® Sheer Shades are somewhat more flexible, with larger heights and widths. Rather than slim vanes, these thicker vanes expand and collapse. It’s a modern, dramatic aesthetic.

Silhouette® Sheer Shades:

With Silhouette® Sheer Shades, S-shaped vanes are sandwiched between sheers. This creates a softer, more translucent appearance with light control through vane tilting. Silhouette® Sheer Shades come in 150+ fabric/color choices and filter out brightness, glare, and up to 88% of UV rays.

The choice is not always straightforward. Silhouette® Sheer Shades’ two sheer panels offer added light and privacy control when closed, so we often recommend them for bedrooms. Both options reduce glare and UV rays, ideal for media rooms and offices. Either option works beautifully in living rooms and dining rooms as well.

Pirouette® and Silhouette® Sheer Shades can be installed in kitchens and bathrooms, but we don’t recommend them for areas with high heat and humidity.

Still unsure about which of these sophisticated window treatments are the best fit for your home? We suggest seeing them in person; it’s the best way to narrow down the choices.

Visit an A Shade Above Showroom to Shop Window Treatments with Sheer Materials

A Shade Above features Hunter Douglas window treatment and custom-made in-house shutters. We can show you the full line of Pirouette® and Silhouette® Sheer Shades and explain the options and enhancements that makes them different from the rest. Contact us for an appointment or visit our showroom locations in Charlotte & Cornelius, NC & North Myrtle Beach, SC.