Comparing Cellular Shades: Duette, Applause & Sonnette

When it comes to window treatments that deliver style, energy efficiency and light control, cellular shades check all the boxes. These sleek, modern shades not only enhance your home’s aesthetic, but can also improve comfort by adding insulation at the window. Maybe you’re updating your home’s interior, trying to escape the summer sun or looking for a better way to stay comfortable through an Ontario winter—or all of the above!

But not every cellular shade is the same. Hunter Douglas offers several collections with different designs, features and price points. Let’s take a closer look at Duette® Honeycomb Shades, Applause® Honeycomb Shades and Sonnette® Cellular Roller Shades to help you understand which cellular shade might be the right fit for your home.

What Makes a Shade “Cellular”?

When we say cellular design, we’re referring to the honeycomb-shaped air pockets built into the shade. These cells trap air at the window, creating an insulating barrier between indoor temperatures and the conditions outside. The result is better year-round comfort and improved energy efficiency.

That insulating design is especially valuable in Ontario, where windows can be exposed to intense summer sunshine and bitter winter temperatures. If temperature control is one of your priorities, explore more about energy-efficient window treatments and how the right coverings can help improve comfort throughout your home.

Duette® Honeycomb Shades: The Most Customizable Collection

Duette® Honeycomb Shades are the premium cellular shade collection from Hunter Douglas. Known for their signature pleats and award-winning energy efficiency, they offer the widest range of fabrics, operating systems and specialty enhancements among the cellular collections.

Duette shades are a strong choice when you want to customize more than colour and fabric. Depending on your windows and light-control needs, the collection offers options for enhanced room darkening, dual fabrics, specialty shapes, doors and difficult-to-cover windows. If you’re considering Duette specifically, visit our Duette® Honeycomb Shades page to explore features such as LightLock™, ClearView®, TrackGlide™, Duolite® and specialty applications in more detail.

Applause® Honeycomb Shades: Streamlined & Practical

For homeowners who want the insulating benefits and clean pleated appearance of a honeycomb shade without needing the extensive customization of Duette, Applause® Honeycomb Shades offer a streamlined alternative. Applause shades provide dependable light control, privacy and energy efficiency with a focused collection of fabrics and operating options. This makes them a practical choice for bedrooms, family rooms, home offices and other spaces where comfort and easy everyday function are the priority.

If you’re comparing cellular shade collections based on features and budget, the biggest distinction is choice: Duette offers the most extensive range of fabrics and specialty enhancements, while Applause keeps the cellular experience simpler.

Duette® Vertiglide™: Cellular Shades for Sliding Doors

Cellular construction isn’t limited to traditional windows. For sliding glass doors and wide openings, Duette® Vertiglide™ turns the familiar honeycomb design vertically. Instead of raising from the bottom, the shade moves side to side along a track, making it easy to access the doorway while still enjoying insulation, light control and privacy.

This vertical design can be especially helpful on large patio doors, where ease of movement matters just as much as temperature and privacy control. If your project involves glass doors, explore more window treatments for doors to compare the different ways large openings can be covered.

Sonnette® Cellular Roller Shades: Soft Roller Style

Sonnette® Cellular Roller Shades offer a different take on cellular design. They combine the soft, streamlined appearance of a roller shade with an insulating cellular construction, making them a great option for homeowners who prefer the look and operation of a roller but still want added energy efficiency.

Sonnette shades feature softly curved cellular fabrics that roll neatly into a compact headrail. With light-diffusing and room-darkening options available, they offer flexible light control without the horizontal pleated appearance of a traditional honeycomb shade.

For an additional design feature, Sonnette is also available with Aura™ Illuminated Shades. Integrated LED lighting allows you to create ambient illumination at the window even when natural daylight isn’t available.

Which Cellular Shade Is Right for Your Home?

All three collections share the insulating benefits that make cellular shades such a popular choice, but the right one depends on what matters most for your project.

• Choose Duette® when you want the largest selection of fabrics, light-control options and specialty features.
• Choose Applause® when you want dependable honeycomb performance with a more streamlined selection of options.
• Choose Sonnette® when you like the soft, minimal appearance of roller shades but also want cellular insulation.
• Consider Vertiglide™ when you need cellular performance across a sliding glass door or wide opening.

Your window size, room, sun exposure, privacy needs and preferred style can all influence the best choice. You may even find that different cellular collections make sense in different areas of the same home.

Where Do Cellular Shades Work Best?

One of the biggest advantages of cellular shades is their versatility. They can be used throughout the home to solve different comfort and light-control challenges. Bedrooms can benefit from room-darkening fabrics, while living rooms may call for softer filtered light and preserved views. Large windows and doors may require specialty configurations, and windows exposed to strong summer sun or winter drafts can benefit from the added insulation cellular construction provides.

They’re also a useful option when you need flexible privacy. Depending on the collection and operating system, cellular shades can offer dual fabrics to adjust how much of the window is covered throughout the day.

Motorized Cellular Shades for Easier Control

You bet there’s an app for it! Many cellular shades can be paired with motorized window treatments, making it easier to adjust hard-to-reach windows or manage several shades at once. With automation, shades can be operated with a remote, app or compatible smart home system. You can schedule adjustments throughout the day, save favorite positions and create the atmosphere you want without moving from room to room making manual changes. Motorization can be particularly useful when cellular shades are installed on large, high or frequently adjusted windows.

Ready to Compare Cellular Shade Options?

There isn’t one cellular shade that’s right for every window. Duette®, Applause® and Sonnette® each offer a different combination of style, insulation, light control and features, which means the best choice starts with understanding your space and how you want your window coverings to perform. Let our expert designers at Custom Shades help you compare the cellular shade collections and find the right solution for your home. Contact our team to schedule your free in-home design consultation and see fabrics, features and operating options in your own space.