3/8" Budget Single Cell Light Filtering Top-Down/Bottom-Up Shades
3/8" Budget Single Cell Light Filtering Top-Down/Bottom-Up Shades
Our 3/8" Budget Single Cell Light Filtering Top-Down/Bottom-Up Shades let you position soft daylight exactly where you want it. Lower the shade from the top to wash light across the ceiling while the bottom of the window stays covered, or raise it from the bottom like a traditional shade. One window, endless positions.
It is the most affordable way to get top-down flexibility in a cellular shade. The compact 3/8" honeycomb diffuses sunlight into a soft, even glow while trapping insulating air against the glass, and cordless operation on both rails keeps the window clean and child-safe.
Light Exactly Where You Want It
- Top-Down for Private Daylight: Drop the top rail and sunlight enters above eye level, brightening the room while sightlines from outside stay blocked.
- Bottom-Up for the Open View: Raise from the bottom whenever you want the full window and an unobstructed view.
- Anywhere In Between: Set both rails to cover only the section of glass that needs it. Perfect for windows where privacy is a problem at one height only.
- Soft Filtered Glow: The honeycomb fabric diffuses harsh sun into even, glare-free light with daytime privacy built in.
- Free Cordless Operation: Both rails move by hand, with no cords, loops, or tangles anywhere on the window.
- Insulating Honeycomb: Air trapped inside the 3/8" cells slows heat transfer through the glass and dampens outside noise.
- Ten Designer Neutrals: Cool White, Cool Silver, Sea Salt, Hazy, Daylight, Antique Linen, Ivory Beige, Greige, Pewter, and Espresso.
The Windows That Benefit Most
Top-down/bottom-up is not a gimmick. In the right window it solves a problem nothing else can:
- Kitchen sink windows: Open the top for light and keep the lower pane covered against a neighbor's driveway.
- Street-facing living rooms: Full daylight above, complete privacy at sidewalk level.
- Home offices: Bounce indirect light off the ceiling and cut the screen glare at desk height.
- Bathrooms and powder rooms: Natural light with privacy that never has to be compromised.
- Rooms with a view worth keeping: Cover only the bottom third to block a fence or a neighboring wall while keeping the treetops and sky.
Positioning Tips to Get the Most From Both Rails
- The two-thirds rule: Covering the lower two-thirds of the glass blocks nearly all sightlines from the street while still letting in a surprising amount of daylight.
- Chase the sun: Lower the top rail in the morning for indirect light, then raise the bottom rail in the evening as the sun drops and privacy matters more.
- Mind the stack: When gathered, the fabric takes up a few inches at the top and bottom of the shade. Taller windows give you more usable travel, which is why we set a 24" minimum height.
Pro Tip: Light filtering fabrics change character with daylight behind them. Order free samples (up to 10, shipped free) and hold them against your window at the time of day you use the room most.
Top-Down or Standard: Which Should You Order?
Both use the same fabric, the same 3/8" cell, and the same ten colors. Here is the practical difference:
| Feature | Top-Down/Bottom-Up | Standard Cordless |
|---|---|---|
| Operation | Both rails move independently | Bottom rail lifts only |
| Maximum Height | 84" | 72" |
| Headrail Profile | 1 7/8" high | 1" high, our slimmest |
| Best For | Privacy-sensitive windows and tall windows | Simplicity, shallow frames, lowest price |
Don't need top-down control? Our standard 3/8" Single Cell Light Filtering Shades are our lowest-priced light filtering option with an ultra-slim 1" headrail. For better insulation, step up to the 3/8" Double Cell version, or browse all our light filtering shades.
A Note on Nighttime Privacy
Light filtering fabric obscures the view inside during daylight, but once interior lights are on after dark, silhouettes become visible. The top-down function helps, since the covered section sits right where sightlines matter, but for genuine darkness and round-the-clock privacy, our 1/2" Blackout Top-Down/Bottom-Up Shades offer the same dual-rail control in opaque blackout fabric.
Sizing, Fit & Installation
- Width: 18 3/8" minimum to 72" maximum.
- Height: 24" minimum to 84" maximum.
- Headrail: 1 7/8" deep by 1 7/8" high, with hidden brackets.
- Inside Mount Depth: 1 3/8" minimum (2 1/8" for a fully flush fit). Outside mount has no depth requirement.
- Manufacturing Tolerance: +/- 1/8" on width and height.
Custom Window Treatments, Factory-Direct Since 1993
For more than 30 years, Factory Direct Blinds has manufactured custom shades and shipped them straight from the factory, so you skip the showroom markup. Every order includes:
- MeasureSafe™ Guarantee: Add MeasureSafe™ at checkout and if you mismeasure, we'll remake your shades free. You only cover shipping.
- Free Shipping: Ships freight-free anywhere in the 48 contiguous United States.
- Fast Turnaround: Custom-made and shipped within approximately 7 business days.
Take control of your daylight. Order your free samples today, then configure your custom size above.