Silhouette vs. Pirouette: Which Hunter Douglas Shade is For You?

Throughout Hunter Douglas’ extensive blinds catalogue, the Pirouette (left) and Silhouette (right) horizontal shades stand out as some of the most innovative and stylish window coverings on the market. Both shades offer excellent light and privacy control with beautiful designs and a wide range of fabric options. But what are the differences between the two?

Appearance/Design

With sheer layers in the front and back, and tiltable horizontal fabric vanes in the middle, the unique design of the Silhouette shades gives a soft and sophisticated look to any window or room. When the vanes are fully closed, the Silhouette neatly blocks out light with a louvre-style appearance, and when opened, the vanes reveal the sheer layers that softly diffuse light into the room while maintaining a clear view to the other side. The Pirouette shades, by comparison, are bolder in appearance, with a modernized Roman-shade appearance when fully closed. The Pirouette shades also have bigger, rounded vanes that can open to reveal a single sheer layer in the back.

Light Diffusion

Both the Silhouette and Pirouette shades are great choices for diffusing light, as both options include revealable sheer layers that allows light to softly enter a room, reducing glare and UV exposure. This is great for rooms that are used constantly throughout the day, as you can allow the natural sunlight to brighten up your space while mitigating sun damage from UV rays. The Silhouette shades go a step further by having a sheer layer in both the front and back of the shade, while the tiltable vanes in the middle allow you to control the angle that light enters through with ease.

Blackout/Privacy

For privacy, the Silhouette and Pirouette shades offer a wide assortment of room-darkening fabrics that block out light and increase privacy in your home. With the Pirouette shades, the vanes neatly overlap when fully closed, mitigating any light leakage that may occur between vanes. While the Silhouette shades also possess an overlap when the vanes are closed, there is a larger gap between the vanes.

Control Options

With the Silhouette and Pirouette shades, you can choose between a number of control options to fit your needs and lifestyle, ranging from traditional manual controls to motorized selections. Currently, at Linh’s Window Fashions, we have a promotion with Hunter Douglas on new Silhouette and Pirouette shades where you can upgrade to PowerView automated shades for free, giving you the power and convenience of remotely-controlled shades at no additional cost. This promotion runs through the end of September 2026, so act fast!

Visit Our Showroom

Overall, while the Hunter Douglas Silhouette and Pirouette shades are similar, there are a few noticeable differences that give them distinct advantages over one another. If you would like to compare them in person, you can schedule a visit to our showroom location in Edmonton, where we will gladly assist you in determining the best mix for your window covering needs, using our expert knowledge. Click here to get a free quote from us!