Las Vegas Window Coverings Center · High Windows Guide
Best Window Coverings for High Windows and Hard-to-Reach Windows in Las Vegas
Two-story great rooms, transoms, and stairwell windows are common in Las Vegas homes, and they are hard to reach. This guide covers the best window coverings for high and hard-to-reach windows: motorized options, fixed options, safety, and how to plan and measure them.
What are the best window coverings for high and hard-to-reach windows in Las Vegas?
For high windows that need daily adjustment, motorized shades are usually the best choice. Roller, solar, and cellular shades can all be motorized and run from a remote, a wall switch, an app, or a schedule. For high windows you rarely adjust, such as transoms, clerestories, and arches, fixed or set-and-forget coverings work well, from fixed shutters to a solar shade left in place. Reachable but awkward windows, such as over a tub or behind a sink, suit cordless or motorized shades, or shutters with a divider rail.
This guide is about reach and control: how to cover windows you cannot touch every day. For motor types, power, and smart-home details, see the motorized shades guide. For an overview of all products and the free in-home measure, see window coverings in Las Vegas.
Types of Hard-to-Reach Windows in Las Vegas Homes
Two-story great rooms
Stacked windows above a family room or entry. They often take direct sun and need adjusting every day.
Transoms and clerestories
Narrow windows above doors or near the ceiling. They bring in light but can cause glare at certain hours.
Arches and specialty shapes
Half-rounds and arches above standard windows. They are hard to cover with anything that opens and closes.
Stairwell windows
Windows on a landing or above stairs, where a ladder is unsafe or impossible.
Over tubs and sinks
Reachable, but you have to lean over water or counters to use them.
Behind furniture
Windows behind beds, sofas, or built-ins that you cannot get to without moving things.
Options for High Windows Compared
| Option | How you control it | Best for | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Motorized roller or solar shades | Remote, wall switch, app, schedule | Tall glass you adjust daily | Higher cost than manual; batteries or wiring |
| Motorized cellular shades | Remote, switch, app, schedule | High windows where insulation matters | Blocks the view when lowered |
| Manual shades with an extension pole | A pole that reaches a handle or wand | Windows adjusted only now and then | Slow and awkward for daily use |
| Fixed shutters or arch shutters | No daily adjustment (or tilt only) | Arches, transoms, decorative tops | Not easily opened for a full view |
| Fixed solar shade | Left down | High glare windows you never need open | Permanently filtered view |
| Leave uncovered | None | North-facing high glass with little glare | No heat or glare control |
Motorized Shades: The Usual Answer for Tall Glass
If a high window needs to open and close every day, motorization is the most practical choice. A motor removes cords and wands, lets you group a whole wall of shades together, and can run on a schedule. Things to plan:
- Power. Battery motors need no new wiring and suit finished homes, but you will need to recharge or replace batteries on high windows, so ask how that is done. Hardwired motors avoid batteries and are easiest to plan during a build or remodel.
- Control. A remote is the simplest. Wall switches suit shared rooms. Apps and smart-home hubs add schedules and scenes.
- Grouping. Stacked two-story windows look best when upper and lower shades move together, or when the uppers stay set while the lowers move.
- Fabric. Solar fabrics keep the view and cut glare; light-filtering or blackout fabrics give more privacy. Cellular shades add insulation.
See the motorized shades guide and motorized shades in Las Vegas. For high west-facing glass specifically, see why motorized shades suit high west windows.
Fixed and Set-and-Forget Coverings
Not every high window needs to move. For transoms, clerestories, and arches, a covering that stays in one position is often simpler and cheaper over time.
- Arch and specialty shutters match the window shape and give a finished look. The arch portion is usually fixed. See plantation shutters in Las Vegas and the plantation shutters buying guide for frame and shape options.
- A fixed solar shade on a glare-prone transom filters light all day without needing adjustment.
- Cellular shades come in specialty shapes for some angled and arched windows. See cellular shades in Las Vegas.
Our guide to coverings for oddly shaped windows has more on arches and angles.
Reachable but Awkward Windows
Windows over tubs, behind kitchen sinks, or behind furniture are within reach, but using them every day is a stretch. Good fits:
- Cordless top-down/bottom-up shades. You can lower the top for light while keeping privacy below, and you only need a light push or pull.
- Motorized shades on a remote, if leaning over the sink or tub is a daily problem.
- Shutters with a divider rail in bathrooms. The lower louvers stay closed and the upper louvers tilt for light, with moisture-tolerant materials.
Get Your High Windows Measured Safely
Book a free in-home measure and we will plan coverings and controls for every tall or hard-to-reach window. Call (702) 237-4401, visit 3871 S Valley View Blvd #6, or find the showroom on Google Maps.
Las Vegas Sun on High Glass
High windows in a two-story room catch direct sun when lower windows are shaded by overhangs or neighbors. They can send glare deep into the room and onto TVs and floors. Warm air also collects near the ceiling in tall rooms. The NWS Las Vegas climate summary shows how long the hot season runs here.
The DOE Building America Solution Center explains how window attachments control solar heat, and the DOE-backed Efficient Window Coverings tool compares products for hot climates. In practice, the high windows that face west or south matter most. Those are the ones worth motorizing, or covering with a fixed solar shade, first.
Ladders, Cords, and Safety
- Do not plan on a ladder for daily use. If the only way to adjust a covering is climbing, it will not get adjusted, and it adds a fall risk. Choose motorized or fixed coverings instead.
- Avoid long cords. Tall windows with corded lifts mean long cord loops. The CPSC recommends cordless window coverings in homes with young children, and the Window Covering Safety Council explains the current safety standard.
- Leave high installs to the installer. Measuring and mounting on two-story glass needs the right ladders or scaffolding and two people.
Measuring and Installing High Windows
High windows are the hardest to measure yourself and the most expensive to get wrong. During a free in-home measure we check:
- Exact width, height, and depth of each opening, including whether an inside or outside mount fits.
- How upper and lower shades line up on stacked windows, so headrails and hems match.
- Where power can go for hardwired motors, and how batteries will be reached if you go battery-powered.
- Which windows really need to move and which can be fixed.
Call (702) 237-4401 or get directions to the showroom to see motorized shades working.
High-Window Mistakes to Avoid
- Putting manual shades on two-story glass you plan to adjust every day.
- Choosing battery motors without a plan for reaching them to recharge.
- Mismatched headrail heights on stacked windows.
- Long cord loops on tall windows in homes with young children.
- Covering every high window when only the west- and south-facing ones cause problems.
- Measuring tall glass yourself from a ladder.
Sources and Further Reading
- DOE Building America Solution Center: Window Attachments
- Efficient Window Coverings
- NWS Las Vegas: Climate of Las Vegas
- CPSC: Go Cordless and Window Covering Safety Council
See motorized shades in person: Las Vegas Window Coverings Center on Google Maps.
Las Vegas Window Coverings Center: Coverings for Tall Windows
Las Vegas Blinds, Solar Screens & Shutters Window Coverings Center is a window treatment store at 3871 S Valley View Blvd #6, Las Vegas, NV 89103, offering custom measuring and professional installation of blinds, cellular and solar shades, plantation shutters, exterior solar screens, and motorized window coverings. The team serves Las Vegas, Summerlin, Henderson, North Las Vegas, Spring Valley, Enterprise, Southern Highlands, Mountain’s Edge, Green Valley, Anthem, Paradise, Centennial Hills, Skye Canyon, Inspirada, Lake Las Vegas, and other Las Vegas Valley communities. Call (702) 237-4401 or see the business on Google Maps.
Why homeowners contact Las Vegas Window Coverings Center
- Professional measuring for tall and specialty windows.
- Motorized, fixed, and exterior options planned window by window.
- Cordless and motorized products for safer homes.
- Showroom samples to compare in person (read Google reviews).
- Listed on Google as veteran-owned, women-owned, and LGBTQ+-owned.
High and Hard-to-Reach Windows FAQ
What is the best window covering for a high window?
For windows you want to open and close, motorized shades are usually best because you control them with a remote, wall switch, app, or schedule. For windows you never need to adjust, a fixed solar or filtering shade, or an exterior screen, can work.
Can I cover a two-story window without motorization?
Yes. Options include a fixed shade left at one position, a manual shade with an extension pole where the product allows it, or an exterior solar screen. Motorization is the easiest for daily use.
Are motorized shades worth it for hard-to-reach windows?
Often, yes, since they remove the need for ladders and poles. See the motorized shades guide for power and control options.
Do I need wiring for motorized shades on high windows?
Not always. Many motorized shades use rechargeable battery or solar-charged motors. Hardwired motors are another option, best planned during construction or remodeling.
What should go on high west-facing windows in Las Vegas?
Solar shades or exterior screens to cut glare and heat, often motorized on a schedule. See motorized shades for high west windows.
Can shutters go on high windows?
Shutters can fit transoms and some arched windows, but louvers on very high windows are hard to adjust by hand. See plantation shutters.
What about arched or angled high windows?
Specialty shapes need custom solutions; some are fixed and do not open. See window coverings for oddly shaped windows.
Are high window coverings safe with children?
Choose cordless or motorized products. The CPSC recommends cordless window coverings in homes with young children.
Should I measure high windows myself?
It is safer to have them professionally measured, since ladder work and specialty shapes increase the risk of mistakes.
How do I get a quote for high windows?
Call (702) 237-4401 for a free in-home measure and quote, or get directions to the showroom.
Las Vegas Window Coverings Center on Google Maps
The showroom is at 3871 S Valley View Blvd #6, Las Vegas, NV 89103, just west of the Strip. Open the listing on Google Maps for directions, hours, photos, and reviews, or call (702) 237-4401 before you visit.
Ready to Cover Your High Windows?
Get a free in-home measure and a plan for every tall window. Call (702) 237-4401 or open directions in Google Maps.
Las Vegas Blinds, Solar Screens & Shutters Window Coverings Center · 3871 S Valley View Blvd #6, Las Vegas, NV 89103 · (702) 237-4401 · lasvegaswindowcoveringscenter.com