You know how some spaces in your home just seem… dim, even on a sunny day? Think bathrooms without much natural wall space, interior entryways, or between-median windows that don’t get a direct spotlight. You flip on the light, but the room still feels flat. What if your window could light itself?
Enter Hunter Douglas Aura® Illuminated Shades—a trend that’s turning heads in 2025 by blending style, function, and ambiance in one smart package. (Yes, that sentence does deserve the exclamation point.)
What Are Aura® Illuminated Shades?
Aura® shades integrate three layers: a front shade, a blackout liner, and built-in LED lighting. So when natural light can’t do all the work? The shade steps in. The built-in LEDs cast a gentle glow inward, filling the room with soft, indirect light. It’s like the shade moonlights as a luminosity boost.
Because it’s softly diffused rather than harsh, the lighting feels organic—not like you dropped a fixture randomly on the ceiling. Let me tell you, one client in Hoboken called it “a light switch I forgot I needed.”
They’re especially useful in interiors or rooms with lots of glass but not enough sun. That dark hallway that feels cavernous? Aura® can help. That interior bathroom that’s always artificial-light-only? Aura® to the rescue.
Why It’s Perfect for Fall
Fall is about layering—sweaters, scarves, textures—and that ethos works just as beautifully in your lighting. As daylight hours shorten, Aura® Illuminated Shades allow you to maintain that soft natural glow deep into evening without needing full overhead lighting.
They help you avoid stark contrast (bright fixtures vs. dark corners), which can feel jarring. Instead, the light seems to come through your window, rather than from a fixture stuck on the ceiling. The result: mood, softness, and a constant in-between glow that’s cozy but functional.
Also, because they include blackout liners, you’ve still got control when you want total darkness—movie nights, restful sleep, or that midday nap.
Style, Tech & Energy All in One
Aura® doesn’t sacrifice beauty. You can choose from a selection of fabrics, textures, and hardware that match the rest of your Hunter Douglas treatments. So your windows remain a design asset, not a afterthought.
From a tech perspective? Aura® can be motorized and integrated with PowerView® Automation, so that LED glow kicks in at predetermined times or in sync with your lighting scenes.
Energy-wise, the blackout liner still helps with insulation, and the shades act as another barrier between interior space and exterior temperatures.
Bring Aura® to Life at Shade Place
At Shade Place, we’re always excited when a truly new product line arrives. Aura® Illuminated Shades offer a fresh way to think about windows—not just as light filters or privacy features, but as contributors to your home’s ambient mood.
We’d love for you to see one in person. Come by our Hoboken showroom, see the glow in situ, and imagine how it might change your darker spaces. Or schedule a consultation and let us walk you through the options.
👉 Check out more about Aura® Illuminated Shades at shadeplace.com and let your windows light themselves this fall.