The Southern Shade Blog

A Safer Choice for North Carolina Families

Baby on the way or just started crawling? Before you lock cabinet doors and cover outlets, take a few minutes to read through this childproofing checklist for dangers you might not expect, created by the experts at the Window Coverings Safety Council.

Most parents are surprised by what’s on it. One of the biggest eye-openers?

Window treatment cords.

They’re common, familiar—and easy to overlook—but they’re also one of the most serious hidden hazards in a home with young children.

Why Window Treatment Safety Is a Big Deal

According to windowcoverings.org, dangling cords on blinds and shades pose a real strangulation risk to infants and toddlers. And this doesn’t require climbing or rough play—many incidents happen quietly, during normal everyday activity near a window.

That’s why safety standards for window coverings have changed dramatically in recent years:

• • Traditional dangling cords are being phased out
  • Most new products are now cordless by default
  • Motorized window treatments are widely recognized as the safest option available

This isn’t about being overly cautious. It’s about removing a known risk that’s completely avoidable.

Cordless & Motorized Window Treatments: The Gold Standard

Manufacturers across the industry—including leaders highlighted in recent safety articles—are clear on one point:

No accessible cords = no cord hazard.

Cordless and motorized window treatments offer:

• • No dangling or looped cords
  • Smooth, easy operation
  • A cleaner, more modern look
  • Better safety for both children and pets
  • Optional smart-home control via remote, app, or voice assistant

Motorized shades are especially popular with growing families in North Carolina. They’re practical, surprisingly affordable today, and ideal for larger windows, sunrooms, and open-concept homes—which we see a lot of around Raleigh, Cary, Apex, and New Hill.

Not Ready to Replace Everything Yet? Here’s What You Can Do

We get it—not every situation allows for immediate replacement. If you’re renting, in a short-term home, or simply planning upgrades in stages, there are interim steps you can take to reduce risk:

• • Shorten existing cords so they are completely out of reach
  • Secure cords tightly using approved cord cleats or tension devices
  • Eliminate continuous-loop cords where possible
  • Keep cribs, beds, couches, and play areas well away from windows

These steps can help reduce risk—but it’s important to be honest: They don’t eliminate it.

That’s why current safety standards—and organizations like the Window Coverings Safety Council—consistently point homeowners toward cordless or inaccessible-cord solutions as the long-term answer.

A North Carolina Reality Check

Here’s something we see all the time in NC homes:

• • Beautiful natural light
  • Large windows and sliding glass doors
  • Older homes with original corded blinds
  • New builds where safety wasn’t top-of-mind during builder installs

If your home was built 10, 15, or 20+ years ago, there’s a good chance those window treatments pre-date modern safety standards.

If you’re:

• • Preparing a nursery
  • Moving into a new home
  • Remodeling a main living space
  • Or simply realizing your current blinds are outdated

That’s usually the right moment to address window safety properly.

How Prestigious Window Fashions Helps

At Prestigious Window Fashions, we focus on safe, practical, and well-designed window treatments that work for real North Carolina homes—not just showrooms.

We provide:

• • Cordless blinds and shades (roller, cellular, Roman, woven wood, and more)
  • Motorized window treatments (battery or hardwired)
  • Custom-fit solutions for oversized or hard-to-reach windows
  • Professional installation done right
  • Clear guidance on current child-safety standards

Just as important—we’ll tell you honestly whether:

• • Your existing treatments can be made safer as a short-term fix, or
  • Replacement is the smarter and safer long-term move

No pressure. Just straight answers.

What to Do Right Now

If you want one simple action item today, do this:

• • Walk through your home at child height
  • Look for any cords, loops, or dangling controls
  • Check windows near beds, cribs, couches, and play areas
  • Review the Window Coverings Safety Council checklist linked above

If something makes you pause, trust that instinct.

Safer Windows. Less Worry.

Childproofing doesn’t mean turning your home into a padded room. It means removing the biggest risks—especially the ones hiding in plain sight.

• • Cordless and motorized window treatments:
  • Make homes safer
  • Look better
  • Function better
  • And give new parents one less thing to worry about

If you’re in North Carolina and want help choosing the right solution for your home, Prestigious Window Fashions is here when you’re ready.

Safe can still be beautiful... And smart... And easy.