What You Need to Know About Roman Shades (A Quick Guide)

Sep 4

Window treatments are an essential element in any room. They let homeowners add a personal touch to their interiors, while their versatility makes them suitable for busy offices and living rooms alike. Their appearance also softens a room by adding a sense of warmth and comfort. 

If you’re in search of long-lasting window coverings, consider Roman shades. They can be made using almost any material or fabric, from sheers to wood, ensuring there is an option for every home interior. 

To help you make the best investment, here is our quick guide to what you should know about Roman shades. 

What You Need to Know About Roman Shades Before You Buy

Are Roman shades right for your home? If so, how do you choose the right ones? 

First, though, what are they?

Roman Shades: A Definition

Roman shades are elegant and simple window covering that remain flat against the window and straight down when drawn closed. When raised, they form soft pleats that stack up neatly at the top of the window. They can be operated using a series of tailored vertical cords. 

Roman shades have been around for many years and suit any style of window. Here are some of their benefits.

  1. Versatile and Ageless Design

Roman shades have been around for many years and continue to grow in popularity thanks to their classic style. All you need to do is choose the fabric that fits your home decor. Its design versatility ensures it fits well within just about any setting. 

Whether you’re looking for window treatments for your dining room, bedroom, living room or home office, Roman shades will fit the space. 

  1. Energy Efficient

Roman shades save you money on your utility bills as they efficiently keep in and let it out heat. Moreover, depending on the material you choose, you can either allow filtered light into your home or block it. Since they are available in single pieces, they also offer privacy. 

  1. Ease of Operation

With Roman shades, there’s no need to worry about the cord getting stuck as you are pulling it up or down. They can also be paired with motorized options to avoid having to deal with cords altogether. This makes fabric Roman shades a safe option in homes with pets and/or children as they won’t pose a strangulation hazard.

Roman Shades for Your Home

How to Choose the Right Roman Shades for Your Home

With so many different kinds available, how do you choose the right Roman shades? Here are some factors to consider. 

  1. Colour, Fabric and Design

Roman shades improve the overall design of any room if you choose the right colour, design and fabric to complement your overall decor. 

The wide range of available fabrics, including cotton, linen, polyester and silk, come in various designs, such as solids, patterns, stripes and florals. If your room has a neutral colour palette, choose a window treatment in coloured and bold patterns to add a certain depth. If your décor is bright, a neutral-coloured fabric will tone down its overall appearance. 

  1. Mounting Options

Before you purchase, you need to figure out if you want your Roman shades to be mounted inside or outside the window frame. When choosing an inside mount, you can pair them with other window treatments, like blackout curtains. Adding other coverings isn’t an option with outside mount window treatments. 

  1. Cleaning and Maintenance Requirements

How much time are you willing to invest in cleaning and maintaining your window treatments? Certain fabrics require more maintenance than others. However, most Roman shades are available in light-to-medium materials that are both easy to machine wash and spot clean. 

  1. Fold Style

When looking at Roman shades, you will see many variations in the fabric folds. Let’s learn about the four types of folds. 

Types of Folds in Roman Shades

  • Flat Fold

This folding style offers a simple appearance. When lowered, the shade remains flat against the window; when raised, it stacks in a neat bunch at the top. 

They can be paired with floor-length curtains and offer practical light-filtering and privacy options. 

  • European Fold

Also referred to as relaxed fold, this style has a rod sewn into the bottom to create a straight and stiff line. 

  • Soft Fold

Sometimes referred to as the hobbled fold, this option creates a rounder and softer fold while maintaining a straight edge along the bottom of the treatment. When kept raised, it creates a voluminous appearance; when lowered, the curved fold remains visible. 

  • Plain Fold

This folding style offers a crisp appearance and adds more body and texture to Roman shades. The fold is visible even when the shade is kept lowered, and it’s much wider and heavier than other styles. 

Window treatments are an important interior decor element that impacts the way a room looks and feels. This makes choosing the right kind an important decision. Look at some sample shades to understand how they might look on your windows. When choosing Roman shades, know that they are a sophisticated option offering elegance unmatched by other window coverings