Roman Shades: From Ancient Utility to Modern Elegance
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The Roman shade is a window treatment option offering light, privacy, and temperature control. As the name suggests, Roman shades hail from ancient Rome. This window dressing became especially popular during the construction of the Colosseum when Roman citizens draped cloth over their windows to prevent dust from entering their households. The draped fabric also kept out sunlight and heat, serving as a form of indoor climate control.
As this practice became more common, Roman shades were produced in various fabrics and patterns, becoming decorative and functional. The modern Roman shade is a panel of fabric that can be drawn down or lifted with a cord, your hand, or a motor. Keep reading to learn more about Roman shades, including the different style options, methods of operation, and fabric and lining choices available to you.
Where to Use Roman Shades
Roman shades are suitable for any room but are most popular in heavily trafficked spaces where you’ll want easy control over lighting and privacy. Some examples include kitchens, bathrooms, bedrooms, and home offices. Windows in tight or awkward spaces are also great candidates for a Roman shade, as they typically don’t take up as much space as draperies.
Roman shades can go anywhere because they are masters of stylistic range. You can have a flat, crisp white shade in your kitchen, a luxurious hobbled velvet shade in your study, and a playful, relaxed sheer shade in your sunroom. There are endless options, especially when working with a window treatment specialist like The Pinched Pleat.
The Pinched Pleat’s Custom and Semi-Custom Roman Shades
The Pinched Pleat is a team of window treatment specialists and experienced fabricators. We can offer suggestions, create designs from the ground up, or dive straight into fabrication if you know exactly what you want. Our Roman shades are hand-made, and every project is unique to you. Here’s a preview of some of the details you control in both our custom and semi-custom options for Roman shades:
Style - Our clients' favorites are flat, relaxed, tucked, and hobbled. See examples of these shade styles below.
Size - Length and width are needed to get the perfect fit, no matter your fabric or style.
Fabric - Choose your perfect fabric color, pattern, texture, and opacity.
Lining - Opt for unlined, privacy, or blackout lining depending on your light control and privacy requirements.
Methods of Operation - Cordless or motorized lift systems allow you to operate your shades easily.
FLAT
RELAXED
TUCKED
HOBBLED
To Valance or Not to Valance
Whether your Roman shade should have an attached valance depends on your style preferences and functional needs. An attached valance can provide a more cohesive and finished look, hiding the shade's hardware and creating a decorative top treatment. Conversely, a waterfall shade does not have a valance, offering a streamlined, modern aesthetic. Consider the overall design theme of your room and the visual impact you want to achieve.
Valance
Shades with a valance have a separate piece of fabric (the valance) that covers the lift mechanism at the top rear of the shade.
An attached valance on a Roman shade is more common with outside mount installations, where the shade is fixed outside the window frame. This setup helps conceal the mounting hardware and the top of the shade for a neater appearance.
When you prefer a more traditional or formal appearance.
Waterfall (No Valance)
A waterfall Roman shade features fabric that cascades smoothly down the front and offers a sleek and uncluttered look, making it ideal for showcasing beautiful fabric patterns and textures.
Waterfall shades work best when your shade is mounted inside the window frame and you want your shade to be flush with or inside the window casing.
If you favor a minimalist and modern style, you might opt for a Roman shade without a valance to maintain clean lines and simplicity.
Your shade’s fabric has a beautiful pattern or texture that you want to reveal without interruption.
Quick Tip
If you want to bring life to your window at a lower cost, ask us about faux Roman shades. Faux Roman shades are panels of fabric that stay in the “drawn up” position to add flair to your window or tastefully hide hardware.
Top Roman Shade Styles in the Midwest: Function Meets Fashion
The Midwest's three most popular Roman shade styles balance functionality with aesthetic appeal, such as flat, relaxed, and hobbled Roman shades.
№ 1 | Flat Roman Shades
Flat Roman shades are popular for their clean lines and simplicity. They fit well with both modern and traditional interiors. Additionally, flat Roman shades provide excellent functionality, offering smooth operation when manually or motorized.
№ 2 | Relaxed Roman Shades
Relaxed Roman shades are favored for their casual elegance. They are known for their informal, gentle curve at the bottom, adding a touch of softness to a room. Relaxed shades offer a less structured, more casual, and inviting look than flat Roman shades, making them ideal for living areas where a cozy atmosphere is desired.
№ 3 | Hobbled Roman Shades
Hobbled Roman shades are popular for their classic, elegant look, characterized by soft, consistent folds that give a voluminous, draped effect. This style adds a touch of luxury and sophistication to a room, making it feel more ornate and inviting. The folds remain even when the shade is lowered, providing depth and texture to the window treatment, which appeals to those seeking a more decorative and traditional aesthetic.
The popularity of flat, relaxed, and hobbled Roman shades in the Midwest U.S. can be attributed to their versatility in design, functionality, and ability to fit various home aesthetics. Flat shades offer a clean and modern look, relaxed shades bring a casual elegance, and hobbled shades provide a traditional, textured appearance. These styles cater to a range of preferences, ensuring a match for different interior designs and practical needs, making them widely favored across the region.
Reveal or Conceal With Roman Shades
Roman shades are easy to use and give you complete control over a room’s natural lighting. Even more exciting, they can be customized to fit the design of different spaces in your home with various styles and fabrics.
We are excited to hear about your unique window treatment needs! Set up a complimentary initial consultation with The Pinched Pleat or e-mail us to share your Roman shade ideas and inquiries.
