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Your Windows: Roman Shades 101
Give Your Shades a Personal Touch With Pattern, Texture and Trim
I'm a home makeover TV show producer, interior designer and the creator of Decor Demon, lifestyle editorial with an edge. http://www.decordemon.com
I'm a home makeover TV show producer, interior designer and the creator... More »
I recently bucked my self-imposed trend of covering windows in floor-to-ceiling ripple-fold draperies, instead opting for a dubious creation known as a Roman shade. When my seamstress gave me reasons why this was a better fit than plantation shutters, I listened for once. Roman shades are super functional and offer creative opportunities for personalization. Nothing looks more tailored than a custom Roman shade, but there are lots of good readymade versions in retail stores. Whether your budget calls for the nearest clearance rack or a hefty chunk of I-earned-it-and-I'm-gonna-spend-it change, here's the rundown on amazing options you'll appreciate just as much as your windows.
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| Tone-on-tone styles are a safe bet for any design lover looking to bring Roman shades into their home. This style is a layering effect using slightly different shades of the same color. If you're on a budget, this is a great way to go since most retailers carry readymade options in neutral tones. You can always find amazing, streamlined neutral shades online at The Shade Store. |
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Layering shades with drapery panels instantly adds depth to a space. I recommend playing with textures here. If your panels sport soft fabrics, juxtapose them with shades sporting a rougher, more graphic feel. Natural materials such as woven seagrass or bamboo are safe bets. Home Depot carries some great options at lower price points.
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| A few steps up from play-it-safe solids is play-it-safe pattern. Choosing the right repeat is all about how much attention you want to draw to a window. If the window is meant to be the star, go big! Or, in a situation like this, simply use the window as a way to pop just a little bit of pattern into an otherwise solid space. It breaks up the tone without breaking the calm, serene aesthetic. Neon blue zebra print? Definitely not the right choice. |
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| And here's an excuse to spend three hours in the trim department of a fabric store: trim detail. There are so many choices from tape to tassels to gimp; I usually recommend going with 1.5-inch woven trim. This size makes a pretty big impact on a small-to-medium sized window and usually falls within the $8-$12 per yard range.
Tip: Trim can get pricey. If you're just doing one window, go ahead and trim all four sides of the shade. If you're dealing with multiple windows, one strip at the bottom will do just fine. |
by Amoroso Design
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Coordinate shades with furniture. Usually, I try to avoid anything matching in a space. However, when done in the style of en suite design, it works quite well. En suite design is all about repeating a pattern or motif throughout a smaller or chopped up space to create a consistent, cohesive look.
This is referred to as a "relaxed" Roman shade based on its slightly drooping look. A similar style, "London shade," has the same overall structure with the addition of two pleats, each a few inches inset from the left and right sides.
| For masculine spaces, consider natural woven shades or bold stripes. Something I always tell my clients is that texture and graphics are the ideal design elements for a modern manspace. |
| Coordinating custom shades with custom draperies — a tough trick to pull off. Keep this in mind: Most textile designers put together lines referred to as "coordinates" similar to fashion designers showing off new seasonal looks via the runway. If you stick within the same designer's coordinates family, you run the risk of being super matchy-matchy. To avoid this, try to throw in something to break it up.
In this case, the designer used a repeat on the shades sporting a prominent beige stripe and a slightly different one on the drapery panels boasting a bold hot pink. While this totally works, I often like to suggest varying completely different scales and shapes in the same color family to ensure things don't become overly busy. Next: Browse more photos of window treatments |
Comments
lkornell Nice! Another idea is to get light-blocking shades ( I got mine from Smith and Noble, big selection online or by catalog); the shades are Mylar-lined inside the fabric so you can block out bright sunlight during the day to watch tv or work on computers without reflected glare. Pricey but well worth it.
2 years ago · Like
samanthastevens Nice post, thank you. I love the blue/white/cream blinds and chairs. I think the matchy matchy theme works because the front of the chairs are covered in a plain blue fabric. Roman blinds are great but the top section does gather a lot of dust.
2 years ago · Like
Nat Just what I needed as I am about to make some roman blinds for my children's bedroom windows and was wondering how to make plain shades a bit more interesting - looks like trim is the way to go
2 years ago · Like
tatianaarcila And they look so much more "crisp" than curatins or drapes. LOVE IT!!
2 years ago · Like
terrideo I'm thinking of making roman shades for my dining room. I especially like the picture of the dining room (the en suite design). Are these shade usually lined?
6 weeks ago · Like
Ideabook published on Jan. 17, 2011.
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