Roman Shades Styles: Folding Types and Features
Published 3/7/2024
The beauty of Roman shades lies in their ability to adapt to diverse interior design styles and preferences. From traditional to modern, sleek to textured, Roman shades come in many different on-trend styles, materials, and colors.
We’ll dive into the subtle differences in the various styles of Roman shades, their unique benefits, and the best applications for each style. Whether you’re aiming for a cozy bedroom retreat, a contemporary living room, or a professional office space, Roman shades can be tailored to suit your needs.
Flat Fold Roman Shades
Flat Roman shades have a contemporary look and special character, perfect for achieving a sophisticated and uncluttered look. These plain fold shades, available in both batten back and with seam variations, are characterized by their straight, uncluttered folds as they are raised.
The batten back option uses horizontal rods sewn into the fabric at regular intervals, creating distinct and uniform horizontal folds, while the with seams option features seams that add subtle vertical lines, introducing an additional layer of visual interest.
When to Use Them
One of the notable benefits of plain fold Roman shades is their versatility in décor. The simplicity of their design allows them to seamlessly blend with different styles, from traditional to contemporary, making them a great addition to any family room, living room, or dining room.
Beyond their aesthetic appeal, these window coverings offer easy operation. When raised, the flat fold style neatly stacks at the top of the window, providing an unobstructed view and allowing natural light to flood the room. A simple lifting mechanism ensures smooth and hassle-free operation, a perfect choice for large windows in entertaining areas.
Motorized and cordless options make flat shades the best choice for the bedroom and home office and are especially convenient for hard-to-reach windows.
Soft/Hobbled Roman Shades
Soft fold Roman shades are a popular choice for those seeking a window treatment that combines elegance with a touch of softness and texture. These Roman shades are characterized by cascading, waterfall-like folds that create a gentle and inviting appearance. They have many benefits, such as:
- Soft Light Filtering: the soft folds of the fabric gently filter sunlight, reducing glare while maintaining a cozy atmosphere in the room.
- Customization Options: choose from a wide range of fabrics, patterns, and colors to suit individual styles and complement the existing décor.
- Privacy and Light Control: the adjustable nature of hobbled Roman shades allows for precise control over privacy and light levels; effortlessly raise or lower the shades to find the perfect balance between natural light and privacy.
- Texture and Depth: The soft folds create rich textures and add a sense of luxury and sophistication to the room, making them an excellent choice for spaces where a touch of elegance is desired.
When to Use Them
The soft and inviting appearance of beautiful roman shades makes them an ideal choice for living rooms, creating a cozy and welcoming atmosphere for both family and guests, or a guest room where they add a touch of tranquility. The elegance of relaxed Roman Shades also makes them a popular style and a good choice for formal dining rooms and bedrooms.
Pleated Roman Shades
Pleated Roman shades are a stylish and modern window treatment option that is both contemporary and practical. These shades feature crisp, horizontal pleats that add a touch of sophistication to any room and can be complemented with a liner or window film. Pleated shades have their unique advantages too.
One of the standout features of these classic Roman shades is their ability to impart a contemporary aesthetic to a room. The uniform pleats create clean lines and a modern appearance. Whether fully raised to maximize sunlight or partially closed to reduce glare, these provide a customizable solution for light control.
Need to cover a small window? Pleated Roman shades are designed to stack neatly when raised, occupying minimal space at the top of the window.
When to Use Them
Pleated Roman shades are an excellent choice for home offices, combining a contemporary appearance with practical light control for a comfortable and productive workspace. Their clean lines and neat appearance are also ideal for entryways and foyers, guest rooms, and living spaces. Modern Roman Shades can be a sophisticated choice for a study or library as well.
London or European Roman Shades
London or European Roman blinds are distinctive and luxurious window treatments characterized by their unique and lavish folds. London Roman shades offer a timeless design that effectively blends traditional elegance with modern appeal. They are popular for a wide array of reasons, including:
- Luxurious Folds: tailored folds of fabric create a rich and opulent appearance, adding a touch of refinement to windows that can elevate the overall aesthetic of a room.
- Enhanced Insulation: the thick, high-quality fabric used in these shades acts as a barrier against external elements, keeping interiors cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter, thereby contributing to energy efficiency.
- Timeless Design: an inherently timeless design that features classic folds and clean lines that won’t go out of fashion, making them a long-lasting investment in home decor.
When to Use Them
European Roman Shades can bring a sense of luxury and opulence to the master bedroom, living room, or study. They can also create a refined backdrop for meals and gatherings in a formal dining room, or enhance the professional atmosphere of a home office with unique style.
Smart Solutions: Motorized Roman Shades
Equipped with a motorized system that allows users to effortlessly raise or lower them with the push of a button or remote control, motorized Roman shades bring a new level of convenience and sophistication to window treatments.
Cordless Roman shades improve accessibility to hard-to-reach windows, french doors, and patio doors, and enhance overall safety by eliminating tangles of cords with motorized options.
When to Use Them
Motorized shades are certified ‘Best for Kids’ and are the ideal solution for homes with young children and pets and are perfect for nurseries, bedrooms, and living areas. They can also add a layer of extra security and privacy, allowing homeowners of vacation homes or those with busy schedules to set motorization of the shades on a daily routine.
Making the Most of Your Roman Shades
To truly achieve a timeless and modern look, shop only the best options. Norman® Centerpiece™ Roman Shades exude luxury and are the epitome of high-quality construction and on-trend design. Available in three fold styles and a vast array of color palettes and gorgeous fabric choices, you can customize your Roman shades to suit your unique interior design aesthetic. Find custom Roman shades at your nearest Norman® retailer.
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