| Fabric roman shades add a touch of | | | | Before you start picking the fabric you must |
| refinement, flair and sophistication to any | | | | measure your window and estimate which |
| room. You can buy a ready-to-use set of Roman | | | | hardware and mountings you need. Roman shades |
| shades or you can create them from scratch in | | | | don't require any specific mountings - that's |
| any fabric and size that you like. You can | | | | the beauty of them. They draw up via a cord |
| hang Roman shades flat for a more modern | | | | strung through the sides of the shade. The |
| style, or fold them and create a softer and | | | | cords then travel through the pulleys mounted |
| more conventional teardrop Roman shade style | | | | on mounting board above the window on or |
| with buffs of any volume. | | | | outside the window frame. |
| | | | |
| Roman shades are becoming a big | | | | The fabric that you choose for your roman |
| home-decorating trend, returning on a wave of | | | | shades depends on where the window overlooks. |
| the interest to streamlined minimalist or | | | | If there is a beautiful scenic view you will |
| exotic designs. Made with beautiful soft | | | | most likely choose a plain sheer light |
| fabric, simple and very practical, Roman | | | | fabric. If your window overlooks a busy |
| shades fold into well-defined pleats when | | | | street, then you will need an opaque fabric |
| raised, much like a classic Venetian blind. | | | | that gives you a sense of privacy. Plus, some |
| At the top, a matching fabric is used | | | | people are prone to season affected disorders |
| allowing for an array of color and pattern. | | | | and need more light to remain positive and |
| For the lining, a solid pale color is | | | | healthy. In this case, you may need a sheer |
| commonly used. | | | | fabric that doesn't block the sun light, but |
| | | | rather diffuses it. |
| Roman shades are incredibly flexible and | | | | |
| light-efficient. They also offer better | | | | The type of fabric is also determined on what |
| temperature control than other types of | | | | type of activities the room is used for. If |
| shades. In winter, you can draw them high to | | | | it's a living room with a TV, you may need a |
| allow the sun's natural heating rays to enter | | | | fabric that allows you to control the amount |
| the room, and after the sunset you can close | | | | of light and glare on the screen. If you a |
| them tightly stopping the heat from escaping | | | | planning to put your roman shades in the |
| through the window. In the summer, you can | | | | bedroom you will need a light-blocking dark |
| close the Roman shades almost completely to | | | | fabric to help you sleep during the summer |
| prevent the overheating of the room, while in | | | | months when the sun rises early. |
| the evening you can open the shades to cool | | | | |
| down the temperature. All other types of | | | | At the end of the day, all window treatments |
| shades leave too much fabric around the | | | | require maintenance and cleaning. The benefit |
| window that doesn't allow for precise light | | | | of roman shades is that they are the easiest |
| and temperature control. | | | | to keep clean - you can wash them in your |
| | | | washing machine, iron afterwards and re-hang |
| Roman shades are relatively simple to make. | | | | them looking as good as new. |