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What Are the Different Types of Roman Shades?

If you’ve been searching for new window treatments, you may have come across the term Roman Shades. While these are a tried-and-true window treatment, and one we especially love here at North County Blinds, it’s not uncommon for folks to ask us, What are Roman Shades, anyway?

Hunter Douglas Vignette® Roman Shades near Encinitas, California (CA)

We’re going to break down this commonly asked question and do a run-through of the different Hunter Douglas Roman Shades. By the time you’re done reading this, you’ll probably be daydreaming about all the different ways this window treatment could be customized to add a gorgeous ambiance to your home.

A Beginner’s Guide to Roman Shades

Originally used in ancient times—even as a roofing solution at the famed Coliseum, Roman shades were designed to fold up neatly when raised, creating a soft and elegant look. Unlike traditional blinds, which have slats that can be adjusted to control the amount of light and privacy, Roman shades are made of a single piece of fabric that hangs flat when the shade is down and folds neatly when it is raised.

Roman Shades for windows are available in a wide range of colors, patterns, and materials, from sheer fabrics that allow natural light to filter through to heavier fabrics like blackout Roman shades that provide room-darkening and insulation properties. Roman shades are a popular choice for both traditional and modern interiors, and their sleek and sophisticated look can add a touch of elegance to any room.

Different Types of Roman Shades

Now that we’ve established what exactly a Roman shade is, we can discuss further what different varieties there are. At North County Blinds, you’ll find a plethora of Roman Shades options. Each kind has the customization option of primary styles: flat, waterfall, batten front, and batten back. We’ll go over the subtleties of each style:

  • Flat Roman Shades: These Roman shades are comprised of a continuous piece of fabric that lays flush against the window. The shade is backed with horizontal fabric panels reinforced with bars to make the shade more sturdy and much harder to break or damage. This style is the most ideal for showing off a pattern or texture for your Roman shades; the design will look prominent, front-and-center, and ready to take your guests’ breath away! You could also opt for this style with a neutral, calm tone if you’d prefer a minimal look at the window with as few pleats as possible.
  • Waterfall Roman Shades: This type of Roman shade offers soft fabric folds that cascade to create a beautiful fluid look of draped fabric when they’re raised and lowered. Waterfall Roman shades stack neatly and provide elegant dimension, effortlessly adding a touch of sophistication to your home.
  • Batten Front Roman Shades: No clue what a batten is? It’s really just another word for a tunnel. Batten-front Roman shades feature tubes of fabric with a stiff strip of solid material—either wood, plastic, or metal—that are sewn into the outer side of the shade at regular intervals. This style is ideal if you want a striped or patterned design, as the batten-front style won’t interfere with your design.
  • Batten Back Roman Shades: Alternatively, in the batten back style of Roman shades, these tunnels are inverted. When the shade is lowered, the look is soft and flush. When it’s raised, these inverted battens create neat, defined folds. We recommend this style of Roman shade for solid shades or for patterns on the more discreet and subtle side. Stark stripes or heavily patterned designs don’t lend themselves well to the batten back style.

How Do I Choose the Right Roman Shade?

Due to the wide variety of Hunter Douglas Roman Shades options, there’s really no right or wrong answer. Each variety of Roman shade will provide excellent durability, style, versatility, light control, and even energy efficiency! The name of the game is really going to be what benefits you rank the highest, and which aesthetic you prefer. Many of our Roman Shades can be further customized with additional enhancements to better suit the needs of your household. Just click each individual product page to learn more about each different variety of Roman shade and the possible enhancements you can opt for:

Contact North County Blinds for Your Roman Shades Needs

We’re confident that no matter which Roman shade option most interests you, we’ll be able to find a solution that checks off all your boxes and fits within your budget. We’d love to hear from you – feel free to contact us for a complimentary consultation or give us a call at (760) 944-9056 with any questions. We look forward to answering your questions!

We’ve been providing our neighbors in the greater Encinitas area with top-notch window treatments and customer service since 1985. We proudly serve Encinitas, CA, and the surrounding areas, including San Diego, Carlsbad, Oceanside, and San Marcos, California.

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