Custom Roman Shades & Window Blinds

Relaxed Roman Shades | Flat Fold Fabric Roman Blinds

Featuring clean lines and classic tailoring, fabric roman shades are a popular choice for windows in any home. Our custom roman shades combine the beauty of a fabric drape with the easy practicality of a blind, making them one of the most versatile window treatments you will find. And, because we can stitch them in any of the 3000+ fabrics in our collection – from the classic flat fold to the casual relaxed roman shades – it’s easy to find a look that complements your taste and space.

Fabric roman window shades come in numerous styles, each with its own unique nuances of form and function. Despite their minimalistic structure, roman shades can suit not just the modern design styles but also their arch-opposite traditional decor. So, no matter what decor style you follow, our custom roman shades can get along. Shades can air a modern or a traditional flair, depending upon their details. 

One of the details that need to be attended to is the style of the shade. Let us introduce you to the three most popular styles of roman shades that we offer at Spiffy Spools.

EUROPEAN/RELAXED ROMAN SHADES

These shades are just the right bit of casual. Constructed to appear “unconstructed”, the smooth front of relaxed roman shades is tailored to fall into a gentle curve at the bottom.

Relaxed or European roman shades are not supported by slats and hence, the the fabric falls in a gentle curve, dipping deeper into a scalloped shape at the bottom. The scalloped bottom works as an ornamental addition, making a relaxed roman shade easily at home with highly embellished traditional decor and feminine styled decor which thrive on curvy details.

Special feature: It’s the most ‘unstructured’ roman shade style. Luxurious curved folds are formed as the shades are raised.

Works for: Relaxed roman shades work best for low-use windows where raising and lowering of shades is kept to a minimum. They look gorgeous with soft, slightly feminine décor styles like shabby chic and Scandinavian. Our stylists recommend combining relaxed style blinds with drapery to get the best of functional ease and roll-out-of-bed good looks.

Pros: The relaxed and elegant look of this style is truly beneficial for a laid back, soft setting. This style is excellent for lightweight and sheer fabrics, and especially suitable for plain fabrics as the gently stacking curve at the bottom lends an architectural element of aesthetic interest in the absence of pattern.

Cons: Relaxed roman shades are not recommended for high-use or narrow windows (minimum recommended window width is 30 inches). The folds often need to be formed manually as the shades are operated. Therefore, they are best used primarily as stationary shades layered with drapes that take up the functional aspect. This style also lets in light from the side gaps a bit more than the flat fold styles.

FLAT FOLD ROMAN SHADES WITH BACK SLATS

This is the most minimalist, and hands down, our most popular style on the block. With horizontal slats stitched into the lining at the back, and straight stacking folds at the bottom, these are clean, modern and highly functional for frequent use.

Featuring a clean frontage with no visual breaks, this style is highly recommended for bold patterned fabric roman shades. However, these shades cannot be constructed without lining, therefore, not a viable option for sheers or any unlined fabric. 

Special feature: With all the slats stitched to the linings, the hemlines do not show their seams in the front. It has a highly structured construction and features clean lines and neat uniform folds.

Works for: All fabrics except sheers can be stitched in the back-slatted style. This style is highly recommended for bold patterns, checks and stripes to allow the patterns the shine uninterrupted by visible slats. They are equally good in formal and informal spaces, and high and low-use windows. 

Pros: No doubt, the seamless look with sleek contours and zero visual breaks in the frontage is the striking feature of this style. They become instantly relevant, therefore, for floral and continuous print fabrics to show off the patterns. 

Cons: They cannot be constructed with sheers or fabrics without lining. Also, this style is not the top candidate for plain, monochromatic fabrics as the shades may end up looking too plain when fully folded down. 

FLAT FOLD SHADES WITH FRONT SLATS

One of the most popular styles for fabric roman shades worldwide, the front-slatted roman shades are a popular choice for plain/solid fabrics. With horizontal slats at the front and straight stacking folds at the bottom, these are clean, modern, and highly functional for frequent use.

Special feature: The hemlines of the slats stitched to the fabric are visible on the frontage of the shade.

Works for: This style can be safely chosen for all types of fabrics and pose no constrictions for high-use windows. They are versatile enough to go with any decor style although they are more popular with casual/semi-formal spaces.

Pros: Easily, the most counted upon feature of the style is the sturdy structured look and function with solid construction. These shades look good in both narrow and wide spaces. And they are especially well-suited for solid/textured fabrics as the visible slats bring an element of architectural interest to an otherwise plain surface.

Cons: The seams of the slats add visual breaks in the frontage which, in rare cases, may not show off prints in the best light. Small and minuscule patterns don’t make much of these visual breaks but bold patterns may lose their continuity. For tricky fabrics such as velvets, that may be naturally prone to pinching and puckering on hems, back slatted shades are recommended over front slatted ones to minimise chance of pinching on frontage.  

Now that you are familiar with the stitching styles, their pros and cons, and suitability based on decor styles, let’s take you to the next level of detail. These details make all the difference in making your custom roman shades look chic-right for modern decor or a classic best for traditional decor.

Choice of Fabrics: Materials used in the decor should air the feel you wish to generate. The posh velvets and silks suit perfectly for formal rooms featuring highly embellished decor styles. So, for a high-end look, a formal air, and/or a more ornamental decor scheme, use velvet or silk roman shades.

Less ornate, casual spaces look right with cotton or linen roman shades. These breathing materials also help to keep the room airy and light. Modern minimalism cannot find a better alternative to show its defining values in window treatments.

Plain Fabrics: Plain fabrics look classical on ornate wall-papered surfaces. Trim them with tassels and ribbons featuring old-world iconic patterns, and stitch them in European/relaxed style, and they effortlessly ring in the charm of traditional decor. 

Stitch them in one of the flat-fold styles with no embellishment, and they are trend-right for contemporary and modern spaces. The front-slatted shades are better for plain fabrics since the hemlines can bring a pattern-like finish to the otherwise uneventful surface.

Patterned Fabrics: Minuscule and small patterns, strewn sparsely or covered from end to end are good to go with any of the three styles of shades. Ditzy floral patterns, ginghams, and puppytooths belong to traditional decor styles. Bold paisleys, damasks, and ikats also find their right place in the same ornate scheme. They should ideally be stitched in the European style or the back-slatted style to be enabled with a continuous unhindered surface.

Geometric patterns and abstract patterns are a modern take on fabric patterns. They look perfectly at home, therefore, with modern decor. When featured in modern color palettes and back-slatted style, they easily spell chic and sophistication. 

Mounting Position: Roman shades can be mounted within the window recess or outside on the wall/ceiling above the window. Inside mount roman shades suit right for windows with ornate trims as is the case with traditional decor. Whereas, outside mount roman shades cover off the window trims as they extend to a few inches beyond the window frame from all sides. So, these are perfect for modern homes with plain window trims and minimalist details. Note that the minimum depth of the window recess should be two inches to be able to mount the shade in the inside position. Do visit our guide on how to measure for roman shades for more tips.

We hope that you now have a full picture of the world of roman shades. You can now choose the right kind of roman shade for your style of decor and optimal efficiency. Also rest assured that all our custom roman shades come with full hardware, including child-safety anchors, ready to be mounted. So go on and shop your favorite roman shade with us today!