Roman Shades: Light-Wise Window Solution

Fabric roman shades give a touch of refinement, flair and sophistication to any room. You can purchase a ready-to-use set of Roman shades or you can produce them from scratch in any fabric and size that you like. You can hang Roman shades flat for a more modern style, or fold them and create a softer and more conventional teardrop Roman shade style with buffs of any volume.

Roman shades are becoming a big home-decorating trend, returning on a wave of the interest to streamlined minimalist or exotic designs. Made with beautiful soft fabric, simple and very practical, Roman shades fold into well-defined pleats when raised, much like a classic Venetian blind. At the top, a matching fabric is utilized allowing for a variety of colour and pattern. For the lining, a solid pale colour is commonly utilized.

Roman shades are extremely flexible and light-efficient. They also offer better temperature control than other types of shades. In winter, you are able to draw them high to allow the sun’s natural heating rays to enter the room, and after the sunset, you can close them tightly stopping the heat from escaping through the window. In the summer, you are able to close the Roman shades almost completely to prevent the overheating of the room, whilst in the evening you are able to open the shades to cool down the temperature. All other kinds of shades leave too much fabric around the window that doesn’t permit for precise light and temperature control.

Roman shades are fairly simple to make. Before you begin selecting the fabric you must measure your window and estimate which hardware and mountings you need. Roman shades do not need any specific mountings – that’s the beauty of them. They draw up via a cord strung through the sides of the shade. The cords then travel through the pulleys mounted on mounting board above the window on or outside the window frame.

The fabric which you select for your roman shades depends on where the window overlooks. If there is a beautiful scenic view you will most likely choose a plain sheer light fabric. If your window overlooks a busy street, then you will need an opaque fabric that gives you a sense of privacy. Additionally, some people are prone to season affected disorders and need more light to stay positive and healthy. In this case, you may need a sheer fabric that does not block the sun light, but rather diffuses it.

The type of fabric can also be determined on what type of activities the room is used for. If it is a living room with a Television, you might need a fabric that allows you to control the amount of light and glare on the screen. If you are planning to put your roman shades in the bedroom, you will need a light-blocking dark fabric to help you sleep during the summer months when the sun rises early.

At the end of the day, all window treatments need maintenance and cleaning. The benefit of roman shades is that they are the easiest to keep clean – you can wash them in your washing machine, iron afterwards and re-hang them looking as good as new.

Read more...

9 Qualified Suggestions on Creating Roman Shades

1. Square the cloth

Almost nothing is worse than hanging your roman shade only to uncover that the shade hangs lopsided... it twists... or simply is not right. One particular from the major causes of this can be that your material isn't square. Be certain you use a T-Square or Right Angle instrument when measuring and marking your fabric to cut. If your edges are rectangular... then sewing your fabric to your lining is easier... as well as your roman shade will hang nicely.

2. Space your lift cords every 10"

Many individuals think that you just only need to have two or 3 lift cords to operate a roman shade. Then when they visit increase the shade, the fabric swags in in between the lift cords. That's because there aren't adequate elevate cords and so they aren't close enough together. You must room your lift cords about 10" apart. This can ensure that the roman shade doesn't swag in between cords.

3. Consider the hardware

Choosing the roman shade hardware is crucial. A basic installation of screw eyes plus a cord cleat may perhaps be all you require. That is proper for lighter shades. 1 tiny upgrade of adding a cord lock will make running your roman shade 10 periods a lot more pleasurable. A cord lock will have your roman shade working like a blind. For heavier shade, replace the screw eyes with cord pulleys or cord idlers. These reduce the friction of the elevate cord rubbing along the screw eyes... enabling for any smoother operation. For that ultimate, most professional result, think about a bead chain clutch program. These techniques have a continuous loop bead chain that you simply pull... as well as your roman shade raises and lowers smoothly. Super wonderful!

4. Center the primary panel when piecing

If your roman shade is wider than your material, you may need to have to piece your cloth. Be certain to place one particular full cloth width inside middle of your shade. Then piece on every single aspect the remaining width required. This can make for any more powerful roman shade, and also you will not have an unslightly seam inside middle of your respective shade.

5. Use a blind hem stitch

Try to prevent possessing too very much stitching indicate for the front of one's roman shade. Numerous times you just can't steer clear of this. Attempt utilizing a blind hem stitch to sew the bottom hem of the roman shade. According to how you sew the aspect seams, a blind hem stitch may be best to use right here as well.

6. Use ribs

Adding roman shade ribs for your shade will aid your shade pleat evenly and neatly as you raise it. Ribs are certainly not necessary for generating a roman shade, but they're a truly wonderful to get. You'll be able to include ribs for your roman shade in a few methods. You can sew a casing at each and every row of rings and then insert the ribs. You are able to use an iron on rib tape that produces a casing at every single row of rings without the additional sewing. And there is also a roman shade rib loop tape that you simply can sew across your shade instead of sewing on person shade rings. This tape produces a casing and has loops to thread your lift cord.

7. Finish your elevate cord with cord drops

Don't forget about the elevate cord which you pull to operate your shade. Condense them down to one particular elevate cord using a cord condenser and then include a decorative cord drop at the finish. You can expect to appreciate searching at this smaller detail everytime you head to raise or lower your roman shade.

8. Use roman shade orbs

Rather than tying your lift cord to the bottom rings of the roman shade, use a roman shade orb. These orbs are so simple to make use of and they save you a great deal of time. You just slide a single on at the finish of each and every elevate cord beneath the bottom rings... and you are carried out! No much more fussing with knots!

9. Sew using a lengthy directly stitch

Be sure you extend the length of your respective straight stitch on your sewing machine to as extended because it will go... prior to it becomes a basting stitch. A common difficulty when sewing roman shades is the fact that the cloth will pinch or gather up. Sewing which has a long stitch will guide avoid this trouble.

Read more...

The Softer Side of Roman Shades

Roman shades can bring a lot of variety and style to your space. In addition, they are very useful in providing privacy and insulation. They are made with a variety of fabrics, and lifts into folds. A very elegant and classic window treatment, roman shades come in a variety of styles. Let's take a look at a few of the most popular styles.

Flat Shade: The flat shade is one of the most widely used roman shades available. This shade has a simple design with no horizontal seams or stitching. The flat roman shade will work best with a nicely designed fabric, since it does not have any fabric interruptions. This is the ideal solution when you are trying to create a simple, classic, tailored look. Heavy fabrics such as jacquards, canvas, heavier linens, create a structured look, while softer fabrics such as silk and light weight linen create a more relaxed shade.

Hobbled Shade: Has soft folds when completely lowered. The hobbled roman shades are very formal but can also be used in a casual setting by adjusting the fabrics used. When lifted, the fabric has the appearance of being a valance at the top of your window.

London Roman Shade: The London roman shade is flat across the top, but has the tucks at the bottom create a lavish swag at the bottom of each panel with fan shaped tails on the ends. Some refer to this panel as "dog ears" because the tails resemblance. Shades longer than 70" will have more than one swag. Softer fabrics drape nicely with this shade, and do not need much maintenance. Heavier fabrics will require dressing each time they are raised.

Balloon Shade: The balloon shade is more formal then the other shades. It has a waterfall of balloon shaped poufs at the bottom. Swoops are spaced equidistant across the width of the shade. When fully extended, the shade has a permanent fixed pouf. When the shade is drawn up, the pouf as it stacks at the bottom, becomes larger and has a tendency to curl back towards the window. Because of the amount of fabric used for this shade, a balloon shade can be very heavy. Of course the size of the shade plays a part in this also. Softer fabrics drape nicely and do not need much attention. Whereas heavier fabrics require dressing each time they are raised.

Austrian Shade: The Austrian shade is a Victorian style window shade in which the fabric falls in a series of puffy festoons created by vertical rows of shirring. This shade is most attractive with softer fabrics such as sheers or lightweight silks or cottons. The Austrian shade is very stunning alone, but often used as a compliment to draperies.

Read more...

Roman Shades Offer Versatility and Style

Roman shades can add a whole new dimension to your living space as they are simply styled and beautifully functional. They offer you unlimited design opportunities. Draperies and other window treatments can be used to dress up a shade but they are also very stylish on their own which makes them very versatile. There are many different types of roman shades available to suit your needs and décor.

Room darkening roman shades usually come with a opaque liner adhered to the back of the shade or a white backing to block light. This assures a uniform appearance from the street. These shades do a great job at blocking light and are useful in bedrooms, nurseries or media rooms.

In the average home at least 10 percent of the exterior walls are windows. The winter heat loss through a window can account for 10 to 30 percent of your total heating bill. Insulated roman shades can further reduce window heat loss and dramatically increase the comfort of your home year round. The insulating ability of these shades also reduces noise pollution from outside sources. Insulated roman shades merge fashion and function while considering your needs for comfort, style and energy savings.

Fabric roman shades offer the calming softness of fabric and the tailored look of a shade. They offer you the beauty of naturally filtered light while still being easy to operate and maintain. Roman shades are available in a wide range of colors and textures. They can be ordered with top down, bottom up operation and can be custom made to fit arch windows

Read more...

Varieties of Roman Shades

There are a plethora of types of and materials that make up roman shades. These window treatments are best known for their opulent feel and touch of elegance and class they bring to a home. They make any room look good and don't make it feel dated. They help reduce energy bills with their energy efficient qualities. They also block out almost all UV rays. Take a look at some of the most enjoyed varieties of these blinds.

1. Light Filtering Roman Shades. These shades are designed to offer privacy while letting light in. Polyester is the primary material used. There are varieties available that are both soil and dust resistant. It's a great way to bring a classic look to a child's bedroom or play area without having to worry about them getting ruined. There are cordless versions available and a variety of colors to choose from.

2. Blackout Roman Shades. Best suited for home theater rooms, these blinds look good while providing a dark, secluded atmosphere. They are great if you have problems sleeping because of the sun coming in through the windows or if you want to watch a movie without glare, or work from home and need a dark space to be creative.

3. Woven Wood Roman Shades. These blinds are pretty cool. They have the feel of the ocean, the beach and palm trees swaying. Synthetic brands avoid warping and maintain their color longer than real woven wood blinds or shades. They look as if branches were woven together and bring a delicate look to a room. These also come in cordless versions.

4. Textured Linen Roman Shades. Linen is a fabric associated with summer. It's breezy and soft. These help open up French doors or large windows. They also work to bring a design element to smaller windows.

5. Satin Roman Shades. Satin just looks good. It works in bedrooms, living rooms and studies. It can help enhance the colors in the furniture or bed linens. It can compliment mahogany and marble. These window treatments come in a variety of colors as rich as their material.

Roman shades are generally manufactured with cords. Therefore, if you have small children or pets you may want to request a cordless version. Most manufacturers offer a cordless variety now and if not, retrofit kits are available to make blinds safe. Discounts can be had on brands when you order from a major on-line retailer. Because they don't pay for rental space and they generally buy in bulk, they get savings they can pass on to you.

As new materials are developed, you can be sure the best of them will be incorporated into Roman Shades. These blinds never go out of style. They look great and increase the resale values of a home. They insulate and block UV rays. There's no reason not to buy some Roman Shades today.

Read more...

Decorating with Roman Shades

Roman shades are a popular addition to the window blind stable. They're a great way to make a home decorating statement. Their graceful gathers really add visual interest to any room. When they're raised, the fabric drapes into soft, tight folds. When they're lowered, the gentle folds relax into looser folds.

These shades can be lined to offer more insulation, and also more privacy and deflection of light. They can be used in any room in your home, from nearly any fabric. They look great as a foundation for a full window covering, as a backdrop curtains and valances. You might see them in cotton, suede and linen, among many other materials. They can be the focal point of the window covering, or they can be the background and supporting role for a bold curtain or valance. A cord that runs down the side of the shade controls the lifting and lowering. They can be raised completely to let light in and expose the entire window, or lowered to any level. The higher they're raised, the tighter the loops of fabric get. It almost appears to be a balloon valance, when all the loops are gathered at the top of the window. It doesn't matter how high the shade is raised, it always looks great. It never looks unfinished, or unkempt, or as if you should raise or lower it completely.

It doesn't take much talent to make Roman shades. Magazines, books and websites can walk you through the necessary steps. A visit to a craft store couldn't hurt, either, since they're full of ideas. Someone at the craft store can direct you toward the best resources. Once you make one set, you'll be unstoppable!

Once Roman shades are hung, the room takes on a completely different feel. The three dimensional curtain really draws your attention to the window. Which makes it even wiser to have a full display of window treatments. They can go with modern furnishings, or they can fit right in with a contemporary theme. They can have a casual look, or a more formal look. The material chosen makes all the difference. An ornately printed brocade would look much more formal than a light cotton. And the treatments around it can affect how it looks. A formal valance with a heavy drapery is much more formal than a light balloon valance paired with a sheer cotton panel.

Whether you choose a formal look or a casual look for your shades, windows never looked so good!

Read more...