Why Roman Blinds & Which Fabric to Use

 

Roman blinds go back to Rome’s famous Coliseum, the ancient and spectacular arena where opulent and often violent events were staged for crowds. This popular venue was bathed in the bright Mediterranean sun and archeological excavations did discover a system of retractable fabric shades that could be drawn over the Coliseum.

But back to the current times…

 

Why should you choose Roman blinds for your home?

 

With their simplicity, function and elegance, Roman blinds will play a valuable role in your home’s design. It’s kind of like a hybrid of a curtain and a blind, ideal for decorating small spaces or covering small windows. Depending on which you choose, a Roman blind can be soft and feminine, or masculine and tailored.

They’ve been around for centuries and has evolved in style to what we know today. It’s a classic style that tends not to cycle in and out of trend too quickly. With the right fabric choice, Roman blinds have the benefit of a long and stylish life.
Curtains tend to overwhelm smaller windows, whereas Roman blinds take up no space on either side of the window, perfect for kitchens and bathrooms too!

 

They are ideal if you have pets or small children who will rub against a hanging curtain. Still creating softness to your space, out of reach of dirty hands or pet hair/

Roman blinds vare more streamlined and is as stylish as they are useful and practical.

 

In a more formal scheme, pair them up with decorative curtains, to increase privacy and control the light.

For the most privacy, outside reveal is ideal.

 

Different Styles of Roman Blinds

 

The way Roman blinds are designed are with clean lines and a unique, fold up design.

They are constructed with a series of horizontal bars to create the gentle folds with eyelets and cords on the “wrong” side to draw the shade up. Windows need to be deep enough for the hardware to hang the blind.

 

Wider Windows

The blind can be divided into two blinds that can be controlled separately.

Tall Windows

We recommend a mechanism with a ball and chain, as those blinds can be very heavy, depending on the type of fabric chosen.

 

Flat Roman Blinds

These are more rigid and offers a structured look if you love patterns.  This design remains uncluttered and pristine.
Contrast piping and scalloping make great, interesting additions to Roman blinds, especially if the blinds are replacing curtains.

 

Soft-Fold Roman Blinds

 These are distinctive, as the fabric cascades in a rippling effect all the way down the window.  This style retains the loose folds in both the raised and lowered positions.  It adds an informal aura and can create a romantic mood and an airy feel.

 

 

Now let’s talk fabric…

 

Roman blinds are so versatile  they can be made out of almost any fabric!

The 2 most important components to consider when choosing a fabric is:

Weight

For Roman blinds to stay put, the fabric must have some weight to it. They aren’t designed to blow in the breeze as curtains do. However, a heavy fabric like velvet and damask would make retracting difficult on a daily basis.

 

Structure

Structure is an innate quality that certain fabrics have and others don’t.

Most organic fibers naturally have the right stiffness for Roman blinds. That being said, part of a Roman blind’s structure comes from the lining, with many options to choose from that suits your needs.

 

We are currently featuring Stuart Graham Cotton fabrics, plain and beautiful printed designs. Linen and cotton fabric tend to look higher end, are very durable, and these days there is a big appeal to natural fabrics. And as mentioned before, they provide the perfect structure for a Roman blind.

 

 

Be courageous and take that step!

Be bold and order your made-to-measure Roman Blinds from Global!

We pride ourselves in our workmanship and service!