What’s Italian about a Roman Shade?

There is actually some history in Italy behind the fabric Roman Shades we use today.  The Romans devised a way to shield spectators in the Colosseum amphitheater using fabric draped across the theater like a large canopy to protect people against the harsh sun, but still let light in.  A system of brackets and pulleys allowed for the extension of the canopies over the arena for shade and retraction of the canopies to allow for full sunlight.   

The Roman Shades we now use serve the same purpose – they are easily lowered to protect your home from the heat and sun and lifted to let in the light.  The variety of fabrics and options goes on and on, so here are some examples for you to consider.   There are several styles including a Flat Roman which showcases a fabric pattern when lowered, a Relaxed Roman with a softly curved hem, a Knife-Pleat Roman with seams sewn every 6 inches to add interest when using a solid color fabric, and a Hobbled Roman which has soft outward folds of fabric for formal settings.

Flat Roman with Edge Banding

Have a bit of fun with a geometric pattern.  A flat roman showcases the pattern when the shade is lowered, and the contrast edge banding makes it “pop” in the room against a light-colored wall.

Knife-Pleat for Solid Color Fabrics

This style is nice when using a solid color fabric as it adds a bit of design interest.  Add a contrast edge band, or complimentary stationary drapery panels as shown here to really make a statement in the room.

Top-Down Bottom-Up Feature

This feature allows you to position the shade in the window for whatever privacy or light control you need.  For example, positioning the shade so it covers the bottom half of the window provides privacy but still allows full light in the top half of the window.

Dress up your Kitchen with Color

If your kitchen is white on white, add a pop of color with the window coverings.  Using stain-resistant and easily cleanable outdoor fabrics is a great way to spice things up without a big investment in new countertops or cabinetry.

Formal

These Hobbled Roman shades are the softest style with extra fabric used to form soft folds at the front of the shade.  The Greek key edge banding and valance that ties the 3 shades together adds to the formality of this look.

Traditional with a punch

The floral pattern of these Relaxed Roman shades which feature a softly curved bottom combine a traditional floral pattern with a modern color palette for a pleasing and functional look in this eclectic dining room.

The options to enhance the design include adding edge banding in a contrasting color or an embellishment like trim at the shade hem or on the bottom of a valance.  The possibilities are endless.