Friday, September 17, 2010

Roman Shades - A Popular Window Covering Trend


Bestline Roman Shades
 As the popularity of using draperies and fabrics at the window has risen, the popularity of roman shades has also increased.  These shades operate as a complete window treatment and can be manufactured from many different materials, including many styles of fabrics and natural products like woven woods and woven reeds.

Roman shades add style, softness and texture to the window.  This cannot be achieved by the use of blinds alone.  They can also be used as a black-out shade or a light filtering shade depending upon the lining that is used; and can be trimmed with contrasting hems, trim and other forms of design to make them truly unique.  Also the use of natural hand woven materials provides texture and sun control.  Flexibility of materials that can be used, and  various style elements, are the keys to roman shades' resurgence and popularity.

Roman shades also offer softness at the window.  When pulled to the up position they can look very much like a valance, yet when lowered they give privacy and light control.  When you want the "look" of roman shades but desire the blinds ability to see through it when tilting the vanes, roman shades become great valances when installed permanently above the blind.  This way you can get the contemporary, sophisticated look of roman shades but with the flexibility of being able to see out when the blinds are down.

Roman shades can be extremely versatile - they can stand alone or be coupled with draperies, cornices or other fabric treatments.  I especially love installing a window with a roman shade for privacy, then adding a decorative iron rod over the window and drapery side panels at each side.  This becomes a wonderfully soft design that can be made to easily coordinate with the rest of your room's decor.