Roman shades are a tailored alternative to drapery. Great when you want to spend less on fabric, great in kids spaces where pulling and tripping might be an issue and even better as an under-layer, they can be fabricated so many ways.

These shades are an affordable alternative to drapery, as the fabric requirements are sometimes more than half, and an added bonus is that they allow the fabric to be seen in full view, and any trim will read super tailored and geometric. Mounted inside or outside the window frame, if you add a pelmet or cornice, my opinion is to try to mount shades as high as possible to give the optical illusion of bigger windows…

My usual order is flat style, but occasionally I will do a relaxed roman, particularly in a more feminine space like a bath or a lady office. I never spec balloon shades or anything fancy or prim, so I won’t even discuss those here… I will stick to the basics. How do you know which Roman shade shape is right for you?

For a super chic and simple look that lays flat when down and fold up from the bottom, you may want a flat roman shade like this: this type of shade really shows off the pattern in the fabric as there are no pleats or folds to detract from the repeat:

If you want a bit more happening, add a pellet box or valance to the top. For a more relaxed version, simply ask for a relaxed flat roman, meaning the bottom softens into a soft slightly curved fold like this: a good workroom can make these in several ways.

If you love the pleated look, then you should specify a folded roman shade: these look fully pleated even when rolled completely down. Be sure you love this look enough to pay for double the amount of fabric it takes to make them!

Images: 1. Amanda Nisbet 2.Diane Bergeron 3.Morgan Harrison Home 4. Liz Williams Interiors 5. Ashlee Raubach Photography 6. Muse Interiors 7. Kelly Wearstler