What Are Roman Shades?

Fewer design elements give interior spaces as much sophistication as Roman shades. The timeless styling and unquestionable elegance have earned them a stellar reputation; customers ask about them daily at SmartLooks Window & Wall Decor. Compared to hard window treatments like horizontal wood blinds or vinyl vertical blinds, Roman shades offer a softer aesthetic. Still, the designs are tailored and refined — those ancient Romans knew what they were doing.

Roman shades are made from single fabric panels that stack or fold into horizontal pleats when raised. The appearance draws inspiration from ancient Roman designs, where draped fabrics were connected to cords and served decorative and practical purposes.

Modern Roman shades operate with secure cord free systems that allow the fabric to gather when lifted upward, creating that signature stacked fold. The bottom portion remains flat and smooth when lowered, for complete coverage while maintaining the shade's fine silhouette. You can cover the headrail with coordinating fabrics or a top treatment to blend this style into your architecture.

We customize Roman shades with casual or formal fabrics that work in almost any room.

• Bedrooms benefit from their room-darkening effects, creating restful environments and design continuity with linens and furniture.
• Kitchen and bathroom windows are perfect for Roman shades; for windows near sinks and appliances, ask us about heat- and moisture-resistant fabrics.
• Living rooms and dining areas are decidedly stylish with Roman shades. Their structured appearance beautifully complements these entertaining spaces.
• Home offices also look better with these custom window treatments. Choose a light-filtering fabric opacity to prevent glare or a heavier one to darken the room.

Available in sheer, light-filtering, and room-darkening fabric opacities, Hunter Douglas Vignette® Roman Shades are an excellent and flexible choice. Choose from 25+ fabric/color combinations, including stunning prints and, natural weaves, tweeds, and linens from the Alustra Collection®.

These shades accommodate standard window widths from 12" to 140" and heights from 12" to 144". We also customize them for specialty shapes like bay windows, glass patio doors, and French doors.

Vignette® Roman Shades come in two different styles:

• Stacking: The fabric hides under a low-profile headrail for shallow mounting depths. This style comes with a 4” full fold.
• Rolling: The fabric rolls into the headrail. Choose from a 4” full fold or a 6” flat fold.

This stage of the ordering process is often the most exciting; we enjoy explaining the different enhancements that truly personalize these window coverings.

One choice is Vignette® Duolite® Shades, which combine a sheer or light-filtering front shade with a room-darkening back panel. Or ask us about The Alustra Collection® of Vignette®, exclusive design-inspired fabrics made from natural woven fibers.

And what are Roman shades without custom control options? Hunter Douglas offers these:

• EasyRise™ has a continuous cord loop system engineered for effortless operation of larger window treatments.
• Top-Down/Bottom-Up provides flexible light control by allowing you to adjust your shades from either direction or both simultaneously.
• LiteRise® offers cordless convenience; simply lift or lower your window covering using gentle hand pressure.
• UltraGlide® keeps a consistent cord length through its retractable system.
• PowerView® Automation is a motorized window treatment operating system that can be controlled by a remote, app, or voice command through a smart home system.
  

Let us help you customize Hunter Douglas Vignette® Roman Shades or another Hunter Douglas Roman shade style for your home. At SmartLooks Window & Wall Decor, we have years of experience providing homeowners customizable design solutions including custom window treatments, bedding, upholstery, and much more.

Contact us for a consultation in Richardson and near the Dallas Metroplex, including Dallas, Plano, Allen, McKinney, Frisco, Fairview, Wylie, Sachse, Murphy, Parker, Garland, Rowlett, Rockwall, Heath, Sashe, Addison, Carrollton, Farmers Branch, Celina, and surrounding areas.