The 15 Best Roman Shades for a Stunning Window
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When it comes to finessing the finishing touches in a room, window treatments can be a tricky design element to get right. After all, they have to serve a dual purpose in your space, delivering both beauty (through elegant fabric or playful prints) and functionality (by blocking light or adding privacy). Needless to say, finding a design that can do both—while staying on budget—is no easy feat. Enter: Roman shades. This classic window treatment offers the best of both worlds, softening your space with the addition of fabric or natural texture while still providing coverage, all at a lower price point than some other drapery.
Roman shades are a fabric window covering that can be raised or lowered, which assemble into neat folds when raised. You can mount them inside your window frame or atop it, allowing you to further customize your look while compensating for any architectural quirks your home may have. Because roman shades come in many different widths and lengths and take up virtually no extra room in your space, they’re also a great option for smaller spaces. Each of our picks is aimed at adding personality (and privacy) to your windows. From classic bamboo roman shades to relaxed linen options and even blackout shades, these treatments will be the ideal finishing touch for every room in your home.
Types of Roman Shades
Blackout Roman Shades
Designed with light-blocking in mind, blackout roman shades prevent outside light from entering a room with the help of an added layer (or two!) of material. They’re ideal for bedrooms, nurseries, and media rooms where privacy and darkness are key.
Custom Roman Shades
Custom roman shades allow you to tailor your look and fit to your exact needs. In most instances, custom roman shades can be made to your exact width and length specifications; some even allow you to provide your own fabric, also referred to as COM (customer’s own material).
Bamboo Roman Shades
Bamboo roman shades are crafted from natural woven fibers, giving them a warm, organic texture that can complement a variety of design styles. They filter light softly while adding a relaxed, coastal, or bohemian look.
Cordless Roman Shades
Cordless roman shades operate without dangling cords. Instead, they use a push-up or pull-down mechanism, resulting in a cleaner look and a safer design for homes with children or pets.
Linen and Fabric Roman Shades
Linen and fabric roman shades are the most popular choice, thanks to their customization and universal appeal. Depending on the lining, they can gently filter light or provide more privacy and insulation.
No-Drill Roman Shades
Designed to be installed without tools or hardware, no-drill roman shades often use tension rods or adhesive brackets to adhere to your window. They’re a great option for renters or anyone looking for a damage-free window treatment solution.
Relaxed Roman Shades
Instead of crisp, structured folds, relaxed roman shades feature a soft and elegant curved drape at the bottom. The style feels casual and effortless, lending a slightly romantic, lived-in look to a room.
Motorized Roman Shades
Motorized roman shades open and close with the push of a button, remote, or smartphone app, offering convenience, tailored light control, and control over hard-to-reach windows.
Recommended Products
01
Easiest Installation
Celia Patterned Cordless Roman Shade
Two Pages
$69.99
Two Pages has made a name for itself in the window treatment industry, thanks in large part to its enormous selection, high quality, and endless customizations. Pick from hundreds of beautiful fabrics and tailor everything to your exact needs, from the size of the shades to the lining type, lift type, and mounting. Bonus: the shades can detach from the mounting mechanism, so they’re easy to wash or dust when necessary.
02
Best Motorized
Coastal Roman Shades
Select Blinds
$54.99
03
Best Split Shade
Darby Home Co Room Darkening Roman Shade
Wayfair
$66.99
Sometimes, you want to maintain privacy while letting in light—or at least allowing yourself a peek at the foliage outside your window. That’s where these shades come in. Not only do they boast the tailored appeal that roman shades are known for, but they also tout a unique “split” top that allows you to drop them down to reveal a slice of the window, offering the best of both worlds.
04
Best For Adding Texture
ARLO BLINDS Tuscan Sheer Bamboo Roman Shades
Wayfair
$57.99
Unlike traditional drapery, Roman shades are available in a variety of natural textures (think bamboo, seagrass, and more), which can add a beautiful light-filtering effect to your room while also providing necessary depth to your design scheme. This versatile bamboo Roman shade from ARLO BLINDS comes in over 40 sizes, so finding the just-right fit for your window is a cinch.
05
Best Light-Filtering
Crossweave Cordless Roman Shade
West Elm
$209.00
For a relaxed vibe and classic feel, look no further than this crisp Roman shade from West Elm. Available in two stunning neutral crossweave fabrics—natural canvas and Belgian flax—this simple design lets in just the right amount of light, offering an understated elegance that makes it the ideal pick for a kitchen or living room. Choose from five different widths (26, 32, 36, 44, or 48 inches) to find your ideal fit.
06
Best Patterns
LantingCurtains Summer Countryside Cordless Roman Shades
Etsy
$132.42
Pretty pattern and flattering filtered light? Sign us up! Etsy is an oft-forgotten resource for custom Roman shades. But you can find near endless customization options and beautiful prints, like this garden-inspired floral design. For this cordless option, you can tailor your order to your exact needs. Choose between an inside or outside mount as well as precise length. Available widths range from 15 to 50 inches.
07
Best Coastal Style
ARLO BLINDS Whitewash Sheer Bamboo Roman Shades
Wayfair
$51.99
Designing a coastal-themed room? Give the space a beachy feel by installing these whitewashed Roman shades from ARLO BLINDS. Constructed of sturdy bamboo, they lend an airy island feel to any room without skewing too theme-y. This design is available in 27 sizes, with a cordless mechanism that’s both easy to use and safe for kids and pets.
08
Best Farmhouse Style
Riviera Striped Cordless Roman Blackout Shade
Pottery Barn
$229.00
Calling all farmhouse lovers! The simple flour sack stripe on these Pottery Barn Roman shades is the perfect accent to a rustic, country-inspired kitchen. But it still feels tailored enough to skew preppy or classic, too. There’s even a polyester and cotton backing to help filter additional light. While it’s not 100% blackout, it’ll still add a great deal of light-blocking and privacy.
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09
Best Budget
Madison Park Galen Cordless Roman Shades
Amazon
$57.99
10
Best Scallop Design
Shelooms Flat Fold Scalloped Roman Shades
Etsy
$149.00
To give your room more presence and a sense of formality, consider adding a valance to your Roman shade structure. Essentially a flap of fabric that lives at the top of your window, a Roman shade valance adds a touch more sophistication to the scene. It can even better disguise the hardware mechanism that makes the shade work. This sweet design features a trendy scallop detail, which would be perfect for a kid’s room or nursery.
11
Best 100% Blackout
Sun Zero Thermal 100% Blackout Cordless Roman Shade
Wayfair
$69.99
If you’re shopping for Roman shades to hang in your bedroom, you’ll want a style guaranteed to block out every bit of light—and these shades from Sun Zero do just that. Crafted from durable, thick polyester, they’re designed to keep light (and noise!) from making its way into your room. Not only that, but the clever design also helps create a temperate environment, keeping both summer heat and winter temps from entering your home.
12
Best for a Classic Look
DEJAVU Roman Shades with Ribbon Border
Amazon
$69.99
For a streamlined look tailored to your room’s design, add a few of these sophisticated Roman shades to your cart. The crisp white style comes with a ribbon border that’s available in numerous better-than-neutral hues (like navy, gray, and black). That way, you can quietly “theme” your choice to each room while maintaining continuity throughout your home.
13
Best for a Relaxed Vibe
Shelooms Linen Custom Relaxed Roman Shades
Etsy
$145.00
Does your style skew super casual? Well, we found the perfect Roman shade for you. Dubbed a “relaxed Roman,” this twist on the classic design features a breezier fabric, like linen, with a soft swag at the bottom and less defined folds. This custom pick from Etsy encapsulates that chill ethos perfectly. Plus, it comes in a wide range of stunning shades and stripes (36 to be exact!) to choose from.
14
Best Fabric Selection
CHICOLOGY Roman Shades
Amazon
$39.98
When a product has over 1,900 five-star reviews on Amazon, you know it’s bound to be good. These Roman shades from CHICOLOGY are as versatile as they come, with a great selection of colors and sizes to suit any room. Each one boasts a blackout linen and hidden cord, which you can move up and down easily by grabbing the shade at its base.
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