Avoid These Mistakes While Shopping Roman Shades

Are you shopping for roman shades? There probably isn’t a more elegant choice of dressings for your windows than a set of carefully planned custom roman shades. The flawless lines and the truly bespoke look enchant homeowners, designers and architects alike. Plus, there’s an endless variety of styles, fabrics and patterns to choose from. Shopping Roman Shades

So if you’re also thinking about custom roman shades for your home, we’re not surprised. But do familiarize yourself with the most common mistakes people make when buying roman shades to ensure your 100% percent satisfaction.

1. Mistake one: Choosing the wrong mounting position

Roman shades can be mounted in two ways:

• Inside mount: The shade sits inside the window recess and is attached to the “roof” of the window frame.  
• Outdoor mount: The shade is attached to the wall above the window and covers the entire window frame.

The two positions have their own pros and cons, so don’t choose a mounting position without fully understanding their benefits and limitations. 

Roman blinds can be mounted inside provided the window frame depth is about 2-4 inches. Therefore, please check your window recess size and the specifics of the item before making a purchase. 

Interior mounted roman shades are great for windows where you want to show off the ornate window trims, or for layering with custom drapes. They also look truly customized as they are crafted to fit right into the recess. But bear in mind that with this style, some light will always leak through the edges and this may not be ideal for some. 

Outdoor mounts offer more flexibility. By extending the roman shades a few inches beyond the frame, you can block out more light. Also, there are no limitations on depth needed to mount this style of shades. However, since these shades sit outside the frame, they are not as minimalist as inside mount shades and also not ideal if you want to layer with curtains in front.

b. Mistake two: Choosing the wrong size-Shopping Roman Shades

The custom construction of the roman blind requires correct and careful sizing. Interior mounted blinds will not fit in if you specify a width greater than the recess. On the other hand, if your estimate misses the mark, the side gaps will be overly wide, allowing too much light penetration.

Externally mounted blinds are a bit more forgiving in case of wrong  sizing. But we advise extending the shade about 6 inches on either side of the frame to avoid light leaks. Mount your blinds a few inches higher above the window trim if you want the blinds to expose the entire window when opened for the greatest amount of light.

c. Mistake three: Leaving shades unlined

The need for a lining is as underestimated with shades as it is with custom curtains.  The lining protects the shades from harsh sunlight and saves them from that old, worn-out look that can ruin the stylistic theme of the entire room and force you to shop again too soon. The weight of the lining also helps the shades hold their structure better. Think about the added benefits when you choose blackout liners. It darkens the room and reduces unwelcome noises from filtering in. It also provides insulation from intense heat and cold. So, unless you’re going for sheers, don’t skip the lining.

d. Mistake four: Ordering oversized shades with heavy fabric

With windows larger than usual, the longevity of the hardware can be affected.  Heavy fabrics with heavy linings make matters worse. Buyers often neglect the weight of the fabric. At best, the pulling mechanism can fail. Therefore, for a large window, it is wiser to choose light fabrics to reduce the load on hardware, or think of multiple smaller shades than a single, extra wide shade.

e. Mistake five: No syncing with decor

With such myriad choices available to buyers when it comes to textures and color styles, any sane person would agree that not all roman shades are created equal. Therefore, it is important to ensure that the style and fabric you choose fits the overall stylistic layout as well as the motivation behind the room. A relaxed roman shade sewn in silk is much better suited in a living room than a kitchen for example. Similarly, a roman shade in a casual, wrinkled linen fabric might sit awkwardly in a traditional dining room. The sheer range of textures, sewing styles, tones and fabrics makes it possible to synchronize your roman blind with any stylistic theme. Only this one one precaution is required.

Conclusion

The five mistakes noted above are the top ones that customers often make when buying roman shades. But keeping these in mind and avoiding them can save you from most of the trouble. Awareness is the most effective way to stay away from a disastrous purchase, and ideally, this article will help you bring the right roman blinds into your home.