Roman Shades Buying & Technical Guide
Find the right Roman shade for your room, compare fold styles and lift options, and measure with confidence. This guide explains the choices that affect how your shade looks, fits and works every day.
Download Roman Shades Technical Guide (PDF)
1. Choose your fold style
Start with the look you want when the shade is fully lowered. Then consider how often you will raise it and whether your fabric has a pattern.
| Style | Appearance | What to consider |
|---|---|---|
| Plain Fold | A tailored face with support ribs on the back. | Seams appear where the back pockets are sewn. A versatile choice for many rooms and fabrics. |
| Ribbed | Defined horizontal pockets on the front. | Choose this for a structured, architectural look with visible horizontal lines. |
| Flat Fold | A smooth, continuous fabric face without front pocket seams. | A good choice for showing stripes, embroidery and larger patterns. Requires lined construction; sheer and single-layer construction are not supported. |
| Hobbled | Soft, cascading folds that remain visible when lowered. | Creates a fuller, layered look. Shipping may flatten the folds; gently steam or iron as appropriate for the fabric to restore their shape. |
| Relaxed | A soft curved hem with a naturally draped appearance. | The curve may need light hand dressing after raising. Consider how often you will operate the shade. |
| Tulip / Swag | A decorative gathered, scalloped silhouette. | Tulip and Swag refer to the same style in our collection. Wider shades may use multiple scallops. |
Availability varies by product, fabric and lift system. Use the choices shown on the individual product page to select the configuration available for your shade.
2. Choose your lining and light control
- Unlined sheer: Softens daylight with a light, airy appearance. Sheer shades are unlined; privacy depends on lighting conditions.
- Privacy / light-filtering lining: Adds body to the fabric and improves privacy while allowing softened light through.
- Blackout lining: Reduces light passing through the shade fabric. Light can still enter around the perimeter, depending on the mount and fit.
For a darker bedroom, consider the whole window: shade coverage, side gaps and the mounting position all affect the result. Pairing the shade with side curtains can help reduce light at the edges.
Decorative trim and ribbons are available on selected fabrics and configurations. Trim is not available on sheer shades. Order fabric swatches to compare color and texture in your room before choosing.
3. Choose your lift system
- Cordless: Raise or lower the shade by hand. Compatible configurations may be operated with a telescopic pull rod for easier reach.
- Continuous cord loop: Operate the shade with a loop control where this option is offered.
- Motorized: Operate the shade using the controls offered for your selected product. Check the product options for remote and smart-home compatibility.
- Top Down / Bottom Up: Lower the top for daylight while maintaining coverage below, or raise the bottom like a standard shade.
- Double layered: Combines two shade layers where the selected style and system support it.
Headrail construction and available features depend on the configuration. Our Relaxed Roman shades use an aluminum headrail, with motorization available as specified on the product page. Do not assume every lift option is available with every fold style.
4. Measure and enter your order size
For all inside-mount shades, customers must apply the specified width deduction before ordering. We manufacture to the dimensions you submit and do not make an additional deduction. The deduction below is for Roman shades; other shade types have their own requirements on our measurement page.
Inside mount: Roman shades
- Measure the window opening width at the top, middle and bottom using a steel tape measure.
- Use the narrowest width and round down to the nearest 1/8 inch.
- Subtract 3/8 inch yourself. Enter this adjusted width as your order width.
- Measure the height at three points and use the longest measurement. Round up to the nearest 1/8 inch.
- Check the flat mounting depth and clearance for handles, locks and other obstructions.
Example: If the narrowest opening width is 36 inches, enter an order width of 35 5/8 inches. Do not submit 36 inches expecting the factory to deduct it.
A minimum flat recess depth of approximately 2 inches is needed for the manual configurations described in our measuring guidance. Motorized configurations generally need approximately 2 1/2 inches. Confirm the requirement for your selected product and system before ordering.
Bracket and headrail dimensions
Use the dimensions for your selected headrail and brackets to check mounting clearance. Hardware dimensions differ by configuration; confirm the requirements for your shade before ordering.
Outside mount
- Measure the area you want the shade to cover, including the intended mounting position above the opening.
- Plan overlap around the window or trim. Our technical guide recommends at least 4 inches of additional coverage in both total width and total height; more side coverage may be helpful for light control.
- Check that brackets can be fixed securely and that the shade clears handles and surrounding trim.
- Enter your intended finished shade dimensions. The inside-mount 3/8-inch deduction does not apply to an outside mount.
Shades do not use curtain fullness. Order the required finished size rather than multiplying the width.
5. Valances, fold spacing and stack height
Standard front valance: 4–10 inches
The front valance height ranges from 4 to 10 inches. We adjust it according to the actual height of your shade. It is not a fixed 7-inch height. Standard valances cover the front of the headrail; the finished appearance also depends on the mount and shade configuration.
On sheer fabric, the valance uses a double layer to conceal the controls. Sheer fabric does not include valance returns.
Waterfall and rear covers
Waterfall configurations allow the fabric to fall from the front of the headrail. Rear covers are used on applicable Waterfall and Top Down / Bottom Up systems to shield the lift mechanism and improve the view from outside. A rear cover is different from a front valance; consult the PDF for the illustrated configurations.
Fold spacing and raised stack
- Fold spacing: Approximately 7–9 inches, adjusted according to the shade height.
- Bottom hem: Approximately 4 inches.
- Raised stack height: Approximately 8–13 inches for shades without ribbons or decorative trim. Taller shades and the chosen fold style can affect the stack.
Allow for the raised stack when planning how much glass will remain visible. On an outside mount, mounting the shade higher may help keep more of the opening clear.
Several shades on one window
For side-by-side shades, tell us whether you want the folds aligned at the top or bottom. Different shade heights can affect fold positions. Review the panel-alignment diagrams in the PDF and contact us before ordering if alignment is important to your design.
6. Before you order
- Confirm your fabric, fold style, lining and available lift system.
- Confirm inside or outside mount and check mounting depth.
- For inside-mount Roman shades, deduct 3/8 inch from the narrowest measured width yourself.
- Check the size range on your selected product page. Limits differ by style and system.
- Allow room for the raised stack and consider light around the edges.
- Tell us about side-by-side alignment, unusual window shapes or other special requirements before ordering.
Shop Roman Shades | View the full measurement guide
Need help with a configuration or measurement? Contact our team before placing your order.
Download Roman Shades Technical Guide (PDF) for construction diagrams, valance options, panel alignment and detailed specifications.