What are Roman shades? They're fabric window shades that fold into pleats as they rise instead of winding around a roller tube. That folded fabric is the appeal, and it's also the main drawback: when the shade is open, the folds stack at the top of the window and cover part of the glass.
What Is a Roman Shade?
A Roman shade is a fabric window shade that folds into horizontal pleats as it rises and hangs flat or in soft folds when lowered. Unlike a roller shade, a Roman shade doesn't wind its fabric around a tube, and unlike blinds, it has no slats to tilt, so you control light by raising or lowering it.
You'll also see the same product sold as Roman blinds.
How Roman Shades Work
Many Roman shades use a ring-and-cord build. Behind the fabric, rows of small rings sit at each fold line, and some styles add a horizontal rod at each fold too. Lift cords run from the headrail down through the rings and attach to a metal bar in the bottom hem. In that build, raising the shade forms the folds from the bottom up:
- The cords pull the bottom bar upward.
- When the bar reaches the first row of rings, the lowest fold collapses onto itself.
- The bar keeps rising and collects each row in turn, so the folds pile up under the headrail.
The lift type changes what hangs beside the window. On a traditional corded Roman shade, a pull cord runs down the side. A cordless lift does away with the pull cord, and you raise or lower the shade by hand. A motorized lift runs from a remote, or from an app or voice assistant if you choose a smart motor.
Roman Shade Fold Styles: Flat or Soft
Most Roman shades are either flat folds, which hang as one smooth panel when lowered, or soft folds, which drape more fully. The choice changes how the fabric looks both raised and lowered, and our guide to the types of Roman shades goes through each style.
Roman Shade Pros: Fabric and Lining Choices
- A soft fabric look. The folds give a window depth and softness that a flat roller shade can't match.
- Lining choices. A Roman shade can go unlined or take a privacy or blackout lining, so you can match the light to each room. For a bedroom, a blackout lining is worth adding even behind blackout fabric, because tacking the rods on a flat fold can leave pinholes.
Roman Shade Cons Worth Planning Around
- The stack covers part of the glass. A raised Roman shade keeps its folded fabric at the top of the window, and a longer shade makes a taller stack. On a tall window, that's a band of light and view you give up whenever the shade is open. Mounting the shade on the wall above the frame lets part of the stack sit over the wall instead.
- Light at the edges. Even a blackout Roman shade leaves small gaps along the sides, so some light gets in around the edges, most of all with an inside mount. An outside mount that overlaps the frame reduces it.
- Fabric care. Roman shade fabric needs gentle cleaning. Our guide to cleaning and caring for Roman shades covers what's involved.
- Up or down only. Letting in more light means raising the shade, which also opens the room to view. Roller and cellular shades share this limit.
We'd steer away from a Roman shade in two spots. The first is right above a kitchen sink or stove, where splashes and grease land on the fabric. The second is a tall window that reaches the ceiling, where the stack has nowhere to go but over the glass.
Roman Shades at AOSKY: Sizes, Options and Ordering
AOSKY's Rome, Milan and Siena Roman shades share one custom size range: widths from 21 to 96 inches and heights from 24 to 96 inches. All three mount inside or outside the frame and come unlined or with a privacy or blackout lining. Our Milan Modern Blackout Roman Shades use a blackout fabric. For current fabric and color options on Milan, Rome and Siena Natural Roman Shades, check each product page.
For lifts, our Rome Roman shades and Siena both come cordless or motorized, though some lift types have narrower size limits, listed on each product page. Motorized versions offer a wired or battery-operated motor and a 1-, 6- or 16-channel remote. There are also two smart options: a Zigbee motor with a hub, or Matter control, which works with Apple Home, Alexa and Google Home through Matter. Matter support isn't HomeKit certification, and app or voice control needs an internet connection.
All of our custom Roman shades are made to order: production takes 5 to 7 business days, and shipping takes another 2 to 5 business days. We sell online only, with no in-home measuring or installation, so you'll measure and install the shades yourself or hire an independent installer.
Custom shades can't be returned or exchanged. A measuring mistake within plus or minus 1 inch per dimension may qualify for one free remake if you report it with photos within 21 days of delivery, up to 3 shades per order. Motors, remotes, hubs, chargers and batteries aren't covered by the remake program.
Explore Related Shades
FAQ
Do modern homes have Roman shades?
Yes. A flat-fold Roman shade in a solid or linen-look fabric has clean, simple lines that suit a modern room better than a fuller soft fold.
Do blackout Roman shades block all light?
No. Even with blackout fabric, small gaps along the sides let some light in around the edges, and an outside mount that overlaps the frame reduces it.
How do Roman and roller shades differ?
A roller shade winds flat fabric around a tube, while a Roman shade folds its fabric into pleats that stack at the top; neither has slats to tilt. Our roller vs Roman shades comparison goes into more detail.
Are Roman blinds the same as Roman shades?
Yes. Both names describe one piece of fabric, with no slats, that folds into horizontal pleats as it rises.
If a Roman shade still suits your window, decide on the mount before you choose a fabric, since it sets the size you order and where the stack will sit. Our guide to inside vs outside mount Roman shades helps you make that call.
