What to consider before investing in Roman shades

When it comes to the window treatment for your home, there are a number of options for you to select from. You can select drapes, curtains, nets or sheer curtains.
Before we get into the story, it’s important that we understand what is what and what goes where.
Drapes are the window treatment that goes into the bedroom – think of a curtain with a heavy lining that completely blocks the light. Function precedes style here.
Curtains are what we usually use in the living room, dining room and – mistakenly – in the bedroom as well. They are lighter than drapes because their function is to dress the window for privacy. They also offer a styling opportunity for the space.
Curtains are lined with nets. That way, when the curtains are drawn during the day to let in light, the nets will still provide privacy to your space. Some folk like to use opaque nets so that they leave their curtains drawn all day and night.
Then there are sheer curtains. Heavier and more opaque than nets but not as heavy and as opaque as curtains. They fall in the middle of these two.
Sheer curtains are used in spaces where you want more light and a more minimalist window treatment. Some folk prefer to use two layers of sheer curtains in their living room and dining room instead of curtains and nets. You can also layer a sheer curtain and net.
Then there are Roman shades. They are not as popular in Kenyan homes, though.
Roman shades are like curtains but their mechanism differs: shades are pulled up and down the window using a cord attached to the horizontal ribs of the shades. This mechanism is similar to what is used in window blinds. By the way, blinds are sometimes used in homes as well.
To answer the question of whether you should invest in Roman shades for your windows at home or not, consider their pros and cons:
Pros
1. They have an inimitable visual appeal: Roman shades are a classy and sophisticated option for window treatment. They look good, to be honest. Really good. Especially when they have been tailored well by a professional and have been drawn up to cover about a quarter of your window – you will see the gentle folds at the bottom, the hanging unfolded shade from the top, and the texture and patterns of the shade’s fabric in its entirety.
Walk into any space and they will instantly draw your eyes. That’s a guarantee. There is no other window treatment that will elevate your spaces as they will.
Roman shades are one of those accessories that are stylish and timeless but not trendy. So if you are looking for something that will effortlessly cascade through the years, this is the window treatment to consider.
2. You will be spoilt for fabrics choice: Roman shades are tailored from fabric – you need a stiff fabric that will not billow in the wind (unlike, say, sheer curtains). You also need a strong yet malleable fabric that can hold the ribbing in place (unlike curtains). Thus natural fabrics.
The go to fabric is usually cotton and cotton blend fabrics. But you can also consider poly-blends, linen and linen blends.
You will be spoilt for choice when selecting fabric. What with the colours, patterns, textures and general look of these natural fabrics. You can also select woven instead of dyed fabrics, something you cannot get with other window treatment fabrics.
Go for handwoven fabrics if you have the budget to splurge.
3. They don’t need another layer of lining: Roman shades are complete on their own. They come from the tailor when they are ready to hang. Unlike curtains, drapes or sheer curtains, you don’t need to buy a second net or sheer to line your shades.
Actually, lining your Roman shades with either of these appears tacky and takes away their inherent appeal.
You can, however, tailor into your shades a blackout lining if you want to completely block out any light from entering the room. Alternatively, you can have your tailor put an extra layer of the shades fabric.
4. They block out the light: Roman shades are tailored to give your windows a snug fit. The heavy fabric used and the ribbing of the shades also ensures that they are weighty enough to not move about. You will not see a Roman shade billow at your window.
When they are shut – rather, when they have not been pulled up – your Roman shades will keep out all light from entering a room.
It’s important to note that Roman shades hang from the curtain rod or curtain box, to about an inch below the window ledge. They do not go all the way down to the floor as curtains or drapes do.
The cons
1. Roman shades cost a kidney and a half: Roman shades are not a pocket friendly window treatment. Everything about them translates to a greater-than-average expense. The natural fabric they are tailored from costs much more than other window treatment options. They require ribbing and cords for pulling them up and down: buying and installing this mechanism is another expense. You also need to hire a tailor who has mastered the techniques of the shades; you can’t just hire anybody for the job.
Let’s put that into perspective. Say you want shades for your kitchen window, it measures Length by height, 197 centimetres by 105 centimetres. Two layered nets would cost about Sh3,000. A sheer curtain and a net, or a curtain and net about Sh5,000. Roman shades would cost the neighborhood of Sh12,000.
2. They are prone to falling apart: Roman shades operate on a pull mechanism to raise or lower the shades. You need to be present as you pull the cords so that you raise/lower both sides of the shades evenly – sometimes you could pull the cord too much to the left or the right, and the shades move unevenly.
This cord-pulling is also susceptible to falling apart, especially when it is frequently done by someone who is neither patient nor understands the shade’s mechanism. Your shades are as good as gone when the mechanism breaks. You will need to get your fundi to fix them (at an extra cost).
3. Regular maintenance is a headache: Keeping your shades as clean as you want them is a real headache. That’s because of how the shades are inherently made – i.e. with the ribbing and the cords.
The shades cannot go into a washing machine. Hand washing them means that you lay them flat on the ground and work around the ribbing; the scrubbing is likely to ruin the fabric and compromise the structure.
The best option is to have them professionally cleaned by experts. This is another extra cost. And because it is a cost, it means that you cannot clean your shades as frequently as you want, or as often as they collect dirt.
4. You are limited in choice of windows: There are not too many windows in your home that you can hang your Roman shades without considering another better option for window treatment.
It is not wise to use them in the kitchen because of all the activity that goes on in there. If you put them above your kitchen sink, they will catch the splutter of dirty dishes and washing water from the sink. If you have a window located elsewhere in the kitchen, they will absorb the odours of cooking food. In your bathroom, they will absorb the steam from the shower and will soon start to mould.
They can’t be used on the window of your balcony door or your main door because of the high traffic there. Plus, you don’t want your guests bending as they navigate the door. Hanging them up in the living room or bedrooms is an option but the frequent pulling of the cords will likely ruin the mechanism. And because the shades don’t come with a net or sheer lining, these spaces will not get the privacy another window treatment would afford them.
Consider, therefore, a hallway window, your toilet or study – a window where they can be partially pulled up and left as is, without compromising your privacy.
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