Roman Blinds – My Top 10 Favourites

I really do like a window finished with Roman blinds and it is without doubt one of my favourite ways to dress a window.  The appeal for me is that Roman blinds are neat and tidy but also stylish and often very pretty.  They do not offer the practical solution that a sunscreen blind does but when you need some privacy, insulation and something just to decorate the window, you really can’t go past a Roman blind.  Listed below are my ten favourites, go through them and I will tell you why.

A white Roman blind

1)     Simple white fabric with a stripe.  You can’t go past a white blind for simplicity and classic design but what I love about this one is that it just has a simple grey stripe which then ties in with other greys in the scheme to bring it all together.

Roman Blinds - My Top 10 Favourites
Image – Pottery Barn

Stylish grey Roman Blind

2)     Stylish grey with a white stripe.  Turn this scheme inside out and you have a stunning grey for the window dressing but the white stripe is very clever here as it replicates the white in the window architrave – simple but inspired!

Roman Blinds - My Top 10 Favourites
Image – By Harrington

More grey!

3)     Plain grey.  OK – so I am stuck on grey at the moment but what makes this Roman blind so appealing is that it is a flat Roman blind and therefore simplicity in itself but what really makes it is the fabric – heavyweight, good quality, textured Belgian linen – that says it all!

Roman Blinds - My Top 10 Favourites
Image – Restoration Hardware

Related: How to find the right neutral grey

Sheer Roman blinds

4)     Sheer fabric.  I know, it’s grey again but this time in a beautiful sheer fabric.  This is the perfect solution when you just need something to finish a window but don’t need a heavy or lined fabric.  This linen sheer, I think, looks fabulous.

Roman Blinds - My Top 10 Favourites
Image – Restoration Hardware

How to co-ordinate Roman blinds with a curtain

5)     To partner with curtain fabric.  I really like Roman Blinds that are made from the same fabric as the curtains.  Occasionally over-whelming but in the right space, they can add great style to the room.  A striped pattern works well as it offers a tailored rather than a fussy finish.  Fabric houses will carry co-ordinate fabrics in a range so that you can easily achieve this look.

Roman Blinds - My Top 10 Favourites

Loving that colour

6)     Getting creative. If you love colour and pattern then Roman blinds can be an ideal way to introduce this into a room.  The beauty with this type of window covering is that unlike curtains, it just fills the window and is often pulled up to show just a third of the blind.  You can therefore afford to go mad with the fabric and trim as it is simply an accent in the room, as some cushions would be.  Clearly, save this style for a smaller, one off window, two at the most, window arrangement but if you do have this type of room, you can let your imagination run wild!

Roman Blinds - My Top 10 Favourites
Image – Osborne & Little

Finding a favourite textile collection for your Roman Blinds

7)     Decorating with a textile collection.  Textile designers are very talented and creative and therefore when you find a fabric that you love, it is quite possibly part of a collection which means there will be a plain, stripe and floral that are all in the same colourway and meant to work together.  Making a Roman Blind from one of these fabrics and then using the co-ordinating ones for curtains and soft furnishings is a foolproof way of achieving a scheme that works.

Roman Blinds - My Top 10 Favourites
Image – Warwick Fabrics

Monochromatic Roman blinds

8)     A simple monochromatic pattern with edging.  Patterns work well for Roman blinds if they are in one colour only with the colour used as a block for the edging.  This stops the blind from being too fussy, so you still have your interesting pattern but with a more streamlined finish.

Roman Blinds - My Top 10 Favourites

Related: Monochromatic colour schemes – black and white

Relaxed style Roman blinds

9)     A relaxed Roman blind in a pretty fabric.  I love patterns with flora and fauna, particularly in pink but I feel that this look can be quite formal so using this fabric in a relaxed style Roman blind, that is without the formal defined pleats, means that you can have the formal look but make it more informal.

Roman Blinds - My Top 10 Favourites
Image – Recreateyour.com

A perennial favourite!

10)  And this one is here just because I absolutely love it!

Roman Blinds - My Top 10 Favourites
Image – Unique Fabrics

I have lots more inspiration of Roman blinds and window treatments in general over on my Pinterest boards and I would love to hear how you finish your windows and whether you are also a fan of Roman blinds.  Just leave me a comment below!


Roman Blinds - My Top 10 Favourites

If you are interested in how to finish your windows, you may also like to read my article about finishing a room with elegant sheers – these can work well with Roman Blinds, sunscreen blinds or simply on their own.

Related: How to complete a room with elegant sheers

 

9 thoughts on “Roman Blinds – My Top 10 Favourites

  1. Jenni says:

    They all looked so perfect! They will also guard sunlight coming into a home thank you so much for sharing your valuable information about roman blinds.

    • Samantha Bacon says:

      Thanks Jenni – I love them too as there is a different one for each purpose. Just hopped on to your site – your range looks great and you would certainly understand about managing the glare of the sun in lovely Queensland!

    • Samantha Bacon says:

      Hi Paula lovely to hear from you – yes Roman Blinds fold up and down – when down they are a single panel of fabric and then you can take them up in increments of the horizontal lines of fabric, ending with just one pelmet at the top. You just have to be careful with long windows – particularly floor to ceiling – if you use a heavy fabric that is also lined as it can get very bulky by the time it is at the top of the window. I love using them on small windows as they are practical and when up you have a nice finished pelmet. Samantha

  2. Mary Masterson says:

    Hi Samantha , I love your taste. We have just put in a large bay window at one end of our kitchen which has turned really lovely . We now have to put up Roman blinds for insulation purposes. Our kitchen is new but old style with AGA cooker . The bay window looks out to the garden . The blinds will be down in the evening in the winter . I’m quite nervous about picking the right fabric . Would love your advice . I could send you a photo of our kitchen . I loved your blind with the butterflies.

    • Samantha Bacon says:

      Hi Mary If you regularly keep the blinds down then you must choose a fabric design that you absolutely love as it really becomes a large part of your room design. You could consider having a pattern as a trim colour so that you see it when the blind is up as a pelmet and then continue with a simple plain linen which brings texture and warmth to the room in the winter with just the trim of the pattern. There is nothing wrong with using all pattern – I love it you just have to be confident that you will like a block of whatever you select in the room. I do online consultations from photos if you need a second opinion https://www.makingyourhomebeautiful.com/e-consulting/ details are in the link or you can send me an email. I hope this has helped with your decision making. Samantha

      • Mary Masterson says:

        Hi Samantha, thank you so much for your advice last may !!! Life hectic here . I was wondering if you could possibly let me know the make of the fabric with the butterflies and green trim . I just love it , not sure if it might be to much in the bay window . I can’t remember if I sent you a photo of our kitchen with bay window at the end. I will try and send one now . Thank you so much for all your advice. Mary

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