Roman blinds: the softness of curtains, the neatness of a blind

Behind the face fabric sit horizontal rods or battens at even spacing. Cords run up through rings at the back, and as you raise the blind the fabric gathers into layered folds, each rod lifting onto the one above. Lowered, it hangs as a flat, tailored panel. The result is structured and calm, halfway between a curtain and a roller.

Because the folds stack at the top of the window, a raised Roman blind takes some glass. Fitting it above the recess rather than inside lets the stack clear the window so you keep all your daylight.

This is where the decision really happens. Plain weaves give a quiet, modern look; patterns and stripes make the blind a feature, and we line them up so the design sits straight across each fold. Heavier fabrics hold crisper pleats, lighter ones fall more softly.

Fabric is also where most of the cost sits, which is why we would rather you choose in your own room, in your own light, than from a small online swatch. Colours shift noticeably between a south-facing lounge and a north-facing bedroom.

For a bedroom, a blackout-lined Roman fitted outside the recess, with a generous overlap, gets you close to full darkness. Our blackout blind systems guide explains where light creeps in and how to limit it.

• Standard lining protects the face fabric and gives the blind body.
• Blackout lining for bedrooms and nurseries where you want the room properly dark.
• Thermal lining for older windows that feel cold on winter evenings.

Fabric and steam do not mix, so for a shower room or right above a hob we would steer you to a waterproof roller or faux-wood blind instead. Very wide windows can also be tricky, as one huge Roman gets heavy to lift. There we might split the width into two or three blinds, or suggest a different type.

We visit with fabric books, measure every window, and give you a fixed written price. Lead time confirmed when you order. Nothing is outsourced to a separate installer.

Most Roman blinds use a cord and a side cleat or a continuous chain, and we fit child-safety devices on every one. For wide or heavy blinds a chain operation is easier on the hands and keeps the folds lifting evenly.

We also think about what sits around the window. A Roman fitted inside a deep recess looks tailored and leaves the sill free for plants or ornaments. Fitted above the recess on the wall, it can make a short window look taller and hide an unattractive frame. On a bay, each section gets its own blind so the folds line up across the whole curve. We will show you both options on the day and recommend whichever suits the window rather than whichever is quicker to fit. Because we make and fit the blinds ourselves, any adjustment afterwards comes straight back to the same people.