There is quite a variety of styles to choose from if you are shopping for ready made Roman blinds. It can be quite confusing if you are not familiar with the terms used to describe these types of blinds, and it is further complicated by the fact that many retailers have developed their own branding and particular style which may not be at all familiar to you. This is why I personally recommend that you actually physically look at different types of blinds before you go ahead and purchase them as by looking, feeling and even trying to lower and open them yourself you will gain a better understanding of the style types available and you will also see first-hand how they look; giving you a clearer idea of how they would suit your particular needs. Once you have seen the different styles available you can then go online and order them if you prefer. Alternatively, buying from a shop may earn you the benefit of having someone install them for you rather than your having to do it yourself–plus you will only need to pay for the blind, not the shipping. However, there are often very good sales and you can often find better priced blinds online that, even with shipping, cost considerably less than you would pay if you bought them from a brick and mortar store.

Most Roman blinds sit inside the window frame–important to note if you are measuring yourself–and some have an accompanying valance. You can have them extend and be mounted on the outside of the frame also, if that is your preference. Ready made Roman blinds usually come in standard sizes, though some stores offer the option of customizing them to fit windows that are not standard sizes; at a price, naturally. If you are able to sew you may find that sewing your own Roman blinds is a fairly simple task. There are many different patterns online, most available for free, and you will find books or magazines at the library with detailed patterns and instructions as well. It will take some time to sew the blinds, however, so if you need them in a hurry or if you have a whole set of windows you want Roman blinds for you may find that it is too time-consuming to proceed yourself. One or two windows, however, would just take a few afternoons to finish depending on how fast you can sew and how familiar you are with sewing and following patterns. Of course, you always run the risk of their not turning out quite right and if that happens you cannot simply return them as faulty items.

Some of the basic styles are listed below, although as mentioned above you will find that there are many variations on these simple, basic designs.

The first two styles to mention are flat and hobbled Roman blinds. As the name implies, the pleats in flat Roman blinds lie completely flat. They fold up nice and neatly, with one pleat folding into place on top of the other. These give a very clean and uncluttered look to any window and are perfect for rooms where you want a simplistic design, one that does not draw too much attention to the window itself yet is highly functional. They do not necessarily ‘dress-up’ the window as much as they complement it. They can be made from fabric, as well as many other different materials such as bamboo and vinyl. They are often also referred to as classic Roman blinds. These usually look best when hung inside the window frame.

Hobbled Roman blinds do not lie flat, they slant outwards a little at the bottom. They often have overlapping folds that hide any stitching. This pattern also often uses quite a bit more material than regular flat blinds, thus you may find that they are a little more expensive. Again they can be made from different materials. Patterned material may not be so well suited for this type of blind as the pattern will be interrupted by the overlap. If the fabric has a more random type of pattern, i.e. small flowers or designs scattered over the fabric, it should not matter. This is a more ornate or decorative style, suitable for any room where you want your window treatments to impress and add to the surrounding décor.

Relaxed Roman blinds lend a more relaxed room to an air, with their purposefully ‘relaxed’ appearance. The shade is flat when extended all the way down, but it folds up with rounded folds at the bottom.  It is best suited to fabric, as other firm materials such as bamboo or vinyl will not have the softly folded bottom edges. These are great if you only have one window to cover, or if you want your room to have a relaxed, almost holiday type atmosphere.

Balloon Roman blinds are another popular style, a somewhat soft feminine style that is intended to give a light airy feel to a window. For that reason, it is usually made from fairly lightweight materials. The ends are scalloped across the windows and when the blind is pulled up these scalloped edges balloon are gathered and balloon out gently. They are suitable for most rooms, and are usually highly decorative.

Other Convenient Options

There are several other options that are often offered with ready made Roman blinds, to help make the blinds more convenient to use and also to provide better privacy.

Top Down or Bottom Up: Some blinds are made so that they can be lowered from the top down–with the folded section towards the bottom of the window when the blind is opened. This is great if privacy is an issue on any window as you can still allow plenty of light in through the top of the blind, while preventing anyone from seeing into the room easily.  Some blinds will allow both; either open from the top or the bottom.

Motorized blinds: As with most type of blinds these days, you can buy motorized blinds that are controlled via a remote control. Handy if you don’t want to get up out of your chair to open and close your blinds but watch out that the remote does not go missing!  These are also perfect when blinds are installed on high up windows that are difficult to open and close otherwise. They also eliminate the need for cords dangling down where small children or pets could become tangled.

Blackout Roman Blinds: Great for bedrooms or for home theaters where you want a stylish blind in place but you also need the room in total darkness at times.

This is a basic summary of the different types of ready made Roman blinds, and the additional options available. It must be noted, however, that there are many different variations on these basic styles and most blinds retailers, especially those who are developing their own lines rather than simply acting as resellers, will often  have added their own modifications.  There is simply not enough space left on the page to go into details regarding all of the different styles available, however if you are interested in something a little unique it would be well worth your while to browse the different online stores and see what else is being sold.

One popular brand, Riviera, now offers both blackout and translucent blinds. The translucent variety lets through soft filtered light, that is guaranteed to brighten any room.  This type of blind is perfect for areas where you want light in the room, but still want a modicum of privacy as well.  If you’re looking to totally block out all light, such as in a bedroom, you can choose the same fabric but include a blackout finish.  That way you’ll have perfectly coordinated color schemes, but still get what you need for each room.

Prestige roman blinds are made of premium polyester fabric, and come in two styles hobbled style and flat fold style.  The hobbled style lifts in full, soft folds and creates a more formal, elegant look.  Flat fold blinds lift in neat folds, giving a more contemporary look to a room. As with the Riviera blinds, there is a variety of light filtering blinds available, including a blackout version.

Sanibel roman shades are available in the standard flat style, hobbled style and top down, bottom up features.  All Sanibel’s are backed with white on the side that faces the street, to give a more uniform appearance to the outside of your house. They are also available in hobbled or flat style.

Toscana roman shades are a long time favorite. They have an extensive choice of colors and are available in standard flat, hobbled or European styles.  Many review say that these have the best fabrics, that they are high quality and a good investment of money if you’re looking into this style of blinds.  They also offer a total blackout backing, which is white.

Bamboo Roman blinds add a real touch of class to any room, especially if you have different wood tones and matching decor. You can find these ready made Roman blinds fairly easily online, for reasonable prices. If your windows are not standard size, it is also very easy to order made to measure Roman blinds which will be sure to fit your windows.

Of course there are many other varieties of roman blinds available today. If you’re brave enough, you can even try to make your own roman blinds by following a pattern.  They are among the easier types of blinds to may yourself, if you are able and you can find instructions on how to make Roman blinds online.  If not, never mind, there are plenty of places where you can buy the completed blind, even on line.

Whatever your final choice of window blinds, most blinds come with varying degrees of light filtering which will be sure to fit any of your needs.  Easy to fit and easy to care for, they are a good choice for people looking for a more moderately priced blind, or for something to fit above your cafe shutters.

Mediterranean climate is warm and dry.  In ancient times, before there were modern paved roads and when people rode on horse or donkey, or walked on foot the air was often filled with dust.  Imagine, all those carts rolling down an unpaved road in the heat of summer, with a light breeze blowing and picking dust up into the air.  Yes, it would have been dusty and dry during summer.  Dust would get everywhere, on clothing and it would also find its way inside of people’s houses, inside meeting placed and other buildings.  It would most likely even get into their food and their water or wine pitchers.

Not only did travel churn up dust, but buildings were made those days out of stones and stones were carved, creating even more dust especially in heavily populated areas or in cities.  With all that dust in the air, what did people do to keep the dust out of their homes and inns, and out of their food too? They invented blinds!

Yes, historians believe that the Roman Blinds were invented for such a reason, to hang over open windows and prevent dust from coming into their houses.  They soon realized that the blinds kept out the sun and the heat too and thus they became a regular sight in the average Roman houses and villas.  Of course, women will go to any length to decorate their houses, and make them look attractive and Roman women were no exception.  In fact, Romans delighted in richly decorating their houses and so they decided to decorate their blinds. Soon blinds were richly and lavishly decorated and the Roman blinds became a regular part of Roman home decor.

Roman blinds today are vastly different than blinds from ancient Rome.  Nowadays the blinds have a string or cord attached on the side of the blind so that it can easily go up and down.  And rather than only being made of cloth, they  are now made from a variety of different materials including bamboo, wood and other material. But the basic reason for having blinds remains the same. They are used to keep out sun and dust, and to decorate houses just as they were in Roman times.

Classic Look:  There’s no question about it, there’s something very classy and classic about Roman Blinds. Perhaps it’s because they’re associated with the ancient Romans and the Mediterranean look, which is always considered very classic.  Whatever the reason, they have the ability to transform your room from a mediocre, same-as-everyone-else style living area into something very chic and unique. Honesty, I have seen a room totally changed just through installing roman blinds on all the windows. It tends to give a very fresh, modern and refreshing feel to the room.

Want to show off a beautiful view, or allow a soft sunlight to glow into your room:  They can be made to be either translucent, allowing a very soft light into the room through closed blinds, or they can be completely opaque shutting out all light just as normal blinds do. I have even seen transparent blinds that offer a slightly fuzzy view of the outside world which was a very intriguing effect.

Cheaper Alternative:  It’s not cheap to re-decorate, and curtains can be one of the more expensive items you add when redecorating.  If you want something nice, yet a little cheaper than conventional curtains you really wouldn’t go wrong with these blinds.  In my opinion, if you don’t have a lot of money to invest in curtains you’re far better off investing in some nice higher-end roman blinds than in spending the same amount of money on cheap-looking fabric curtains.  You can get a much nicer look for the same amount of money with blinds.  Achieving the same look with fabric curtains can often cost you more than you’re willing, or able to outlay.

Easy to Measure:  Ever  been totally confused when measuring for curtains. Do you double the width or triple it?  How much do you allow for the edges and hems?  I have gotten so confused at times that I ended up with curtains that were an inch too short and they didn’t close properly (this was when ordering via catalog. Of course if you have a professional come in and measure they’ll get it right.)  Well, all of the mystery of measuring for curtains is taken out when you choose roman blinds. They are so easy to measure for, it doesn’t get any easier in fact.  Just measure the width of your window, and decide how long you want them to be.  Voila!  It’s as easy as 1-2-3!

Easy to Install:  Not only are they easy to measure, but they’re so simple to install that even I can do it.  I am very challenged when it comes to anything that involves hammers, or screws or attaching anything to a wall, but I was able to get my lovely new roman blinds up in about 15 minutes. And yes, they were straight!

Readily Available:  Most curtain and blind shops sell them, or you can order them on line. And the great thing is, that you can feel perfectly safe and secure about ordering on line because you’ll have your measurements down pat.

Choice of Material: They are available in many different materials, and something is sure to suit your home’s decor. There’s bamboo, wood, canvas, material–whatever your choice, chances are you’ll be able to find the perfect blind.

If you’re not convinced already, go ahead and look in some catalogs, or on-line curtain and blind sites and check out the photos and other details.  There’s nothing like seeing actual photos to give you a good idea of whether they’re what you’re looking for.

Here are some ideas of when you might want to consider choosing roman blinds for your windows.

To show off the view:  These blinds can be folded up even above your actual window which makes them the perfect choice for the window with a view.  Too often I’ve seen beautiful views partly hidden because of heavy curtains that cover up half of the window even when they’re opened.  If you have a beautiful view, show it off.  Let your whole window frame the beauty of nature.  If you have a large window it is still easy to find made to measure Roman blinds, or have them made to order.

You want a Mediterranean feel to your room:  What  better way to achieve this could there be than with Roman Blinds?  Especially if it’s a lazy, sunny summers day and there’s a light breeze blowing, these curtains give off the impression that you’re sitting on the banks of the Mediterranean enjoying a lazy day and a cocktail.

You’re busy, and don’t have a lot of time or money to spend cleaning curtains:  Look no further when it comes to ease of cleaning, especially if you get curtains made from bamboo or even canvas.  Cloth curtains are hard to keep clean, and they fade in patches where sunlight hits them.  The roman blind folds up during the day and is not exposed to uneven sunlight, and they’re very easy to keep clean.

To complement other curtains in a subtle way:  If you already have curtains in your room but you’re wondering just what to put over that little window that needed something, why not try the roman blind.  If you choose the right color and material it can be very unobtrusive, not drawing any attention to itself, yet it can cover the window when needed.

Used in conjunction with other curtains: Another quite stylish use I’ve seen is to mount the blinds on a window, but still have delicate curtains hanging to either side of the blind, or have a fantastic retro floor lamp set off to the side to highlight them. This can look very nice and stylish, and the great thing is if you have the blinds then the curtain material does not have to be heavy, or even lined if you don’t want it to. It can be more something to show off, or side-case your blinds.

Roman blinds come in different styles and colors.  You can choose the more classic form of blind that uses fabrics or you can launch out and try bamboo or even fine wood slats for your blind.  There are so many alternatives for decorating your room with Roman Blinds, that they really could be the perfect choice for you in redecorating! If you are handy at sewing you could even try to make your own. There are many sites that give detailed instructions on how to make Roman blinds.

Still not sure? Have a look at different ideas and tips for decorating either on line, or in decorating magazines.  If you take a look at some photos and see how other people have been decorating using this type of blind, you’ll probably get lots of ideas on how you can do it.

The blinds are mounted on top of the window with a cord attached to one side of the curtain.  When you pull the cord, the blinds fold up in intervals (as opposed to blinds that roll up.) They come in a variety of colors and are made with different materials so it’s very easy to find something that matches your home color coordinates.   They can also be made from a huge variety of different materials, and they don’t only have to be made from curtain material. In fact, they’re often more useful made from thicker or more firm materials.  The cord can be attached to either side of the blind or can even be interchangeable if you follow the instructions which is nice, as you can adapt the blind if you move it from window to window.

They can be used to highlight an area such as a window bay or some other type of feature window. Roman blinds can either be translucent allowing light through or made from a blockout material which blocks out the light and sun.  It’s really up to you and how you would like to use them.  I’ve seen some beautiful translucent roman blinds that allow soft sunlight to flood into a room, giving it a very warm, almost magical golden look. It really was very well done, and gave the whole room a nice soft glow.  Another translucent curtain was actually more like transparent and you coud see through it the beautiful view outside. That was the idea with this curtain, to highlight the beauty of the outside surroundings, and it was very effective in doing this.  You’ll also often see this type of blind used in cafes or restaurants. They give your window or room a sort of  Mid-Eastern feel, especially if they’re made from a material that also gives  this type of impression.

So, as  you can see, Roman blinds are not only serviceable and useful for keeping out too much light or sun but they can also be used to add to the overall mood and ambiance of your room. They are readily available in most curtain shops and can be easily bought on line also.