Are fabric roman shades best for you? Roman window shades can be made from a wide selection of different natural and synthetic materials. Roman shades can be made from different fabrics, wood, grass, bamboo or PVC. And because of this, roman shades can be named according to what material they are made of; examples of which are fabric roman shades, wood roman shades, bamboo roman shades, jute roman shades etc.

While roman window shades can be called based on the material that they are made from, they are actually categorized into several types based on their general material, appearance and use. Here are several types of roman shades that are most commonly used as interior decorations. They are beautiful and are great additions to your home interior.

Types of Roman Shades

1. Natural Roman Shades

As mentioned earlier, roman window shades can be made for a wide variety of natural material: wood, grass, bamboo, jute. Using natural roman shades of such material can give a room exotic, earthy, cool, airy or Asian appeal.

2. Double Roman Shades

As the name implies, this type of roman window shade uses two layers of material. It can be a combination of both fabric materials or one natural and another fabric used together. The first layer is a sheer material which prevents neighbors and passers-by to see through the window and effectively limiting the entry of strong sunlight while maintaining some natural light inside the room; and another layer which you can raise or lower down by pulling the roman shade string.

3. Blackout Roman Shades

This type of roman window shade is used if the homeowner wants to block out most of the sunlight. In order to more effectively do this, PVC linings are used in making blackout roman shades.

4. Thermal Roman Shades

These thermal roman shades are also called cellular shades. The reason for the name is because the materials used have air trapped in cellular areas which act as insulators in keeping the temperature inside the room protected from the outside temperature. This helps in saving energy, whether you have hot or cold weather outside the house.

5. Matchstick Roman Shades

Matchstick roman shades use very small pleats and therefore appear to be just like mini blinds. Some matchstick roman shades use different types of grasses and bamboo interwoven together to create this type of roman window shade.

6. Relaxed Roman Shades

The relaxed roman shades have a more casual look. They are normally designed with lighter materials that lay flat on the windows.

7. Soft Roman Shades

Soft roman shades attain the “soft look” by using fabrics and making them in such a way that there are wider pleats that seem to be amazingly fluid in overlapping with each other. Soft roman shades are actually fabric roman shades that are made with materials that are richer and softer than those used in relaxed roman shades. They can come in different colors and prints which will complement the room decor achieving the understated elegance that comes with soft roman shades.