What is a roman blind?
A roman blind is made from soft, draping fabric that is designed to fold when raised. The fabric is connected to the headrail using cords that pull the fabric up.
As the name suggests, roman blinds originated over 2000 years ago during the peak of the Roman Empire. It’s theorised that they were invented to keep homes dust-free, as Ancient Roman roads were known to create huge amounts of dust due to a combination of hot weather and horse-drawn carriages.
Roman blinds were originally simple pieces of damp cloth hung in the window, which evolved into more elaborate home decorations over time. The Romans were also responsible for adding the drawstring operating mechanism that we still base modern roman blind designs on.
The modern roman blind
Roman blinds are one of the most versatile systems when it comes to choosing a fabric. As roman blinds are a soft shade, meaning the fabric is folded loosely, there aren’t many limitations on which fabrics you can use. A zip-retention roller blind system, for example, has very specific fabrics that can be used with it because it has to be weldable and strong.
Roman blinds are popular in homes as an alternative to curtains where space is more limited. A roman blind can be fitted into a window recess to save space, whilst still maintaining the aesthetic appeal of a soft shade. Alternatively, they can be used in conjunction with curtains for additional shading benefits. Because roman blinds are a soft shade, you have the benefit of being able to use the same fabric on your curtains and your blind to create a focal point in the window.
Roman blinds can be made with a variety of different fabrics, each with its own benefits. Blackout fabrics provide the most light exclusion which is ideal for rooms where total darkness is required, like a bedroom. Alternatively, sheer cotton or polyester can be used which cut glare but still allow light through to the room. Many roman blind manufacturers also offer ‘thermal’ fabrics which are designed to offer additional heat insulation which can save on heating costs.
Are roman blinds always manual?
In short, no. Whilst roman blinds are commonly thought of to be exclusively cord operated, many manufacturers are now offering a motorised solution. There are many benefits to motorisation, including child safety, smart home integration and ease of use.
By choosing electric shades over a manual solution, you can improve user experience, improve your energy efficiency, ensure child safety by removing pull cords, integrate the blinds with your smart home system and improve home safety.
For more information on the benefits of motorisation and smart home systems, check out these articles:
Roman blinds are available with a variety of motors, including battery-powered, low voltage and mains voltage. Battery-powered roman blinds are ideal for retro-fitting into window recess’ where there isn’t a power source nearby, and installing new wiring isn’t an option.
For new builds, or rooms under renovation, where wiring can be added, we recommend a mains-powered motor. Mains-powered motors, whether they’re 24v or 230v, give you more options for connecting to smart home systems. They are stronger and quieter than battery motors, and don’t need to be charged regularly like a battery motor does (meaning you don’t need to be able to access the motor head after installation!)
To find out more about battery motors vs mains powered motors, check out our full guide.