Featuring clean lines and classic tailoring, and combining the beauty of a fabric drape with the easy practicality of cord-pulled window treatment, roman shades are one of the most versatile window treatments you will find.

Four most popular styles are below. Go on, check which one works best for your room.

FLAT PANEL SHADES WITH BACK SLATS

In the nutshell: The most minimalist shades on the block. With horizontal slats stitched into lining at back and stacking folds at bottom, these are clean, modern and highly functional for frequent use. Maroon Velvet Curtains

Special feature: No seams in front. Structured construction for clean lines and folds.

Works for: All fabrics except sheers. Equally good in formal and informal spaces, and high and low use windows. Goes with most décor styles.

Pros: Seamless look shade with sleek contours and zero visual breaks in frontage. Looks great with floral and continuous print fabrics to show off the pattern.

Cons: We can’t think of any!

FLAT PANEL SHADES WITH FRONT SLATS

In the nutshell: Our most popular style. With horizontal slats at the front and stacking folds at the bottom, these are clean, modern and highly functional for frequent use.

Special feature: Visible slat seams/pockets in front.

Works for: All fabrics and high use windows. Goes with most decor styles through more popular with casual/semi-formal spaces.

Pros: Sturdiness, structured look with solid construction. Looks good in both narrow and wide spaces.

Cons: Seams/slats add visual breaks which in rare cases may not show off prints in the best light.

SOFT FOLD/HOBBLED SHADES

In the nutshell: Probably the most traditional shade style. The hobbled shade is constructed with loops of fabric all the way down the shade. Gives windows a full, folded look even when the shade is fully lowered.

Special feature: Cascading/waterfall folds.

Works for: Traditional and/or formal rooms. And spaces like powder rooms that need complete privacy. Not recommended for minimalist or informal spaces.

Pros: Classic and elegant look. Looks great with solids, textured and small print fabrics.

Cons: Slightly expensive as more fabric needed for cascade pleat effect. Waterfall folds add visual breaks which need to be considered carefully in choice of printed fabric.

EUROPEAN/RELAXED SHADES

In the nutshell: Just the right bit of casual. Constructed to appear "unconstructed", the smooth front is tailored to fall into a gentle curve at the bottom. Lined Velvet Curtains

Special feature: Most ‘unstructured’ roman shade style. Luxurious curved folds when shades are raised.

Works for: Narrow and low use windows where raising and lowering of shades is kept a minimum. Looks gorgeous with soft, slightly feminine décor styles like shabby chic and Scandinavian. Our stylists recommend combining with drapery to get the best of functional ease and roll-out-of-bed good looks.

Pros: Softer, relaxed and elegant look. Excellent for lightweight and sheer fabrics.

Cons: Not highly functional for everyday use. Used primarily as stationary shades as folds do not stack as neatly as other structured styles. Not recommended in thick and heavy fabrics, or in wide, high-use windows.