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The 5 Best Roman Shades for Windows
This classic window treatment is the secret to making any room look polished.

Listen, we have nothing against long, sweeping curtains, but when it comes to crisp, luxurious window treatments, Roman shades are a favorite among HB editors and designers alike.
Roman shades have been popular for centuries—and they really are Roman! They can be traced back to the Roman Empire when the Colosseum had a system of pleated awnings that blocked out the sun, dust, and debris.
Unlike curtains, which can be bought off-the-shelf, Roman shades are often custom (or semi-custom—more on that later) because they are cut and installed either within or just outside the window frame. This is a real boon for anyone who has children and pets because while curtains kiss the floor and gather up all manner of dust, Roman shades sit tidily on the wall. And because they use fabric instead of plastic or wood, like blinds, they offer better acoustic control. The customization options are limitless: The fabric can be chosen to match your favorite chair or a room color, the mechanisms can be motorized or hand-operated, and you can use them on any size window.
Of course, all of these options do come with a financial commitment. While you can snag curtains for as little as $20 at mass retailers like Amazon, Roman shades can run several hundred dollars per window depending on the size and lining. They should be treated more like a permanent fixture of your home (like a sofa or a bed frame) rather than something you'll want to change on a whim. But don't fret, commitment-phobes! If you have relatively standard-size windows, off-the-shelf Roman shades are a great entry point. Places like The Home Depot carry bamboo Roman shades starting at around $40 a pop, which look perfectly sleek in a living room or kitchen.
Whether you're ready to dress your windows to the nines with a custom option or simply refresh with an inexpensive pick, try one of these five Roman shades below.

Olivia Hosken is the deputy managing editor of House Beautiful, where she oversees operations across the brand's print and digital platforms. She also writes about design and architecture and was previously the style & interiors writer at Town & Country and the managing editor of Dwell.
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