How Do Roman Blinds Work

Roman blinds are one of the most popular ways to dress a window, combining practicality with style. Simple to use, highly effective, and available in a wide choice of fabrics and designs, they can be tailored to suit any interior. If you are considering them for your home, here is everything you need to know about Roman blinds.

What Are Roman Blinds?

A Roman blind offers a timeless blend of elegance and practicality, combining the softness of fabric with the crisp lines of a blind. Unlike slatted styles, it is made from a single panel of fabric that stacks into neat horizontal pleats when raised and lies smooth when lowered. This results in a beautifully streamlined window dressing that suits both contemporary and classic interiors.

Roman blinds are also highly versatile. They can be made with blackout or standard linings, fitted inside or outside the recess, and tailored to both small and large windows. Their ability to combine decorative fabric with a practical operating system is what makes them such a popular alternative to curtains.

How Do Roman Blinds Work?

Roman blinds operate with effortless simplicity. Thin dowels are sewn into the fabric at regular intervals, with cords running vertically through these sections. When you pull the cord, the fabric collapses into soft folds. When released, it falls flat again. This approach delivers both refined aesthetics and ease of use.

Behind the fabric, the cords run through small plastic rings stitched to the lining and connect to a headrail or cassette track at the top. This mechanism means the blinds can be raised to any height, offering flexible shading and privacy. Additionally, the fabric panel provides a layer of insulation that helps to regulate room temperature throughout the year by keeping heat inside during winter and shielding against harsh sunlight in summer.

The Best Fabric for Roman Blinds: How to Choose the Right Material

Selecting the right fabric is essential for achieving form and function. The material you choose does not just influence how your Roman blind looks, it also affects how neatly it folds, how much light it lets in, and how well it insulates your room. A well-chosen fabric can transform a blind into a statement feature, while the wrong choice may compromise its performance or longevity. With options ranging from crisp cottons to luxurious velvets, it is worth thinking carefully about the effect you want to create and the practical needs of your space before making a decision.

Ideal choices include medium-weight cotton, polyester and cotton blends, linen, damasks, and jacquard fabrics which offer structure and create crisp folds that stay defined. Lighter options such as taffeta and faux silk provide a sleek sheen and sharper folds that suit a polished look. Heavier textures like velvet, crushed velvet, chenille, and wool add lavish texture and insulation, but they produce softer and less defined folds. Fabric weight and thickness affect both the look and how the blind stacks, lightweight fabrics will stack more compactly, while heavier materials create deeper folds.

Fabrics to Avoid

Certain materials compromise the functionality and aesthetic of Roman blinds. Fabrics that are too stiff, too delicate, or prone to stretching may not fold evenly, can place strain on the operating mechanism, or lose their shape over time. Others may fade quickly, show visible linings, or not pleat in the smooth, structured way that Roman blinds are designed to. For the best results, avoid heavy upholstery fabrics that are coated or fire-treated, pure silk which is delicate and prone to moisture damage, stretch knit fabrics that distort over time, and PVC, vinyl, oilcloth or leatherette which are too rigid. Sheers and voiles are also best avoided as they are transparent and reveal the lining beneath. Sticking to the right fabrics ensures your blinds hang beautifully and last for years.

Which Rooms Can Roman Blinds Be Used In?

Thanks to the wide choice of fabrics and colours, Roman blinds suit almost any room. They bring a refined, furnished look to living rooms, dining areas, bedrooms, home offices, and conservatories. For sun-exposed spaces such as south-facing windows, lighter shades, patterned fabrics, or detailed designs like our Linda Barker collection are a smart choice to reduce visible fading over time.

In bedrooms, a blackout lining is recommended to block unwanted light and create a more restful environment. Roman blinds are less suited to kitchens and bathrooms where moisture and condensation may damage fabric. In these cases, roller blinds or faux wood blinds are often more practical. However, this is down to personal preference. In many cases, Roman blinds can work in a kitchen as long as they are not directly over an oven or hob and the window is a standard one rather than a patio door.

The Role of Linings

Choosing the right lining impacts both the look and performance of your Roman blind. A standard polyester and cotton lining offers stability, conceals the inner workings, and protects the face fabric, while a luxury cotton sheen in white or cream delivers a polished finish. Supersoft blackout linings in white or ivory block light effectively without adding bulk, and thermal linings help improve insulation and energy efficiency. Coloured linings can also be used decoratively to give the external view a different look from the internal. Linings extend the lifespan of the blind and improve shading. Blackout options are ideal for bedrooms, while standard linings reduce glare and preserve natural light.

Made-to-Measure and Sizing

Terrys’ made-to-measure Roman blinds are available up to 300cm wide, accommodating large windows with perfectly matched joins. A full panel at the centre ensures a professional finish, with patterns carefully aligned so the fabric design flows seamlessly across the blind. Made-to-measure also works brilliantly for smaller or unusually shaped windows where standard sizes do not always fit. Minimum widths and drops can be accommodated, meaning even compact spaces can benefit from a tailored look. By choosing this option, you avoid gaps, draughts, and uneven finishes that often occur with ready-made blinds.

Ordering is simple, select your fabric and lining, provide your exact measurements, and decide which side you would like the controls on. Terrys then makes the necessary adjustments so your blind fits and operates smoothly. Every made-to-measure blind arrives with cords pre-threaded, adjusted, and fitted with child safety retainers to give you complete peace of mind. All fixtures and fittings are supplied, so your blind is ready to install with minimal effort.

How Deep Are Roman Blinds When Closed?

When fully raised in the stacked design, Roman blinds typically occupy around 18cm to 30cm of space at the top of the window. The exact depth varies depending on the fabric weight and drop length. Lighter fabrics such as voile fold into slimmer stacks, while thicker and heavier materials create a deeper profile.

This matters if your window is shallow or if you want to avoid blocking the view. Bay windows benefit from lighter fabrics that reduce gaps between pleats and maintain a neat look, while French or patio doors are less suited to Roman blinds as the stacking depth may interfere with opening. In these cases, roller or vertical blinds are better alternatives. Small or low windows can appear shorter once a Roman blind is stacked because part of the glass remains covered, so mounting the blind outside the recess can maximise visible light. Tall windows are ideal for Roman blinds, as the folded fabric stack looks intentional and decorative, often resembling a fabric pelmet. Patterned fabrics can also affect the look when stacked, as large prints may be partially hidden in the folds, so positioning and fabric choice should be considered during the design stage. If minimising stack depth is a priority, choose lightweight fabrics with a standard lining rather than blackout, as blackout linings add bulk.

Inside vs. Outside Recess Mounting

Inside Recess

This option fits the blind within the window frame for a snug and modern appearance. When making the blind, a deduction of 0.5cm to 1cm from each side and up to 1cm from the length is applied to ensure smooth operation.

Outside Recess

This option creates a larger appearance by mounting the blind outside the frame. Allow at least 7cm to 10cm additional width and height beyond the recess for effective coverage. Be mindful of protruding sills over 5cm which may block downward motion. Plan to reduce light bleed by accounting for the headrail thickness of approximately 25mm.

Both inside and outside recess mounting have advantages. Inside fitting gives a streamlined and minimal look that works well in modern homes, although it may let in a little more light around the edges. Outside fitting is better for blocking light and making windows look larger, but the blind projects further into the room. Your decision should be based on your style preference, the depth of your window recess, and how much light control you need.

Installation and Safety

Terrys’ made-to-measure Roman blinds arrive ready to install. They come attached to a cassette or header track and you simply click them into the mounted brackets — no sewing or threading required. Every blind includes child safety features as standard in line with UK legislation. Breakaway components and safety cleats ensure cords are secured out of reach, giving you confidence that your blinds are both stylish and safe. For full step-by-step fitting advice, refer to the Terrys Roman blind installation guide.