For many people, the choice of window covering styles is an easy one. The classic look you get from a roman blind cannot be matched by any other style of blind. Roman blinds have continued to be a favourite amongst home owners and interior designers for literally centuries, they have a timeless charm that is sure to last for ages to come.
Roman blinds are generally operated by a cord, and if there’s one warning I would give you about this style of blind, it’s to be careful if you have small children or pets, as there have been many reported accidents relating to the use of cords on peoples blinds. That said, if you take precautions, there is nothing stopping you from enjoying this wonderful style in your own home.
Roman blinds are a pleated style of blind. For those that don’t know what this means, it basically refers to the way the blind gather together when raised. A roman blind has, along its back, a number of horizontal rods. Although these are not seen from the front, they allow the blind to fold up inside itself in a neat and uniform way, and it’s this look that makes them so attractive to many home owners that have traditional style homes. 
While they give this great wavy effect when pulled up, they lay nice and flat when lowered. This is partly due to a weighted rod at the bottom of the blinds that helps keep them in place.
By far the most common material used in roman blinds is fabric, and there are literally thousands of different types of fabric, shades, colors and patterns that can be used in this style of blind. Not only that, but there are less traditional and more organic materials that can be used in the same style, such as woven wood, or even bamboo roman blinds. If it’s a rustic country look that you are after, this can be a great choice for your home.
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When buying your roman blinds, you are going to find a few choices available, and the one you choice will depend greatly on your budget and your skills. If you are a bit handy around the house, and are interested in saving a bit of money, then you will really benefit from a DIY roman blind kit. These kits come with all the materials and hardware you need to create your very own roman blind. The feeling of accomplishment you will get from doing so will make your blind all that more attractive and valuable.
If you are not interested in finding out how to make roman blinds, there are plenty of places, both online and in your local area, where you can get ready made roman blinds that suit most standard window sizes. If you windows are an odd size and shape, then ready made may not be an option for you. If this is the case, then you may need to look into getting them custom made, which will ultimately cost you a little more, but give you a perfect fitting blind for your window.
If weather is an issue in your area, then you may want to look at going a step further and getting lining for your roman blinds. Many shops offer this style of blinds with the lining already in place, but the lining can also be purchased by itself from most good fabric stores, and is not at all difficult to add to existing blinds. On top of thermal lining, you can also get blackout lining fro those rooms where you need to be able to block out as much light as possible.
If you are a little handy with a sewing machine, and not scared to operate a pair of fabric scissors, another option you have is to make your roman blinds yourself. For an in depth guide on how to make roman blinds, there are many good books to be picked up at your local library, as well as how to videos online. For now, here is a brief overview. Firstly, you will need to measure the width of your window, and the length that you want your blinds to hang. You will need two lengths of material. The first is the front fabric, that is, the material that you will see from inside your home. The other length is the backing. The type of material you will use will vary depending on your situation, but a good linen fabric can be inexpensive and still look great in your home. If there is a lot of sun that comes through the window that you want to cover, then it would be best to invest in some good quality blackout material as your backing. This can be a little more expensive, but will save your front material from fading, saving you money in the long term.