Name: The Yardstick
Address: 2033 Gateway Place Suite 500, San Jose, CA, 95110, US
Telephone: 408-214-1300

Roman shades are a timeless and elegant window treatment that seamlessly combine the aesthetics of fabric drapery with a window shade. Foundationally, they are fabric coverings that easily rise up or lower down with a cord system. Known for a sophisticated yet soft appearance, these shades come in both full and flat folds. They also come in a variety of light filtering options – capable of elegantly transforming bright natural light to a soft, warm ambiance or providing a more solid darkening role.

The Yardstick – Expert Roman Shade Sales & Installation
Greater San Jose / San Francisco Bay Area

At The Yardstick, our team of expert designers will work with you to select or create the perfect set of roman shades for you. Whether you seek light control, enhanced privacy, UV protection, or energy efficiency, roman shades provide a versatile solution for your home.

Visit our showroom in Campbell today! Or we bring the showroom to you with a free in-home consultation and measurement.*

Let’s Create Something Extraordinary

Call or email us to schedule a free in-home estimate:

Email us

408-214-1300

* Some fees and restrictions apply. View Contact Page for more details.

Styles of Roman Shades

There are many styles of roman shades. Here are the most popular:

Flat Fold

Sleek and functional with a clean, tailored appearance. Consists of a single continuous piece of fabric that looks smooth when fully lowered. Once opened, they resemble cellular shades.

Plain Fold

Classic with visible folds when lowered, adding texture and body. This is probably the most common style you’ll encounter.

Relaxed

Soft, draped look without a bottom rod, offering a casual and laid-back style. Also known as European roman shades, these have an unstructured appearance.

Cascade

Like a waterfall, these roman shades hang from the headrail with a poetic flow that folds crisply when raised and hangs smoothly when closed.

Hobbled

Similar to a ribbed style, this style features large, cascading loops and folds when lowered. These folds combine into a large flat stack of folds as they are raised up.

Ribbed

Utilizes thick, horizontal sections layered over one another like ribs from top to bottom, to form raised seams when lowered down. When raised up, they stack into a compact, folded set.

Tailored

If you’re looking for pure elegance, tailored roman shades deliver. You can have your fabric be visually bold and also select fabrics that are textured or finely thin.

Natural

For maximum sustainability, you can opt to use materials such as bamboo, reed, grass, wood, and more.

London/Butterfly

Using a cord inset, raising this style results in two vertically tailored pulls.

Pleated

Usually selected for dining and living rooms, this style relies primarily on heavier fabrics with crisp folds between 4 to 5 inches apart.

Roman Shades – Timeless Style & Major Benefits

Roman shades are not just about looks—they’re designed with convenience and practicality in mind.

For years, they have been among the top window treatments for homeowners for their:

Elegant Design: Roman shades create a polished, sophisticated look with soft, pleated folds that elevate the decor of any room.
Versatile Light Control: Whether you want soft light filtering or a darker, dimmer ambiance, roman shades allow precise settings that also include height adjustment.
Privacy: With multiple operating systems like Top-Down/Bottom-Up, you can easily maintain the privacy you desire while allowing light to enter from the top of the window.
Energy Efficiency: Roman shades can significantly improve energy efficiency by offering an extra layer of insulation that helps block drafts. By selecting fabrics designed for thermal or blackout lining, you can further improve insulation.
Safety Features: Many modern Roman shades are available in cordless designs and don’t have excessive hanging parts, making them a safe choice for homes with young children and pets.
Motorization Options: Modern Roman shades can also be motorized and automated – controlled at the touch of a button within an app, remote, or wall switch.
Non-standard Window Shapes: Roman shades can really pop in non-standard window sizes, such as arched windows.

The Yardstick Roman Shade Installations
Left: Motorized Arched Roman Shade
Right: Olive Tree Pattern Light Filtering Roman Shade

What’s the difference between Roller Shades and Roman Shades?

Roman shades are available in a myriad of fabric options that cater to different design preferences and needs. Sometimes confused with roller shades, there are major distinctions between the two. Generally, roller shades are simple and budget-friendly, rolling up into a single fabric piece. Roman shades are more decorative, with fabric folding into layers when raised.

Roller Shades (left) vs. Roman Shades (right)

Graber Roller Shade

Graber Classic Roman Shade

Differences Between Roman Shades and Roman Blinds

Cost: Roman blinds are premade, more affordable, and use lighter materials, while roman shades use heavier fabrics and custom crafting.
Fabrics: If you prefer light, airy fabrics, then roman blinds fit this criteria. When it comes to rugged fabrics like canvas and burlap, and the option to control the amount of light that enters the room, choose roman shades.
Hem: Hems are the folded fabric at the very bottom edge that are sewn closed. Made to be unseen, roman blinds have narrow hems that work with traverse rods. On the other hand, roman blinds have visible hems, which work in tandem with smoother operation when lifting or lowering them.
Weight: Roman blinds have a heavier weight due to the metal bars in the cords and pleats. Roman shades are lighter and allow for smoother opening, whether manually or with a motorized system.
Durability: Although roman blinds last longer due to materials such as metal and plastic, roman shades can still last up to 15 years depending on materials and craft.

SF / San Jose Bay Area Roman Shade Installations by The Yardstick

Gray Roman Shades & Ripplefold Drapes in Art Room

Patterned Roman Shades & Window Cushion in Living Room

Motorized Back Slat Custom Roman Shades in Master Bedroom

residential house green roman shade closed

livingroom geometric patterned soft fold roman shades partially closed

residential musicroom custom patterned ribbed roman shades open

residential beach house corner windows black ribbed roman shades closed

residential living room corner windows floral pattern soft fold roman shades open

residential living room floral pattern soft fold roman shade open

residential home dining room floral pattern ribbed roman shades set

residential kitchen white blue floral pattern ribbed roman shade closed

Upgrades for Roman Shades

Roman shades also offer numerous upgrade options to further enhance your window treatment. Here are several of the most popular:

Continuous Cord Loop Controls: Secures cords to reduce visibility.
Cordless Lift: A hidden control system for easy operation without visible cords.
Hobbled Fold: A traditional look with soft, fabric loops when the shade is extended.
Motorized Lift: Allows for remote control or app use to raise or lower shades.
Top Down / Bottom Up Lift: Offers flexibility to raise from the bottom or lower from the top for privacy and light control.
Valances and Cornices: Decorative toppers or fabric-wrapped headrails for added style.
Side Channels: Guides the shade for smooth operation.
Light Fillers: Placed behind the fabric panel. A light-filtering liner is a thin, translucent backing that diffuses light while still allowing some to pass through, creating a softer light effect. A blackout liner is a thicker, opaque backing designed to block all light, ensuring more darkness.

Roman Shade Brands we Carry

We proudly carry many of the industry’s top brands, including Hunter Douglas, Graber Blinds, Conrad, Texton, Norman, and more.

Let us handle everything – our expert team takes care of measuring, cutting, and installation, while you enjoy the results. We’ll coordinate with you to pick the perfect time for installation with zero stress. Whether you’ve got a clear vision or need a little guidance, we’ll help you choose the perfect shades and ensure the entire process runs seamlessly.

texton marie latte highland park roman shade with curtain

texton nova highland park roman shade with curtain

Texton Highland Park Roman Shades

For over 50 years, we’ve been transforming Bay Area homes with top-tier window treatments, serving everyone from Monterey to San Francisco. Best of all, we proudly partner with designers, realtors, builders, contractors, and more.
Ready to transform your windows? Come visit our Hunter Douglas gallery showroom in Campbell, where our experts can guide you through the many options and help you craft your very own beautifully tailored set of roman shades.

Get in touch today by calling us at 408.214.1300 or click the button below. We can’t wait to see what you’ll create!

Get a FREE Estimate