How to Install Roman Shades

Stunning Roman blinds that add so much charm and character!

We live in a historic Dutch colonial in a little fishing town here in New England. Our home has the charming dark woodwork which is original to the house. This is one of the elements I love about it so much. For a few years, I’ve wanted to add woven roman shades to our coastal home because these types of shades add character, but also give a relaxed, coastal feel. I thought going with a lighter color would also make our living areas feel airier. Previously, we had dark corded Venetian wood blinds, but the cords started snapping. One time, I was worried about the cord as our little puppy had it around his neck. It was time to shop for new (and safer blinds)!

We share our home with two boys (ages 12 and 9) and two rescue dogs. For safety reasons we decided to order cordless blinds. I’m so impressed with how easily the blinds go up and down. We keep the blinds up during the day but shut them at night for privacy, as our living area faces the street.

I was delighted to learn that The Home Depot offers designer blinds that are customizable. There are so many lovely choices and they sent me free samples so I could make sure I was happy with the colors before proceeding with my order. I ordered 10 samples in all – some very light and some darker. In the end I decided to go with the Bamboo Essence in Origami by Levelor.

These bamboo shades are durable enough to really use. We open and shut them a lot so we wanted a weave that wouldn’t be too delicate. The bamboo is perfect!

You can see the lovely warm tones and how they pick up our dark woodwork. These blinds would also be lovely in a home with white trim.

Decorating in layers, with white slipcovers, white walls, furry blankets, and now our pretty bamboo blinds, makes it feel much more coastal and like we’re staying at a retreat in our own home.

It feels so much warmer and inviting now. The Roman shades we ordered have a light filtering privacy lining, but they also come with a black out option, which is great if you’re putting them in your bedroom.

Our living room opens into our dining room through beautiful dark wood columns, so we carried out the same blinds in the dining area. They really highlight our beautiful vintage chandelier.

The bamboo blinds are so welcoming. Our rooms, while not huge, now feel more spacious and inviting with these new window treatments. I love how this simple update has made both rooms feel more elegant, but casual at the same time.

I hope you enjoy our new Roman shades as much as we do! They’ve made a world of difference to these two rooms! I hope you’ll check out the fantastic selection The Home Depot has on offer.