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relaxed roman shades

Designing a Reading Nook

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roman shade reading nook the everygirl

Flat Roman Shade. Photo and design by Alaina Kaczmarski of The Everygirl.

Reading nooks evoke a sense of comfort and tranquility, the perfect space to get lost in a story while the rest of the house bustles around unnoticed. They can also be very practical design elements, as the ideal use for awkward unused corners, window seats, or small rooms. However your reading nook fits into the layout of your home, keep these tidbits in mind when choosing the furniture and décor.

reading nook the shade store danielle colding

Relaxed Roman Shades. Danielle Colding Design, Inc. Instagram: @daniellecoldingdesign

Start with a Comfortable Seat

The most obvious place to start is with a comfortable chair, sofa, seat, or bench. Depending on the rest of the room, you can use the seat as a focal point for the area and choose a unique design. Interior designer Danielle Colding used a gorgeous Jonathan Adler Bacharach Swivel Chair to set the stage for this nook, with curved comfortable lines and a gray tone that matches the Relaxed Roman Shades.

shorelines office the shade store

Roller Shades. Shorelines Interiors. Instagram: @shorelinestx

Consider Different Types of Light

Big windows provide excellent natural light for reading during the day. Will that light ever be too bright? If sunlight streams into your nook at high intensity, you may want to add a Solar Shade or other light filtering window treatment to reduce glare, especially if you’ll be reading on devices with screens like iPads or Kindles. For evening and nighttime reading, add another source of task lighting like the nearby lamp in this Shorelines Interiors office design.

jess & kevin the shade store roman shade

Relaxed Roman Shades. jess & kevin. Instagram: @jessandkevinllc

Create a Warm Space

If your reading nook is near a window, it is especially important to consider how this affects the comfort of the space. If the window tends to be drafty or cold, remedy the situation by adding an insulating window treatment. Options include Cellular Shades, lined Drapery or Roman Shades, substantial materials like Wool, Wool Flannel, and Velvet, or layered shades and drapes to provide the highest amount of draft blockage. Extra blankets and pillows are also always a good idea, in case a captivating book prompts a long reading marathon where position changes might be necessary. You can decorate chairs and window seats with pretty throws, or store blankets in a basket or box next to the seat, like jess & kevin’s design shown above.

Even the tiniest of reading nook spaces can still be big on design. Browse our photo gallery, Pinterest, and Instagram accounts for inspiration, or visit one of our nationwide showrooms.

Ideas for Nursery Window Treatments

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gender neutral nursery window treatments

Flat Roman Shades. Apartment Therapy/Residents Understood. Photo by Bonnie Sen

Nursery design is such an important part of the new parents’ home. This room needs to create a soothing environment for sleep, be comfortable for parents while feeding and playing with their baby, and be safe and fun for the child as he or she grows.
We’ve rounded up some of our favorite ideas for nursery window treatments.

Coordinating Colors

Whether your nursery plan is all neutrals or awash with bright colors, The Shade Store has hundreds of material options to choose from. In the photo above featured in Apartment Therapy, the parents opted for a simple nursery that could grow with their child as their tastes evolved. Designers Kiera Kushlan and Jessica Centella of Washington, D.C.-based Residents Understood designed a clean color scheme with grown up accents like an oriental rug. White walls and Flat Roman Shades in a neutral gray are a timeless combination that could just as easily work in a high schooler’s room as a nursery.

pink nursery window treatments

Relaxed Roman Shades. Pamela Chelle. Instagram: @pamelachelle

In the photo above from Pamela Chelle Interior Design, the Relaxed Roman Shades pick up on the pink from the adorable floral wallpaper. The fabric shades softens the wood blinds and geometric lines of the crib.

We also offer a multitude of prints in hues of pink and blue, yellow and green, and every color in between. If you’re still shopping for your nursery décor, order a few (or a lot!) of our free swatches to coordinate your window treatment fabric with the rest of the room.

The Best Place for Sleep

Most new parents would say that they need all the help encouraging their newborns to sleep that they can get. Blackout shades can help block evening and morning sun, hopefully allowing baby to sleep a little longer. Blackout linings can be added to Roman Shades, and blackout material options are available for Roller Shades, Pleated Shades, and Cellular Shades. In the photo below, interior designer Regan Baker opted for Flat Roman Shades with a custom matching Valance.  

If your nursery windows tend to be drafty, blackout shades and linings reduce drafts and can assist in maintaining an even temperature in the summer and the winter.

blue nursery

Flat Roman Shades. Regan Baker Design. Photo by Sharon Risedorph

The Shade Store Kids Collection

We have curated a selection of our Blackout Roller Shades, Drapery, and Roman Shades specifically with your kids in mind. Our Kids Collection includes new designs with butterflies, bohemian floral prints, skyscrapers, safari animals, and airplanes, as well as some of our most versatile and popular materials. Designing your child’s playroom or nursery has never been easier! Shop the collection here.

Safe Nursery Décor

When installing window treatments that will be around children, safety is the number one priority. Dangling cords can be dangerous. We recommend cordless shades for nurseries and children’s bedrooms, and our cordless options have been certified Best For Kids by a third party lab recognized by the Window Covering Manufacturers Association (WCMA).

If you have any questions about new window treatments for your nursery, feel free to get in touch with us: stop in a showroom near you, call us at 800.754.1455, or email us at design@theshadestore.com. Our Design Consultants are ready and waiting to help.

free swatches the shade store

How to Layer Window Treatment Textures

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layering window treatments

What’s the easiest way to make your window treatments stand out and look professionally designed? Many interior designers recommend layered window treatments. “Layering window treatments is like having an array of outfits for your windows for different outings. It’s also a beautiful way to give any space texture and it’s the perfect way to heighten our senses,” explains Jamie Galvis. Jamie is the Creative Director behind Styling Your Space, a NYC-based design firm specializing in interior design and decorating.

Keep reading for easy to use tricks to help you choose a combination of colors and textures to use in layered shades and drapes in your home.

Light Filtering Layers

If you’re not sure where to start with layering window treatments, a good rule of thumb is to keep one layer in the sheer or light filtering family. In all the photos included in this blog post, you can see that one layer is always lighter than the other – in these cases, the Solar Shades keep the windows looking bright. Jamie says:

“I like to keep things light – whether choosing curtains or shades, our first set is always sheers. This allows for plenty of light during the day making our client’s space brighter and lighter. The possibilities are limitless when we install the second set; here we play with patterns, textures, colors and a combination of all. This layer allows you to control privacy at night and for some, a blackout layer for darkness is imperative for sleep. Your windows will always rise by dressing them with sheers and a complimentary second set.”

ripple fold drapes with shades

Ripple Fold Drapes, Doni, and Chilewich Solar Shades, Bamboo

Similar Color Family, Contrasting Designs

Everything does not have to match perfectly when layering window treatments. In the photo above, you’ll see contrasting textures and designs with the Solar Shades under Ripple Fold Drapery. The unifying factor is the brown color family: the drapes provide the rich, dark brown and pop of yellow, while the shades pick up the lighter, subtler light brown or tan color of Bamboo. The result is a rich statement that still looks cohesive.

relaxed roman shades

Relaxed Roman Shades, Funkyzebra, and Solar Shades, 3% Beige

Color From a Dominant Pattern

If you have chosen a dominant pattern for one window treatment, a simple way to add another layer is to pull one color from the pattern. Choose a Roller or Solar Shade, which will work beautifully under Roman Shades or Drapery, in one of the lighter or subtler colors from your primary material. In the bedroom pictured above, the Diane von Furstenberg Funkyzebra print is bold, but light Solar Shades in Beige layered underneath keep the treatments from feeling overbearing or cluttered.

inverted pleat drapes

Inverted Pleat Drapes, Suit Stripe, and Solar Shades, 3% Hive

One Color, Different Textures

Even if your décor has only one predominant accent color that you’d like to feature, you can still layer textures in your window treatments. Pick your color and experiment with different materials – this can include light filtering Solar Shades with blackout drapes, or a monochromatic print like Hive paired with stripes (shown above).

You can always test your layering ideas with unlimited free swatches, or visit a showroom near you to see examples of layered shades and drapes and discuss your options with an expert Design Consultant.

free swatches the shade store

How To Decide If Roman Shades Are Right For You

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Flat Roman Shades by The Shade Store

When you stop into a showroom or call The Shade Store, our design consultants are ready and waiting to provide expert design advice and help you choose the perfect window treatments for your home. Please welcome back Liz Irwin, a design consultant in our Garden City, NY showroom. Liz will share some of her insights, tips, and answers to frequently asked questions here on The Shade Store Blog.

As a veteran design consultant who has been helping clients dress their windows for almost 8 years, I’m no stranger to narrowing down our selection of over a dozen window treatment styles and more than 900 materials. All of the expert design consultants at The Shade Store are intimately familiar with the appearance, function, and options available for each of our beautiful products, and with a few questions and key words, we can quickly narrow down our ample collection to the treatments that fit your needs.

Roman Shades are among our most frequently requested treatments, especially our signature Flat Roman Shade. I rarely come across anyone who does not fall in love with them. And, why not? Our Roman Shades boast handcrafted, couture quality, hundreds of supple fabrics to choose from, and a lush, indulgent presence uniquely their own. Here are some of my most tried and trusted tips to figure out if Roman Shades are right for you and your home.

You’re After a More Formal Look

The fundamental difference between Roman Shades and other types of shades is that Roman Shades fold onto themselves as they are raised, creating a series of sumptuous, soft folds. When lowered, they are visually stunning, and when lifted, the folds create a finished “faux valance” effect. I tell my clients Roman Shades are drapery-esque, in a horizontal treatment; it creates the same fullness on a window as a drapery, but more closely tailored to the lines of the window itself.

That’s not to say Roman Shades can’t have a casual elegance – like all other treatments, it’s all in the execution and context. A rumpled Linen fabric in a Relaxed Roman Shade is quite different than a Tulip Roman Shade in Silk in the tone that it sets. However, Roman Shades can do heavy lifting as standalone window treatments in formal spaces, which other shades can’t always accomplish. It all comes down to the lines that Roman Shades create, both when lifted and lowered on the window.

relaxed roman shades yellow

Relaxed Roman Shades, Pantheon

You’re Looking to Make a Statement

Some clients want their window treatments to make a statement in a room, and act as a featured part of the decor. Roman Shades are statement pieces, even in a standard, white cotton material. When they lift, they have volume and folds at the top, which we refer to as a “stack.” This means that the shade will be ever-present and visible on your windows, even when lifted up (and this includes sheer fabrics).

On the other hand, I have clients who describe a window treatment that will “disappear” on the window, or something that will “clear the glass.” When I hear anything to that effect, I know I can probably preclude Roman Shades.

Talk to a Design Consultant

Still not sure whether Roman Shades are the right fit for you? Visit one of our nationwide showrooms to see and feel Roman Shades in person at our interactive product displays. Order free swatches to test out fabrics in your home. And you can always give us a call at (800) 754-1455. We can’t wait to talk about your windows.

The Timeless Classic: White Roman Shades

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white roman shades
For window treatments that are versatile, timeless, and beautiful, you can’t go wrong with classic white roman shades. As a neutral color, white shades can remain the same in a room through the years, surviving paint color and furniture updates.

When to Use White Roman Shades

White roman shades are the perfect complement to a monochromatic white or light-colored room. Different fabric weights and lining options means white romans are a perfect fit from bedrooms to kitchens.

Living rooms, breakfast nooks, kitchens, or indoor patios can benefit from the light filtering properties of fabrics such as linen and unlined cotton. These materials in white tones create an airy, breezy feel, and are well suited to cottage or coastal-style décor.

For bedrooms, a privacy backing can be installed on any fabric, but silks, wools, and velvets are excellent choices for a more substantial window treatment. Linings can also help reduce drafts from leaky windows.

White window treatments are certainly not limited to white rooms, however. White roman shades can act as a simple neutral window treatment in rooms with bold paint colors or patterned wallpaper. To tie in your room’s accent colors with a white shade, try a decorative border sewn around the edges.

black and white roman shades

In Lonny Magazine, the Rock Chic article features our linen Flat Roman Shades with a black border.

Sheer Roman Shades

When privacy is not a concern, sheer white roman shades can keep rooms filled with natural light while still reducing glare from the sun. Our sheer materials are available in varying shades of white to ivory (and many more), and come in a variety of textures from linen to our patterned Sheer Wisp.

From Modern to Traditional

Solid white fabrics in clean roman styles such as Flat, Cascade, and Aventura lend themselves to more modern home styles. Their neat stacks and straight lines provide a minimal, contemporary feel to your window treatments, and can easily blend into the wall to allow other statement pieces of art or furniture to stand out.

The softer shade styles including Relaxed (shown in the image above), Tulip, and Pleated romans are still flexible, but typically lend a more traditional feel with their curved drapes of fabric.

To test out our white materials for roman shades in your home, order your free swatches and receive them in 1-3 business days.

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