Modern, Contemporary Roman Shades: Top Tips & Ideas

 

Perfect-fit blinds with the soul of drapery, roman shades balance clean lines with a soft flowing grace. They embody a modern aesthetic, weaving luxury through their bespoke construction. However, although fabric roman shades share their svelte profile with other perfect-fit blinds, their capacity to infuse personality into a home remains unmatched. Because, unlike their mass-produced plastic-ish contemporaries, roman shades are fabricated with high-quality drapery-weight fabrics offering a rich palette of colors, patterns and textures. This versatility allows them to complement both traditional and modern interiors, sparking the question: what specific design elements render roman blinds a ‘contemporary’ edge? This blog piece delves into that very question. So, if you’re on the hunt for ‘modern’ roman shades, stay with us, as we unravel their core ingredients and share pertinent styling tips to help you make the perfect choice -

Fabric Fit for Modern Roman Shades

 

While fabric composition isn’t the sole determinant of a roman shade’s ‘modernity’, it plays a pivotal role in defining its texture and finish - two essential elements of any aesthetic. Where old-world charisma is defined by lived-in finishes for casual spaces and bold lustrous fabrics in formal rooms, the contemporary take leans towards understated sophistication overall. 

So, modern roman shades are not overly formal and dressy but relatively more relaxed and polished. So, sheers, cotton and linen, and their blends are the default go-to. However, formal areas are sometimes treated with lustrous fabrics that are not too heavily embellished or extravagantly lustrous. That means a modern silk roman shade is subtly radiant, wrinkle-less and usually light-hued as opposed to the quintessential Victorian-style iridescent purple silk roman shades embellished with ornate patterns and aureate trims. 

Another key aspect of a modern roman shade's fabric choice is the priority for easy upkeep. Fabrics that develop crisp folds effortlessly, and maintain a refined visual appeal without staining, fading, wrinkling and stretching are preferred. So, a colorfast cotton blend wins over less weatherproof pure cotton, for example, because the idea is to lower the number of maintenance cycles and boost the longevity of the roman shades. 

Palette & Pattern that Spell Modern

 

Patterns are immediate giveaways of the eras that produced and popularized them. An ornate ogee or fleur-de-lis is unquestionably classical, although they have modernized versions adapted to new design sensibilities. Whereas, a stenciled-print floral is indisputably modern. 

But the same cannot be said of colors.

It is not easy to strictly categorise a color as ‘modern’ or ‘traditional’ on its own, but the palette can be a telling sign. The iconic neoclassical palette of navy blue and beige is a staple in regal traditional decor styles, whereas many hues of these colors on their own will easily pass as modern. The same can be said about how earthy pastel hues resonate with modern Scandi interiors, but with few punctuations of soft pinks, creams and blues, they will perfectly define a classical French chateau. So, the palette of the roman shade has to be seen as a whole, and in relation to the pattern and finish, to identify it as truly modern. 

That said, it is possible to specify the preferred palette and pattern choices of modern roman shades, based on the overarching leaning of the decor styles -

Modern homes are sleek, uncluttered and less detailed compared to traditional styles. For a modern minimalist approach, avoid heavily saturated colors and extravagantly detailed traditional designs. Instead, choose neutral colors that blend into the space rather than call attention to themselves. And, look out for patterns that are visually more quiet with subtle contrasts, low-profile structure and clean lines.

For a modern maximalist take, bold colors, modern patterns and high contrasts are the way to go. Further, certain colors and patterns have an unmistakable modern edge, making them topline choices for modern roman shades. For example, a color like turquoise green reads explicitly modern (on its own regardless of the overall palette) as opposed to chartreuse green - a distinct reminder of the 80s hippie era. A black-and-white geometric pattern or abstract pattern appeals to modern design sensibilities but an ornate gilded damask, on the other hand, finds its honored place in traditional design. 

So, the bottom line is this - opt for colors and patterns that look contemporary and fresh, not dated and heavy with historic underpinnings.

Fold Style for Fashionable Modern Fabric Shades

 

The hallmark of roman shades lies in their accordion-style folds, where subtle nuances of folding technique add a layer of visual interest. At The White Window, we offer roman shades in three distinct fold styles - the front-slatted plain fold style, the back-slatted flat fold style and the relaxed/ European style - each appeasing diverse design languages within the overarching theme of ‘contemporary’.

The back-slatted flat fold style features straight even folds, a straight hemmed bottom and a slat-free frontage, embodying the essence of a quiet minimalistic design. It is no surprise then that this unadorned fold style is a staple in contemporary homes. Its winning trait is its clean uncluttered appearance as its supporting slats are out of sight. For a hardcore minimalist home, the back-slatted style allows a neutral-toned roman shade to blend with the architecture, becoming almost unnoticeable and minimizing visual clutter. Conversely, in a modern home that thrives on artistic expression, the roman shade itself can serve as a statement piece - its smooth uninterrupted frontage acting as a blank canvas for a striking pattern or texture. The only occasion when it may become an underwhelming choice is on an extra-large roman shade with a plain fabric, which, hanging like a big flat sheet, might risk looking too lackluster.

The front-slatted plain fold style features straight even folds, a straight hemmed bottom and a ‘ribbed’ frontage. What distinguishes it from the back-slatted style is the subtle pattern of horizontal lines created on its frontage by the raised contours and visible silhouettes of the slats. This style comes as a blessing for plain fabrics as it lends an element of visual allure that saves a plain roman shade from coming across as too stark. Plain neutral roman shades with defined slat lines complement modern design styles that lean heavily on visual texture and subtle details. If you’re opting for a patterned fabric though, the visual interruption of its slats might do a disservice to some patterns by distorting its shapes and details. 

The European relaxed style features gently curved folds and a scalloped bottom. Its construction does not entail having any supporting slats, and hence, this style is characterized by a soft flowy appearance, as opposed to the flat fold styles that look geometrically clean-lined. Therefore, this fold style has found renewed interest in recent times when design trends are moving away from stark straight lines to soft wavy and organic contours. For a modern space designed with a tangible casual demeanor, rustic accents, organic themes or feminine undertones, the relaxed style proves to be the most fitting candidate with its soft silhouettes and informal appeal. 

Thus, you find that there is a fold style that resonates with each taste. The distinct features of each fold style can be used favorably to blend modern roman shades into different design settings. Pick the fold style that best aligns with the mood and tenor of your room’s design, after you read about each fold style in detail in our Roman Shades Style Guide.

Trims that Spell Bespoke in Contemporary Lingo

 

Although modern design strives towards minimal details, embellishing roman shades with the right border trims is too tempting to resist. Trims can introduce color, texture and pattern for a subtle allure, flaunting an unmistakable personalized touch and bespoke appeal. So, if you don’t want to miss the bus,  go for streamlined ribbon trims that will preserve the clean-lined edges of the shades while bestowing a hint of garnishment, just enough to read bespoke, and not too elaborate to lose the modish appeal. We suggest avoiding heavy embellishments like tassels and fringes in a modern home, as they will alter the clean silhouettes of your roman shades.

Five Choicest Picks from The White Window’s Collection of Modern, Contemporary Roman Shades

Roman shades are not mere functional additions, but spokespersons of your distinct aesthetic vision. They can be seen as empty canvases waiting to be transformed into a piece of art that scripts the statement of your taste. Fortunately, you have a world of choice available at The White Window comprising more than 2000 premium fabrics so finding the mouthpiece of your unique style will be a breeze. Here’s a quick peek into our collection illustrated with a few select picks -

Darwin Crystal

 

Nothing beats a plain white roman shade in its timeless elegance! It is soft, neutral and light-welcoming, lending itself to a serene aesthetic that is impeccably charming. And it shines no matter where - offsetting vibrant decor styles with its calm, and enhancing modern minimalistic spaces with its simplicity.

Tough Spices

 

A dark neutral roman shade to make moody interiors cozier and bright spaces visually deeper! This dark grey/blue roman shade sheds its pensiveness on the rich herringbone texture, softening into a two-tone subtle allure. So perfect for industrial and masculine settings, sleek contemporary settings and modern minimalist homes!

Bora Bora

 

Flaunting the most loved modern palette, this black-and-white geo print roman shade effortlessly seals its candidature for contemporary spaces. The high-contrast formula enables the dynamic pattern to stand out with refined lines. Just a monochromist’s recurring dream taking the shape of a fabric!

Urban Cape

 

Florals are undying, but they are refreshed with new palettes and forms in this age and time. Bold scale, unexpected colors and modern prints reinterpret nature-inspired motifs as in this green poppy flower printed roman shade. It becomes a captivating focal point in any modern room it adorns.

Soulful Glow

 

Vibrant, energetic, even erratic, abstract patterns are the touchstone trait of modern designs. The undefined motifs of this roman shade depict a carefree, lighthearted and creative spirit while its luminous accents spell luxury with pizzazz. No better finishing touch for a formal modern space!

Shop Contemporary, Modern Roman Shades at The White Window

 

Modern roman shades endorse a refined aesthetic that is reflective of the new age themes and advancements in textile science. But they serve their purpose best when they portray your taste and the overarching theme of your home’s decor. We hope the styling tips in this blog post and the visual inspirations from our collection will assist you on your journey. As you explore our collection, luscious modern silks and velvets, and lovely cottons, linens and sheers will meet you, some with the allure of their texture, others with the ritz of their luster. Let your vision guide your way and rest assured that whichever route you take, you will not be in want of choice at The White Window.

So, hurry now, to our fabric collection and find the roman shade that can double up as the banner of your contemporary decor approach.