Soft Shades for Windows

Soft window shades can look as good from the outside as they do from the inside.

Soft window shades are not simply utilitarian coverings for your home's windows. Soft shades add an elegant, upholstered look to your room's interior, softening the look of your window in addition to blocking sunlight and adding privacy. Whether constructed from damask, raw silk, brocade, velvet or cotton, soft window shades are an easy and affordable way to decorate your windows.

Roman Shades

Roman shades may fall in swags or a rigid, horizontal bottom line.

Fabric Roman shades are window treatments that are drawn up and down in horizontal folds using cords that pull through rings attached behind them. Roman shades can be drawn almost completely out of the line of vision, but when lowered will cover the entire window opening. Roman shades are fabricated with a board at their top, from which all the cording is attached. Simply affix this header board to the uppermost horizontal piece of your window frame.

Hobbled Shades

Hobbled shades can be drawn up completely out of harm's way.

Hobbled shades are similar in construction to Roman shades, but fall in soft folds when lowered as opposed to the flat fall of Roman shades. Hobbled shades are mounted inside the top of a window's decorative molding. They work well with a valance or without and can be as heavy or light as you wish. If you are looking for a light, decorative treatment, choose hobbled shades made from sheer, white fabric. For a formal room, select damask, toile, brocade or velvet. A good option for casual bedroom hobbled shades is cotton duck.

Balloon Shades

A softer alternative to Roman shades, balloon shades are constructed of inverted pleats that are spaced from 10 to 15 inches apart. This type of soft shade cascades from the top of the window, finishing at the bottom in poufs that billow across the bottom of the fabric. Balloon shades are often finished with fringe, lace or beads. You can dress your window with a single fabric shade or layer a balloon valance over a full-coverage balloon shade.

London Fabric Shades

Kimono fabric will add an Asian flair to your soft window shades.

London fabric shades are mounted inside the top of a window's decorative molding and fall in inverted pleats when raised and lowered. Elegant and sophisticated in their construction, these shades are most often drawn on two vertical, inverted pleats with a large, center swag. The vertical section on either side of the swag end is fanned in 45-degree segments. These shades will add a touch of class to your room's interior.

Fabric Rolled Shades

Coordinate a roll-up shade in your kitchen with a tablecloth.

Simple, fabric roll-up shades will soften your window. Purchase this style of shade or do it yourself, as this soft shade design is simple to make. Try a rolled shade custom-made with the same fabric of your bedspread or pillow accents in your bedroom or living room. Gingham rolled shades can add a whimsical and colorful touch to your kitchen window.

References

• Balloon Shades
• Exciting Windows: Soft Shades

Resources

• "150 Ways to Dress Your Windows"; Country Living Editors; 2011