While the primary reason to pair Roman shades with curtains is their attractiveness and the range of fabric and design options available, there are various other reasons why they’re a classic match. For starters, these window treatments let you decide the amount of natural light you want brightening your space. For instance, if you need to create a dark room in the middle of the day, lowering Roman blinds will block most of the light, but there might still be leaks around the corners. However, drawing the curtains—blackout or regular—will help you block the light even further.
Similarly, if you require some privacy but don’t want a pitch-dark room, investing in sheer or semi-sheer draperies and rolling up the Roman blind into neat folds will help you get exactly the right balance. Better yet, when used in tandem, this dynamic duo will preserve heat during cold winter months and prevent air-conditioned air from escaping the room in the summer, maintaining your room’s temperature and effectively lowering your energy bills. Since such blinds are often composed of thick and rich materials, they double as insulators. Bonus advantage: this layered approach can make your window appear larger than it is. Simply position the shades a few inches from the ceiling, then install the curtain rod at the same level and let it extend at least 30 to 60 cm beyond the casement.