TL;DR: Roman Shades in South Jordan
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What they are. Fabric shades that fold into soft horizontal pleats when raised and lay flat or cascade when lowered. The warmth of curtains with the function of a shade.
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Style options. Flat fold, hobbled/teardrop, relaxed/European, and balloon. Each creates a different look.
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Fabric and lining. Hundreds of fabrics from sheer to opaque. Blackout lining available for bedrooms and nurseries.
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Get started. Call (801) 455-8013 for a free in-home consultation with real fabric samples.
Why Roman Shades Are Coming Back in South Jordan Homes
Roller shades and cellular shades dominate new construction in the Salt Lake Valley because they're practical and clean. But walk into a home that's been professionally designed and you'll notice something different on at least a few windows. Roman shades.
Roman shades sit at the intersection of shades and curtains. When lowered, they cover the window with a flat or softly cascading panel of fabric. When raised, that fabric folds into neat horizontal pleats that stack at the top of the window. You get the texture, color, and warmth of a curtain with the compact functionality of a shade. No panels hanging on the sides of your window. No bulky curtain rods.
They're the shade you choose when you want a room to feel designed, not just covered. Master bedrooms, dining rooms, living rooms, and home offices are where we install them most in South Jordan, Draper, Sandy, and across the valley.
West Shade Co installs custom Roman shades measured to your exact window dimensions. We bring fabric samples to your home during a free consultation so you can see how patterns, textures, and colors look against your walls, furniture, and flooring in your actual light.
Roman Shade Styles
Not all Roman shades fold the same way. The fold style changes the entire personality of the shade.
Flat fold is the most popular and the most versatile. When lowered, the fabric lays completely flat against the window like a panel. When raised, it folds into crisp, even horizontal pleats. Clean lines that work with modern, transitional, and traditional interiors. If you're not sure which style to pick, flat fold is the safe bet.
Hobbled (teardrop) shades keep soft, cascading folds visible even when the shade is fully lowered. The fabric waterfalls down the window in overlapping pleats. More visual texture than flat fold. Popular in dining rooms, master bedrooms, and formal living rooms where you want the shade to be a design feature, not just a functional covering.
Relaxed (European) shades have a gentle curve at the bottom center when lowered, creating a soft swooping silhouette. Less structured than flat fold or hobbled. Works well in kitchens, bathrooms, and casual spaces where you want a relaxed, lived-in look without formality.
Balloon shades gather at the bottom into rounded poufs. The most decorative and traditional style. Less common in modern homes but still popular for accent windows, powder rooms, and traditional or French country interiors.
We bring samples of each style to your consultation so you can see the fold patterns in person. The difference between flat fold and hobbled is hard to judge from a photo but obvious when you see them side by side.
Choosing the Right Fabric
The fabric is where Roman shades really separate from other window coverings. Roller shades and cellular shades come in solid colors and textures. Roman shades open up the full world of fabric. Patterns, prints, linens, cottons, silks, velvets, and woven textures.
A geometric print in a home office. A natural linen in the living room. A rich velvet in the master bedroom. A light cotton in the kitchen. Each room can have a different fabric that matches the space while the shade style stays consistent throughout the house.
During the consultation we bring fabric swatches organized by weight and opacity. You hold them up to your windows and see how the pattern scales on your actual window size, how the color reads in your room's light, and how the fabric weight affects the fold. A heavy linen folds differently than a lightweight cotton, and that changes the look when the shade is raised.
Light Control and Blackout Lining
Roman shades come in every opacity from sheer to room darkening, and any fabric can be backed with blackout lining.
Unlined Roman shades let some light filter through the fabric. The amount depends on the fabric weight and weave. A loose linen lets a warm glow through. A tighter cotton blocks more. Good for living rooms and kitchens where you want natural light with privacy.
Privacy lining adds a white backing that blocks the view from outside and reduces light transmission. Your room gets softer, more diffused light. The lining also protects the face fabric from UV damage and fading, which matters with 220+ sunny days in the Salt Lake Valley.
Blackout lining blocks 100% of light. The face fabric can be anything you want for aesthetics while the blackout lining behind it does the work. This is popular for master bedrooms and nurseries where you want the decorative look of a Roman shade with the light-blocking performance of a blackout shade. You get both without compromising on either.
Roman Shades vs Curtains
If you're choosing between Roman shades and curtains, here's the practical difference.
Curtains hang on a rod and frame the sides of your window. When open, the fabric panels stack to the left and right. They add drama, height, and movement to a room. But they take up wall space on both sides of the window and require rods, brackets, and hardware.
Roman shades sit inside or just outside the window frame. When raised, all the fabric stacks at the top. Nothing hangs on the sides. Your window trim and wall space stay clear. The look is more tailored and compact.
Some homeowners do both. Roman shades for light and privacy control with decorative curtain panels on the sides for framing and texture. That layered look works especially well in master bedrooms and formal living rooms. We design and install both, so if you want to layer, we'll plan the whole thing during the consultation.
Why South Jordan Homeowners Choose West Shade Co for Roman Shades
Roman shades are the most detail-sensitive window covering we install. The fabric pattern has to center on the window. The folds have to be even. The lining has to be perfectly aligned behind the face fabric. The shade has to sit level in the frame and operate smoothly without bunching or pulling to one side.
Store-bought Roman shades come in preset sizes with limited fabric options. You get what you get and hope it looks close enough. Custom Roman shades are built to your window dimensions, your fabric choice, and your fold style. Every detail is specified, not approximated.
We measure each window for the exact clearance needed for the fold stack, which varies by style. A hobbled shade stacks thicker than a flat fold. If we don't account for that in the measurement, the shade blocks part of the glass when raised. That's the kind of detail that gets missed when you order a Roman shade online and install it yourself.
Every Roman shade we install includes professional mounting, leveling, and operation testing. We also help you choose between inside mount (shade sits within the window frame for a clean, built-in look) and outside mount (shade sits on the wall above the frame for maximum coverage and the illusion of a taller window). The right choice depends on your frame depth, window trim, and the look you're going for.
Looking for something simpler? Roller shades give you a clean, minimal look. Cellular shades add insulation. And if you want the fabric and texture of Roman shades but in a full-length curtain panel, visit our curtains and drapes page.
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Service Areas
South Salt Lake Valley: South Jordan, Riverton, Herriman, Draper, Sandy, West Jordan, Bluffdale, Daybreak
Mid-Valley: Midvale, Murray, Cottonwood Heights, Holladay, Taylorsville, West Valley City
Salt Lake Metro: Salt Lake City, Millcreek, South Salt Lake, Magna, Kearns
Utah County: Lehi, Saratoga Springs, Eagle Mountain
Summit County: Park City
Not in this area? Call us at 801-455-8013 or click the button below to see how we can help!
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No charge. No obligation. No pressure.
Here's how it works:
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Call or book online. Tell us which rooms you're considering and we'll schedule a time.
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We come to you. We bring fabric swatches and fold style samples so you can see patterns, textures, and folds in your actual rooms.
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We help you design. Fabric, fold style, lining, inside vs outside mount. All decided together based on your windows and your taste.
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We measure every window. Exact dimensions including clearance for fold stacking.
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Your shades are built. Custom manufactured with your selected fabric, style, and lining. Most orders ready in 3 to 4 weeks.
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We install everything. Mounted, leveled, and tested. Professional installation included.
Get a Free, In-Home Roman Shade Consultation
⭐ 5.0 Stars on Google • Free In-Home Consultation • Professional Installation Included • Financing Available