Bamboo Roman shades belong to the category of elegant yet affordable window treatments. The classic Roman shades design gives them a very natural look and also helps keeping their price low, because no fancy mechanisms are involved in operating Roman blinds. All they need to move are the strings. This makes them extremely easy to install, too. Although they can’t be used as total blackout window treatments, bamboo Roman shades can provide various degrees of light filtering, depending on how they are woven or if other materials such as wood or matchsticks are alternating with the bamboo slats.
How To Measure For Bamboo Roman Shades
Measuring for bamboo Roman shades depends on the installation type. For inside mount installation, shades need to measure 1/2" less in width than the glass pane. The 1/2" difference will be distributed evenly between the two edges, so the shade will fit well into the window frame. If the difference is bigger, the shades will still fit, but they will allow too much light to pass through the edges, and that could be bothering and not very appealing, esthetically speaking. A smaller difference will cause the shade to fit too tight inside the frame, therefore being exposed to premature wear in case of frequent manipulation.
Inside mount is a bit tricky, because some windows don’t offer enough depth for making it possible, so that’s the first measurement that needs to be taken in order to make sure the windows are appropriate for this type of mount. Typically, the minimum depth for an inside mount should be 1/2" and the depth for a flush fit should be minimum 2”.
When taking the measurements for inside mount installs, it’s always wiser to take three such sets: one at the top, one at the middle and one at the bottom of the window. For measuring the height, three sets are also required: left side, middle and right side. It happens sometimes that windows are not even, therefore the smallest measurements should be taken into consideration in order to avoid surprises.
For outside mount, the exact area to be covered by the shade needs to be measured. It should include also the headrail (this needs to be clearly specified to the shop assistant, as some stores may require different ways of measuring).
When buying made-to-measure Roman shades, measurements should be done with extreme care, because such shades can’t usually be returned to the shop in case they don’t fit. Their custom nature makes them unique, so the probability for the vendor to be able to find another buyer for those custom bamboo Roman shades is very small.
Bamboo blinds have become one of the latest trends in home window treatments. They are popular for several reasons, including being easy to clean and fairly low maintenance. As a bonus these window treatments are also fairly inexpensive and fashionable. People who are interested in doing more for the environment are switching to bamboo products because the plant can re-grow in a relatively short time frame, usually five years, instead of buying products that require an entire tree to be cut down and not re-grow for decades.
These window treatments can be made into regular blinds, shades or long panels for larger windows and doors. Their recent popularity has made them available in a variety of home improvement and department stores, including JCPenney. They can be purchased in pre-cut sizes or custom made to match. One of the most popular styles is bamboo roman shades. Another favorite are the woven bamboo blinds.
From a design perspective these blinds are beautiful to more than just nature lovers and those interested in a tropical theme. This material works well with a variety of furniture and decor styles, since it is acceptable today to mix and match a variety of wood types. The natural bamboo colors range from very pale to very dark. For those with the ability to change their decor often bamboo is typically used in the summer as they are lighter and aid with ventilation and air movement. This helps with home cooling during the warmer months.
Are they just as good as traditional wood blinds? Yes. These blinds are durable, function the same as regular blinds and come in a variety of stains and patterns. They are very effective at blocking light and providing you with much needed privacy. They are incredibly versatile and can even be custom made if you don't like your options available at the store. If you have doors leading out to a sun room or deck you may find bamboo blinds to be your perfect decorative connector between the inside and outside worlds.
When most people think of bamboo their first thought isn't of window treatments or flooring. Instead they think of panda bears since panda's treat bamboo as their favorite food. It's grown in many Asian areas but also now in the United States. Due to its ability to regenerate so quickly consumers are quite happy with the lower cost and good feeling of using a plant material that won't quickly become endangered.
If you are looking to redecorate or enhance your room's beauty with natural wood, consider bamboo for your window covers to get the ultimate in tropical beauty with full light blocking and privacy protection.