Are Roman Shades Still in Style in 2026?

Yes. Roman shades are still in style in 2026, and designers are talking about them more this year, not less. In Apartment Therapy's 2026 State of Home Design survey, 38% of the designers polled named relaxed Roman shades the next "it" window treatment (Apartment Therapy, January 2026, retrieved 2026-11-09).

The bigger reason they last is simple. A Roman shade is soft fabric with clean, tailored folds, so it fits a traditional room and a modern one. Newer versions have also fixed the old complaints, like exposed cords on the back and dangling pull cords. Below is how they work, which style to pick, and the honest downsides.

Key Takeaways

• Roman shades are in style in 2026. Relaxed, soft-fold Romans are a current designer favorite, and crisp flat folds stay a classic.
• A Roman shade is a fabric shade that folds into horizontal pleats as it rises. Rods set where the folds form, and lift cords or a modern lift system raise it.
• Flat folds look clean and tailored. Soft or full folds look relaxed and layered.
• Cordless wands, push-up systems, and PowerView motorization take dangling cords out of the picture.
• The honest downsides: folds collect dust, a stacked shade covers part of the glass, and fabric isn't the best match for a shower splash zone.

Are Roman shades still in style in 2026?

Roman shades are in style in 2026 because they give a room softness without the bulk of full drapery. Apartment Therapy's January 2026 coverage describes relaxed Roman shades, sometimes called soft fold or European-relaxed shades, as the effortless style designers are reaching for, and says they suit almost any style and fabric, from gauzy linens to textured weaves (Apartment Therapy, retrieved 2026-11-09).

That doesn't make the crisp, flat-fold Roman old news. Hunter Douglas describes the soft or crisp folds of Roman shades as having timeless appeal, for almost any look (Hunter Douglas, "Roman Shades," retrieved 2026-11-09). The trend this year leans relaxed. The classic stays classic. Either way, a Roman shade is a safe choice for a room you don't want to redo in five years.

How do Roman shades work?

A Roman shade works by lifting a flat panel of fabric from the bottom so it gathers into horizontal folds and stacks near the top of the window. Lower it, and the fabric falls back into a smooth panel.

On a traditional sewn Roman shade, three parts do the work. Rods, dowels, or battens run across the back and set where each fold forms. Small rings are sewn in vertical columns that line up with those rods. Lift cords run up through the rings, so pulling the cords raises the fabric in even sections that stack neatly at the top (Eisenkolb, "Roman Shade Ring and Dowel Spacing Guide," retrieved 2026-11-09).

Modern custom Roman shades keep the look and change the hardware. Hunter Douglas Vignette Modern Roman Shades have no exposed rear cords (Hunter Douglas, "Roman Shades," retrieved 2026-11-09). They come as a rolling shade or a stacking shade (Hunter Douglas, "Vignette Modern Roman Shades," retrieved 2026-11-09). A rolling Roman takes the fabric up onto a roller as it rises. A stacking Roman folds into a stack, the classic look.

Flat fold or soft fold: which Roman shade style is right?

The fold is the biggest style choice you'll make. Flat folds read clean and tailored. Soft folds read relaxed and layered. Vignette comes in a 6 inch flat fold or a 4 inch full fold (Hunter Douglas, "Vignette Modern Roman Shades," retrieved 2026-11-09). You'll also hear the soft, rounded style called teardrop, hobbled, or looped, depending on who's making it.

What matters	Flat fold	Soft fold (full, teardrop, or hobbled)
Look when raised	Crisp, flat pleats stacked neatly	Rounded folds that drape
Overall feel	Tailored and clean, suits modern rooms	Relaxed and layered, close to this year's soft-fold trend
Fabric pattern	Shows a pattern or texture across a smooth panel	Pattern breaks up across the folds
Vignette fold size	6 inch flat fold	4 inch full fold

Hunter Douglas's current Roman lineup also includes Carole Fabrics and Alustra Woven Textures Roman shades, plus Provenance woven wood shades for a natural-material look (Hunter Douglas, "Roman Shades," retrieved 2026-11-09). We'll bring fabric samples so you can see each fold in your own light.

How do you raise and lower Roman shades?

You raise and lower modern Roman shades with a wand, a gentle push, a cord loop, or a motor. Vignette's control options include these four (Hunter Douglas, "Vignette Modern Roman Shades," retrieved 2026-11-09):

Lift system	How it works	Good for
UltraGlide retractable wand	Pull a soft-touch wand that stays a constant length	Homes with small children and pets
LiteRise	Push the shade up or pull it down by hand, with no cords	Windows you can easily reach
EasyRise corded loop	A cord loop attached to a wall-mounted tensioner	Large windows
PowerView Automation	Motorized control by app, remote, or smart-home system, with schedules	High, wide, or hard-to-reach windows, and anyone who wants shades to move on their own

If you have young children, go cordless. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission says the safest window coverings when young children are present are cordless, and it counts continuous loop cords among the cords that are dangerous to young children (U.S. CPSC, retrieved 2026-11-09). A wand, LiteRise, or PowerView removes that worry.

Motorization is where Roman shades get the most fun. Set a schedule and your shades lower in the afternoon sun and rise with the morning light, without anyone touching them. Our PowerView motorization page covers how it works.

Two more options change how you use the shade. Top-Down/Bottom-Up lets you lower the shade from the top for daylight while the bottom stays closed for privacy. Duolite pairs a light-filtering fabric with a room-darkening one, so the same shade goes from soft daylight to dark (Hunter Douglas, "Vignette Modern Roman Shades," retrieved 2026-11-09).

Where do Roman shades fit best?

Roman shades fit best in rooms where you want softness and light control at the same time. Hunter Douglas lists living rooms, bedrooms, and dining rooms as ideal, and notes that Roman shades insulate well (Hunter Douglas, "Roman Shades," retrieved 2026-11-09).

• Bedrooms. Choose a room-darkening fabric or liner, or Duolite, for sleep. Our room-darkening options explain what each one does.
• Living and dining rooms. Light-filtering fabrics soften strong Colorado sun and still keep the room bright.
• Rooms next to the street. Top-Down/Bottom-Up gives daylight up high and privacy below.

In a Pradera model home in Parker, we put Vignette Roman shades with Top-Down/Bottom-Up in the guest bedrooms and bathrooms, for a softer look in the rooms where people sleep and get ready. You can see the full Pradera project.

What are the downsides of Roman shades?

Roman shades have a few real downsides, and it's better to know them now than after install.

• Dust settles in the folds. Fabric folds collect dust, and you can't wipe them down like a blind slat. Hunter Douglas recommends regular light dusting, and suggests compressed air or a hair dryer on a no-heat setting. Spot-clean by blotting with a damp cloth, because rubbing can damage the fabric (Hunter Douglas, "Vignette Modern Roman Shades," retrieved 2026-11-09).
• The stack takes up window space. A stacking Roman keeps a band of folded fabric at the top, even when it's fully raised. On a short window, that band covers a noticeable part of the glass. A rolling style or a mount above the window can help.
• Inside mounts leave small side gaps. An inside mount shows off your trim but leaves a small light gap on each side so the fabric moves smoothly. An outside mount helps close that gap (Hunter Douglas, "Roman Shades," retrieved 2026-11-09).
• Fabric and steam aren't a great pair. A Roman shade is fine on a bathroom window away from the shower. For a window in the splash zone, faux wood blinds or water-resistant shutters are the safer choice.

How we help you choose

You don't need to settle fold, fabric, or lift system before we arrive. In one free in-home appointment, we measure every window, bring samples you can see in your own light, recommend what each room actually needs, and give you a price on the spot. We'll tell you plainly if a different shade suits a room better.

Our own salaried installers, not subcontractors, hang every shade, and you get a photo of your installer before they arrive. Every shade carries a lifetime product warranty, plus free in-home service for 5 years. We're the only Hunter Douglas showroom for interior window coverings in Castle Rock, and an authorized Hunter Douglas dealer since 2003. Visit our showroom to see PowerView motorization in person.

The bottom line

Roman shades are still in style in 2026. Relaxed soft folds are this year's designer favorite, and crisp flat folds remain a classic. Choose them for bedrooms, living rooms, and dining rooms where you want soft fabric and real light control, pick a cordless or motorized lift, and keep them out of the shower splash zone.

Explore our custom shades, or book a free in-home consultation and we'll help you choose the right fold and fabric for each room.