Types of Roman Shades: Flat, Relaxed, Hobbled and More Explained

The main types of roman shades are flat, relaxed, hobbled, balloon, London and knife pleat. They differ in how the fabric folds. Flat roman shades lie smooth when lowered and stack into neat, even folds. Relaxed roman shades have a soft curve at the bottom. Hobbled roman shades keep cascading loops of fabric even when fully down. Balloon and London shades gather into soft poufs at the hem. Flat and relaxed are the most popular because they suit almost any room.

This guide explains what roman shades are, how each style looks and works, and which style suits each room, fabric and light need.

What Are Roman Shades?

Roman shades are fabric window shades that fold up into horizontal pleats when you raise them. When lowered, they cover the window as a single flat or softly shaped panel. Unlike curtains, which hang beside the window and slide sideways, roman shades move up and down and sit inside or just above the window frame.

How Do Roman Shades Work?

Roman shades work with a lift system of cords, rings and rods on the back of the fabric. When you raise the shade, the cords pull the bottom up and the fabric folds at each row of rings or rods, stacking at the top of the window. The rods and fold lines are what make each style different. Flat shades have stiff rods across the full width, relaxed shades leave the bottom rod out, and hobbled shades space extra fabric between rods.

Most custom roman shades are now made with a cordless lift or a motor instead of loose cords, which is safer for children and pets. Our cordless vs motorized roman shades guide compares the two.

Roman Shade Styles Compared

Style	How it looks lowered	Formality	Stack when raised	Best fabrics	Best rooms
Flat (classic)	Smooth, flat panel	Modern to tailored	Compact	Patterns, stripes, linen, blackout	Kitchens, offices, bedrooms, dining rooms
Seamless flat	Smooth panel with no horizontal seams	Modern, minimal	Compact	Large prints, textured weaves	Modern living rooms, bedrooms
Relaxed (European)	Soft curve or “smile” at the bottom hem	Casual, soft	Moderate	Linen, cotton, lightweight solids	Bedrooms, living rooms, breakfast nooks
Hobbled (soft fold)	Cascading loops of fabric top to bottom	Most decorative; traditional	Largest	Solid colours, textured fabrics	Formal living and dining rooms, primary bedrooms
Balloon	Gathered puffs along the lower edge	Formal, romantic	Large	Lightweight silks, taffeta, cotton	Formal dining rooms, traditional bedrooms
London (tulip)	Soft swags with pleats at each side	Traditional, cottage	Large	Soft cotton, chintz, floral prints	Cottage and vintage rooms, guest bedrooms
Knife pleat	Crisp, sharp folds	Modern, structured	Compact	Firm, mid-weight fabrics	Contemporary rooms, offices

Flat Roman Shades

Flat roman shades lie completely smooth when lowered and fold into neat, evenly spaced pleats when raised. They are the most popular roman shade style because they work in almost any room. The smooth panel shows off a pattern without breaking it up, so flat folds are the best choice for stripes, florals and geometric prints.

A flat roman shade has stiff rods sewn across its full width, which keeps each fold crisp and the stack compact. That compact stack matters on short windows, where a bulky stack would block the view. Flat shades also take a blackout lining well, since the flat face covers the window evenly.

Choose flat if: you want a clean, tailored look, a patterned fabric, or the most light coverage.

Relaxed Roman Shades

Relaxed roman shades, also called European or soft roman shades, have a gentle curve at the bottom hem. The bottom rod is left out, so the centre of the shade dips slightly lower than the sides. This gives a soft, casual look that suits linen and other lightweight fabrics.

Relaxed shades are the second most searched roman shade style in the US, with about 1,900 searches a month (Semrush, 2026). They are a natural fit for bedrooms, coastal and farmhouse rooms, and breakfast nooks. Because the hem is curved, the bottom corners leave small gaps for light, so relaxed shades work best where full blackout isn’t needed.

Choose relaxed if: you want a soft, lived-in look, or you’re using linen.

Hobbled Roman Shades

Hobbled roman shades, also called soft-fold or teardrop shades, keep rows of loose fabric loops from top to bottom, even when fully lowered. Extra fabric is sewn between each fold, so the shade looks layered and full at all times.

Hobbled shades are the most decorative roman shade style and suit traditional, formal rooms. The extra fabric also means they stack higher when raised, so they need a taller window or an outside mount above the frame. Solid colours and textured fabrics show the loops best, because a busy pattern gets lost in the folds.

Choose hobbled if: you want a rich, traditional look and have a tall window.

Balloon and London Roman Shades

Balloon and London shades are the most decorative styles. A balloon shade gathers into rounded puffs along the bottom edge. A London shade, also called a tulip shade, has inverted pleats at each side that let the fabric hang in a soft swag across the middle.

Both styles stack large and work best as a mostly-raised, decorative treatment rather than one you open and close every day. They suit formal dining rooms, traditional bedrooms and cottage-style homes.

Linen Roman Shades: The Most Popular Fabric

Linen roman shades are the most searched roman shade fabric, with about 3,600 searches a month in the US (Semrush, 2026). Linen gives a natural, textured look that pairs especially well with a relaxed or flat fold. Unlined linen filters light softly. Add a privacy or blackout lining for bedrooms.

Linen creases and can fade in strong sun, so a lining also protects it. In bathrooms and kitchens, a linen-look polyester blend gives the same texture with better resistance to moisture and stains. Our guide on how to measure and choose roman shades covers fabric choices by room.

Which Roman Shade Style Is Right for Your Room?

• Kitchen or bathroom: Flat fold in an easy-clean fabric. It stacks small and wipes clean.
• Bedroom: Flat fold with a blackout lining for the best sleep, or relaxed linen for a softer look.
• Living room: Flat for a modern room, relaxed for a casual one, hobbled for a traditional one.
• Dining room: Flat or hobbled. See our dining room curtain ideas for pairing roman shades with drapery panels.
• Short or small windows: Flat or knife pleat, because they have the smallest stack.
• Patterned fabric: Flat or seamless flat, so the pattern stays unbroken.

Are Roman Shades Still in Style?

Yes. Roman shades remain popular because they sit neatly in the window, take up no wall space and work with both modern and traditional rooms. Flat and relaxed roman shades in linen and natural textures are especially popular right now. Roman shades also pair well with curtains, so you can layer them for more softness.

Can You Hang Curtains With Roman Shades?

Yes. Mount the roman shade inside the window frame, or just above it, for light control. Then hang curtain or drapery panels on a rod mounted 4–6 inches above the frame and 6–10 inches past each side. The panels can be stationary for decoration or working panels that close at night.

Frequently Asked Questions

The Bottom Line

Pick a roman shade style by the look you want and how you use the window. Flat roman shades are the most versatile and the best for patterns and blackout. Relaxed shades soften a room, especially in linen. Hobbled, balloon and London shades add a traditional, decorative finish where you have the window height for a bigger stack.

Ready to see the styles on your own windows? Explore custom roman shades, or book a free design consultation on Long Island and we’ll bring fabric samples and measure every window.