The Rise of Solar and Roman Shades: A Guide to Today’s Trendiest Window Treatments

When it comes to modern window treatments, shades are leading the way — combining style, functionality, and convenience like never before. Among the most popular choices are solar shades and Roman shades, both offering a fresh, updated look while addressing important needs like privacy, light control, and ease of use. If you’re considering a window refresh, here’s what you should know.

Why Shades Are Trending Now

Shades are a natural fit for today’s homes. With the rise of minimalist interiors, open floor plans, and a desire for cleaner, streamlined designs, homeowners are opting for treatments that are simple yet impactful. Solar and Roman shades deliver just that — elegant options that adapt to a variety of rooms and styles, from casual to luxurious.

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Solar Shades: Sleek, Modern, and Light-Filtering

Solar shades are designed to reduce glare, block harmful UV rays, and protect interiors from sun damage — all without completely sacrificing your view. Their sleek, tailored look makes them especially popular in contemporary spaces.

Privacy Considerations:

Solar shades are rated by their "openness factor" — typically between 1% (very tight weave for more privacy) to 14% (more open for better visibility).

• Low openness (1–5%) = More privacy, less view.

• High openness (6–14%) = Better view, less privacy (especially at night when lights are on).

For bedrooms or bathrooms, many homeowners layer solar shades with drapery panels or use a dual shade system that combines a solar shade with a blackout roller behind it.

Ready to refresh your windows? Shop our latest shades here.

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Roman Shades: Timeless Elegance and Soft Textures

Roman shades offer a softer, more traditional look while still keeping things polished and updated. They are available in countless fabric choices — from breezy linens to luxurious velvets — and can be tailored to match nearly any design style.

Privacy Considerations:

Roman shades are naturally excellent for privacy.

• Lined Roman shades (with a light-filtering or blackout lining) add an extra layer of opacity.

• For spaces where privacy is essential (like bedrooms or bathrooms), choosing a heavier fabric or adding a blackout lining is a smart move.

Want to see some of our Roman shade offerings? See custom fabric shades →

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Chain, Cordless, or Motorized: How to Choose Your Operation Style

Modern shades offer several control options to fit your lifestyle and needs:

• Classic Chain Operated:
  Reliable and precise, chains (or continuous loops) offer smooth control over large or heavier shades. They are cost-effective but require child-safety measures like tensioners.

• Cordless Shades:
  Sleek and safer for homes with children or pets, cordless options allow you to gently lift or lower your shade with your hand. Perfect for a clean, uncluttered look.

• Motorized Shades:
  The ultimate in convenience, motorized shades allow you to adjust light and privacy with the push of a button — or even through smart home integration. They’re ideal for hard-to-reach windows or tech-savvy households.

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Final Thoughts: Choosing the Right Shade for Your Space

When deciding between solar shades and Roman shades, think about:

• The room’s purpose (living room vs bedroom)

• The amount of natural light you want

• Privacy needs during day and night

• Ease of use and whether automation fits your lifestyle

Both solar and Roman shades bring beauty and function to your home. With the right style, material, and operating system, you’ll create a space that's as comfortable as it is stylish.

Spring Refresh: Transform Your Outdoor Space with Sheers & Fabrics!

 

Outdoor fabrics have come a long way! Our latest collection features:

🌿 Weather-resistant materials – Perfect for sun, rain, and wear

🌸 Vibrant colors & stylish patterns – From classic stripes to bold florals

☀️ Fade-resistant & easy to clean – Designed to last through the seasons

💡 Styling Tip: Mix and match patterns like floral cushions with striped drapes or solid fabrics for a balanced look.

🏡 Create an Outdoor Room

Spring is all about bringing the indoors out! Here’s how to turn your patio into a relaxing extension of your home:

✨ Draped Outdoor Spaces – Hang sheers on a pergola or patio to create a cozy, cabana-style retreat.

🛋️ Cozy Seating Areas – Use weather-resistant cushions & upholstery for a polished look.

🌞 Stylish Shade Solutions – Install fabric canopies to block harsh sunlight while adding a designer touch.

💡 Lighting Matters – Add string lights or lanterns to enhance the ambiance.

👉 Shop Outdoor Fabrics Now

Flexible Long Length Curtain Tracks

Upgrade Your Space with a Simple & Flexible Ceiling Mount Curtain Track

Are you looking for a versatile curtain track that’s easy to install? Do you need a solution that adapts to different room layouts and holds heavy curtains with ease? Our Flexible Ceiling Mount Curtain Track is the perfect choice. Whether you're adding privacy, partitioning a space, or enhancing your home decor, this pre-packaged kit comes with everything you need to get started.

What’s Included in the Kit?

Our Medium Duty Flexible Curtain Track Kit includes:

• 9.8 feet of flexible track

• 38 carriers/rollers for smooth curtain movement

• 16 ceiling mount brackets/cartridges for secure installation

• 16 screws and plastic anchors

• 2 end caps for a clean finish

• 1 pair of magnet catch carriers for added stability

Buy the Kit

Cut and Customize to Fit Your Space

One of the best features of this track is its versatility. The F-track is made of a durable steel and resin composite, allowing it to support vertical loads while bending horizontally to any degree. This makes it ideal for curved or angled installations. If you need a custom fit, the track can be cut easily with a hacksaw.

Strong & Durable for Long, Heavy Curtains

This medium-duty track supports up to 33 lbs. per foot when using four carriers per foot, making it perfect for heavier curtains. Its smooth gliding mechanism ensures easy operation, providing effortless movement and stability.

Easy Installation Tips

To ensure a sleek, professional look:

• Maintain a maximum bend radius of 3 inches with a minimum of 2 feet.

• For straight-run applications, install mounting hardware at 9-inch intervals for even weight distribution.

• Align all mounting hardware precisely to prevent a wavy track appearance.

Transform Your Space with Ease

With its excellent load-bearing capacity, customizable fit, and effortless hand operation, our Flexible Ceiling Mount Curtain Track is the ideal choice for homes, offices, or healthcare settings.

Ready to upgrade your space? Get your kit today and enjoy a seamless curtain track system that adapts to your needs! Also sold by the foot and in 82 foot rolls. Shop SuperFlex Track

Ripplefold Draperies

Ripplefold Resurgence

Ripplefold draperies are making a stylish comeback in interior design, and it’s easy to see why. Known for their sleek, elegant appearance, ripplefold window treatments add a sophisticated touch to both commercial and residential spaces. The signature wave-like folds create a uniform look that’s visually appealing from both the inside and outside of the room, offering a polished and refined aesthetic.

One of the standout features of ripplefold drapes is their ease of fabrication and low-maintenance nature. Unlike traditional pleated curtains, they won’t sag over time, maintaining their crisp, structured appearance. This makes them an excellent long-term investment for any space.

We offer custom made ripplefold draperies on www.InteriorDecorating.com - click here for more information.

In addition to their refined look, ripplefold curtains also offer practical benefits. They require less stackback compared to other curtain styles, which means you can expose more glass and let in more natural light—perfect for brightening up any room. Whether you're outfitting a modern office building or a cozy living room, ripplefold draperies provide a seamless balance of form and function.

If you're looking to elevate your interior while minimizing upkeep, ripplefold draperies could be the perfect window treatment solution for your next decorating project. See our full how-to article >

Aria H-Rail Track - Perfect for Ripplefold Draperies
Shop on www.InteriorDecorating.com

Rule of 3

 

Skarda Jade, Paloma Jaipur & Vasto Peacock

In the exciting world of fabrics, the options are truly limitless. It can be overwhelming at first, but also incredibly fun! If you're embarking on a new project, here is a tip to guide you.

One helpful approach is the Rule of 3: choose a small, medium, and large print, with one common color that ties everything together. It's perfectly fine to mix patterns that don't necessarily "match" as long as they share that unifying color. Add in a soft, durable solid fabric, and you'll have the perfect foundation for a cohesive room design.

We offer samples of most of our fabrics, so you can easily explore different options. If you find that a sample doesn’t quite fit, you can exchange it for another. Our research department is also available to assist you in selecting the perfect fabric for your project.  Call us at 1-800-590-5844  * www.InteriorDecorating.com * Email: info@interiordecorating.com

Ralph Lauren Galloway Shetland Hazel and Edgemont Corduroy

Wide Pocket Brackets

One of the most common questions we receive is: How do I take down or reassemble my wide pocket rod? While the process may vary depending on the brand, this video demonstrates how to handle the brackets on one of our Graber Dauphine rods.  

This rod is available on our website - shop now.

Bed Scarves/Bed Throws

Bed Scarf or Bed Throw

A traditional bed scarf or throw usually stretches across the bed’s width and covers about one-third of its length. For a full-size mattress that measures 75 inches long, one-third would be 25 inches. The width of the scarf is based on where you’d like the edges to fall. Since a full-size mattress is typically 54 inches wide, you’ll need 54 inches plus twice the side drop. If you’re calculating yardage to make one, be sure to add extra inches for hems and seams.

Custom Fabric

In our custom workroom, we recommend 2.5 yards of fabric per side. For fabric on both the front and back, order 5 yards. You can use a lining fabric on the back to save costs. Hotels often use bed scarves to help extend the life of their bedspreads. InteriorDecorating.com suggests consulting with your decorator or workroom for yardage needs, as requirements vary by fabric. If you’re handling the project yourself, remember to order extra fabric to allow for any mistakes or pattern matching. Please note that we aren’t responsible for discrepancies in yardage.

More information on www.InteriorDecorating.com

Transform Your Space with Passementerie: Elevate Your Decor with Ornamental Trimmings

 

When it comes to decorating, it’s often the small details that make the biggest impact. Passementerie, the elegant term for ornamental trimmings, is a wonderful way to add that final flourish to your space. Tassels, cords, and tapes not only provide a pop of color but also bring texture, personality, and a sense of sophistication to your decor.

Think of passementerie as the finishing touch—the bow on a perfectly wrapped gift. Whether you’re aiming for a sleek, minimalist design or something a bit more luxurious, trimmings can be that versatile element that ties everything together. Here’s how you can use these beautiful details to elevate your home.

 

Mixing Modern Minimalism with Intricate Trimmings

In today's design world, blending different styles creates an intriguing contrast. Don’t shy away from pairing simple, clean lines with intricate trimmings. A minimalist space can come to life with just the right touch of texture. For example, adding velvet trimmings to a pillow creates warmth and luxury, perfect for creating a cozy, inviting space.

 

Imagine a deep green velvet trim against a neutral-toned pillow—it instantly makes the pillow feel more special, without overpowering the rest of your decor. Likewise, placing a tassel in just the right spot on your mantel or a delicate cord along your drapes can subtly elevate the room, creating a balance between modern and classic design elements.

 

Cozy Up with Earthy Tones

When incorporating passementerie into your decor, color is key. Deep earth tones or soft beiges work wonders in creating a cozy, inviting winter atmosphere. These natural hues blend seamlessly into a range of color schemes and add a sense of warmth to your space.

 

For the winter months, think of rich browns, warm taupe, and soft creams. These colors not only evoke the season’s cozy spirit but also provide a neutral backdrop for you to experiment with brighter accents, like a pop of red or green during the holidays.

 

Creative Ways to Use Passementerie in Your Home

Passementerie is versatile and can be used in a variety of ways to add charm and personality to your space. Here are a few fun ideas to get you started:

 

• Tassels on the Mantel: Drape tassels around the stems of pumpkins during fall or place them along your mantel as an accent during the holidays.
• Tassels as Drawer Pulls: A tassel makes for a charming and unexpected drawer pull, adding a playful yet sophisticated touch to furniture.
• Tassels for Tablecloths: Secure the edges of your tablecloth by adding tassels at the corners to keep it in place and add a bit of flair.
• Tassel Garland: Create a festive garland using tassel fringe to add texture and color to your holiday decor.
• Stocking Accents: Add a colorful tassel to your holiday stockings to give them a little extra personality.
• Cords for Drapes: Tie back your draperies with elegant cords for a polished, classic look that complements both traditional and modern decor.

The Finishing Touches

Passementerie is all about those finishing touches that transform a room from ordinary to extraordinary. Whether you choose to use intricate trims on your pillows, tassels on your mantel, or elegant cords on your drapes, these small details add a sense of thoughtfulness to your home decor.

 

With a few simple, creative ideas, you can embrace the timeless beauty of passementerie and bring warmth, texture, and elegance into your space. So the next time you’re redecorating or adding seasonal accents, consider the power of these ornamental trimmings to give your home that perfect, polished look.

Drapery Pin Settings How-To

At www.InteriorDecorating.com we can help you order custom made draperies and curtains (and lots more). One of the questions on our custom drapery form asks for your pin setting. This is a measurement from the top of the pin to the top of your drapery. Drapery pins can be hooked into a curtain ring or a traverse rod carrier. Although drapery pins can be reset by hand, it is a tedious process that is best done by the professional making your draperies.

Things to Know

Pins can be adjusted - just remember to keep the height the same across the panel. Move the pin down to shorten your draperies and move the pin up to lengthen them.
Typically, there will be one pin per pleat.

Determining Pin Settings

Start by measuring where you want the top of the drape to "hit". With a curtain ring, typically the top of the drape touches the bottom of the ring. With an eyelet, this usually requires a 1/2" pin setting.

For the traverse rod shown, if you want the drape to touch the bottom - typical with ceiling mounted track, it would be 1/2 inch; if you wanted the pleats to cover the rod and reach the top, it would be 1 1/2" inches.

Inserting Drapery Pins

For uniform gathers, space the pins evenly, usually every four to six inches. If your draperies have pleats, insert the pins into the lower backside of each pleat for a crisp appearance.
Insert the pointy end of a drapery pin into the fabric at your marked spot, ensuring it’s secure but not poking through to the room-facing side. Repeat this process until all pins are positioned.

Please note that with our custom-made draperies, the pins are inserted at your specified position in the workroom.

Take a look at Custom Window Treatments Click Here>>  

Is it worth it?

Is your sofa or favorite chair starting to show a little wear and tear? Maybe it's time for a fresh new look! Discover all the things to consider when recovering and reupholstering your beloved furniture. Give it a makeover that will make it look as good as new!

Recover: replace the fabric on the outside

Reupholster: replace both the fabric on the outside and parts on the inside such as webbing, foam cushions, etc

If you've got a trusty piece of furniture that's been by your side for over a decade and is still standing strong, chances are, it has a sturdy frame that's built to last a lifetime. Keep in mind that a good upholsterer can enhance, repair and strengthen your furniture pieces as well.
Check with your upholsterer for yardage requirements. Some shops will allow you to bring your own material - customarily called COM fabric (customer's own material) and some require you to purchase through their shop. This is something you will need to know before beginning your fabric search.

Shop Upholstery Fabrics