How to measure for roman shades
In the case of tight-fitted treatments like roman shades, precision fuels the ride to perfection. A shade more or a stitch less can make every penny and effort go waste. So accuracy is key — though we realize that measuring can feel like wrestling with a mischievous measuring tape.
But fear not; with a little care and attention — and the support of this guide — you’ll have those measurements dialed in, in no time. So, once you’ve decided the mounting position of your shades, go ahead — measure with confidence — and let your windows make a statement that’s both precise and personal!
HOMESEWN WISDOM TO GET YOU STARTED
- USE STEEL TAPE: When you want your measurements to be spot-on, reach for a steel tape measure. Fabric and plastic ones tend to stretch over time, and we all know that’s a recipe for wonky specs.
- MEASURE MULTIPLE WINDOWS INDIVIDUALLY: Many windows - even when they ‘seem’ identical - can vary just enough in sizes to make a difference. So, look past these tricksters with their sizing quirks - and measure each window individually when placing your order for multiple windows.
- PICK A SIDE - INSIDE OR OUTSIDE: Before your tape measure gets its big moment, make the call — do you want to install your roman shades inside the window recess or outside the frame? It's a small choice that makes a big difference in how you measure for your custom roman shades. Still on the fence? Our blog on Inside vs Outside Mount Roman Shades will rest your doubts.
- EXPECT SEAMS: Fabric bolts typically measure 54 inches wide, so for most roman shades exceeding 48 inches in width, vertical seams might come into play. But don’t worry — these hems are adeptly handled by our tailors to be as discreet as possible. For more details on joins and hems for pattern matching in extra-wide roman shades, please refer to our blog on ‘Joins & Seams in Custom Window Treatments’.
Mount Type
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How To Measure Length
Start by measuring only the interior height of the window recess — leaving out the frame or trim.
Measure from the topmost edge of the recess to the bottom at three points: the left, middle and right. The tallest measurement of the three positions is the one to use to specify the finished length of your custom roman shade from us.
Measuring at three different points is advised because even if it is not immediately noticeable, the recess may have slight unevenness, and this ensures that the dimensions you provide will yield the best possible look for your recess. Better safe than sorry, right?
As advised above, many windows — even when they ‘seem’ identical — can in fact vary just enough in sizes to make a difference — especially in case of inside-mounted shades that should fit snugly and precisely inside the recess. So, measure each window individually when placing your order for multiple windows.
And remember, we treat your length measurements as gospel. We do not alter, adjust, or modify your specified numbers. So your roman shades will be sewn with the exact length that you specify in your order.
HOMESEWN WISDOM: For roman shades with ‘hanging’ trims — such as tassels and fringes — the length you specify for your roman shade will include the drop length of the trim. For instance, if your roman shade is specified to be sewn with 40 inches length and your chosen tassel trim is 2 inches (as will be noted in the trim description), the fabric portion of your roman shade will be 38 inches long with 2 inches reserved for the trim, making the finished length of your roman shade 40 inches.
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How To Measure Width
To arrive at an accurate width measurement, measure the horizontal span of the window recess (or the inside of the window frame) at three points from left to right: first on top, then the center, and finally the bottom. The narrowest of these three measures is the one to use to specify the width for your roman shades order with us.
HOMESEWN WISDOM: We treat your length specifications like sacred numbers and do not make any tweaks there. But in the case of width, we follow the standard industry practice of deducting 10 mm from your specified width figure for inside mounted shades. This is to ensure that the shade will safely fit inside the frame, and the fabric will not rub against any surface, causing it to fray over time. Since our tailors make this deduction, please refrain from making this adjustment yourself, as it could result in too much gap at the sides, resulting in excess light leakage.
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How To Mount
Mounting the roman shades from Sewn is a breeze! Our roman shades come ready to install with all the necessary hardware. All you need to do is follow the simple steps in our Roman Shades Installation Guide, supported by handy illustrations and videos.
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How To Measure Length
Start by measuring your window height, trim to trim, including the window frame. To this figure, we recommend adding a few extra inches on either end, and that number should be used to specify the finished length of your outside-mount roman shade from us.
For example, if your window height measures 30 inches, you may like your roman shades to be 36 inches long. Why? For two key reasons:
- Blocks Light Leaks: Those extra inches in your measurements act like little guardians, preventing light from sneaking in at the edges. By extending the roman shades generously beyond the window trim, you allow the shades to cover the windows fully, minimizing light bleeds from the edges. This is especially recommended when shopping for blackout roman shades for bedrooms where room darkening is often a key priority.
- Visually Elongates Windows: When roman shades extend beyond the window trim, they give the illusion that the window reaches further than it actually does. The added length creates an illusion of extra height, making the window seem taller. When you are dressing short windows, this is a neat trick to compensate for their Lilliputian dimensions.
Of course, there is no hard-and-fast rule when it comes to deciding the exact inches to add to the length of your roman shades. If you’re dressing up a sunlit kitchen or breakfast nook where light leaks aren’t deal-breakers, feel free to skip the extras and keep it sleek with just the frame measurement. Or extend generously if you’re dressing a bedroom and would like to minimise light leaks. Similarly, depending on the size of the window, you may decide if extending to create an illusion of height is desirable or not. After all, your space, your style!
For windows with a projecting sill, it’s wise to have your roman shades stop flush with the sill’s edge. Letting them extend below can cause functional frustrations. By ending at the sill, your roman shades will operate smoothly and look tailored to perfection!
If you’re dressing multiple windows of very similar vertical dimensions on the same wall, and planning to mount your shades outside the window frame, opt for the longest measurement among the windows. This will ensure that all your roman shades will have fold/slat lines sewn at equal gaps, thereby creating uniform, visual lines. Shades of the same drop length will also mask any minor differences in the actual widow sizes.
Please note that we treat your length measurements as gospel. We do not alter, adjust, or modify your specified numbers. So your roman shades will be sewn with the exact length that you specify in your order.
HOMESEWN WISDOM: For roman shades with ‘hanging’ trims - such as tassels and fringes - the length you specify for your roman shade will include the drop length of the trim. For instance, if your roman shade is specified to be sewn with 40 inches length and your chosen tassel trim is 2 inches (as will be noted in the trim description), the fabric portion of your roman shade will be 38 inches long with 2 inches reserved for the trim, making the finished length of your roman shade 40 inches.
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How To Measure Width
Start by measuring your window width, trim to trim, including the window frame.Then, just as with length, we recommend adding a few extra inches on either end, and that number should be used to specify the finished width of your outside-mount roman shade from us.
For example, if your window width measures 30 inches, you may like your roman shades to be 36 inches width, for reasons noted above to extend length.
This extension is not a hard-and-fast rule and how much you extend your roman shades is also entirely up to your own discretion. When you’re dressing the windows of a sunroom, living room, kitchen, or any space where light leakage is not a deal breaker, you may skip the math entirely. However, in bedrooms or nurseries, where stray light is not welcome, you can choose to extend generously on all sides. Similarly, you have the creative license to decide if you’d like to extend them to widen your windows visually. After all, your space, your style!
HOMESEWN WISDOM: For outside-mounted shades, give us the exact width you want your shade to cover. No need to add wiggle room — we won’t be making any deductions. Your shade will be stitched to the precise measurements you send in.
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How To Mount
Mounting the roman shades from Sewn is a breeze! Our roman shades come ready to install with all the necessary hardware. All you need to do is follow the simple steps in our Roman Shades Installation Guide, supported by handy illustrations and videos.