When deciding which window treatments to install in your home, the cost may be a significant factor. Custom Roman shades and other styles of soft shades (like London shades, balloon shades, and Austrian shades) tend to be more expensive than other types, like roller shades. Just because they tend to cost more doesn’t mean they’re unattainable. There can be a wide range in price based on the size of the window treatment, trim, fabric, and more.

Today, I’ll share why Roman shades and other soft shades are so expensive and tips for keeping the price down to fit in your budget.

Factors that determine the price

Here are just a few of the elements that dictate the final cost of Roman shades and other soft shades.

Fabric & trim

There are countless fabric options available - from sheer, cotton, linen, or polyester blends to velvet and upholstery fabrics. Some materials just don’t work well as soft shades, but I have the knowledge and experience to recommend appropriate fabrics for your project.

If you’re trying to keep the cost down, you may choose a basic, lightweight cotton fabric because they tend to be less costly than natural linen, silk, velvet, or upholstery fabrics. It’s also important to remember that materials with a design (like a floral or geometric) usually require extra fabric for pattern matching, which can drive up the cost.

double banding on a roman shade — Workroom: R Garner Custom Designs
Designer: Cory Connor Designs

Besides choosing the fabric, you can customize your Roman shades with trim, like a fringe or flat banding at the bottom hem. Banding can also be placed along the side hems or mitered and stitched on both the sides and bottom hem. Adding trim details will add to the overall cost, but a beautiful trim can really enhance the look of your shade and create a truly one-of-a-kind design.

Lining, interlining, & fabrication supplies

Unless you want a sheer, see-through shade, I’ll always sew a lining to the back of the Roman shade to create a finished look and give you more light control. There are several types of lining that can affect the final price of your window treatments.

You can choose a basic cotton lining if you want some light to come through the window treatment. Keep in mind, though, that shadows of any inner ribs and pull strings will show through. Because of this, I typically use blackout lining on the backs of most of the soft shades I make. Blackout lining is a little more expensive than basic lining, but it will protect your nice shade fabric from the sun's harsh ultraviolet (UV) light. UV light will fade and damage your material, so blackout lining is worth the extra expense.

Except for sheer shades, I also add an inner lining (called interlining) to all of my Roman shades. The interlining is flannel and has rib pockets to house thin fiberglass ribs.

Roman shades and other soft shades also have a weight bar, shade rings, and ring locks from Safe-T-Shade. These ring locks prevent dangerous loops from forming in the lift cord.

Style

There are many different types of soft shades, such as flat-style shades like flat-fold Roman shades (also called waterfall shades). There are also relaxed Roman shades and hobbled Roman shades, which still have folds when lowered. Other soft shades, like balloon shades, London shades, and Austrian shades, have more fullness.

Some of these styles are more expensive than others because they’re more labor-intensive and require more material. For example, the fuller shades need more fabric and lining.

Operating mechanism

I use some type of headrail system for all of the operational shades I fabricate, whether the shade is manually operated (with a bead chain lift or spring lift) or motorized.

backside of shade showing coulise spring lift system — Credit: Workroom Tech (student project)
Details: Coulise spring lift system & Safe-T-Shade cord locks

Manual soft shades

Manual shades that use a bead chain lift are operated by pulling a continuous loop bead chain. This turns drums inside the headrail, which lifts the cords of the shade (much like blind headrails that you may be familiar with). The bead chain can be made of basic plastic in white, off-white, grey, or black. Or, you can upgrade to a metal finish, like nickel, brass, antique brass, copper, or stainless steel (which doesn’t rust).

You may also choose a spring lift. A spring lift headrail has an aluminum roller tube with clips to which the shade cords are attached. There’s a spring on one of the tube, which can be wound to the desired tightness. It can easily be adjusted with a tension wheel by the installer or even after installation by the homeowner. Shades with these cordless spring lifts are a little more expensive than ones with a bead chain lift.

woman uses a remote control to operate her window treatments — Credit: Somfy

Motorized shades

Motorized shades operated with a remote control are naturally more expensive than manual shades. But if it’s within your budget, I highly recommend choosing them. If your windows are hard to reach, motorization is truly the best option. Motorization offers a lot of conveniences, even for easy-to-reach windows.

I am a certified Somfy motorization expert, so I can help you decide which motorization hardware is best for your project.

For example, Somfy offers a TaHoma hub, which can integrate all your shades, draperies, and even outdoor shades or awnings so you can operate them through an app on your smartphone from anywhere. You can also set a schedule to automatically open and close your soft shades.

The Tahoma hub allows you to group your shades so they operate together. Additionally, you can add solar sensors to your windows. These let you program the soft shades to raise and lower at the times when the sun tends to shine straight into the room.

Stationary soft shades

You may also choose a stationary shade. Stationary shades will give you the look of a soft shade but are not functional. These are a little less expensive because they require less fabric and materials and don’t need an operating headrail. They can be installed over roller shades, blinds, or plantation shutters if you need to add privacy.

pattern matching on a pair of roman shades

Labor

Roman shades are meticulously crafted and require a tremendous amount of time, skill, and attention to detail to ensure the finished product is excellent.

For instance, I take great care to ensure the fabric design placement is considered before fabricating the shades. For all shade styles, I make sure the folds fall at the same point in the fabric pattern or give a pleasing design. For fuller shade styles, like balloon or London shades, I make sure any fabric design motif is placed in separate sections to allow for a beautiful design when installed.

My preferred fabrication method is to place hidden ribs in the folds to give crisp, straight folds when the shade is raised. I also add an interlining with rib pockets and thin fiberglass ribs between the face fabric and lining. This inner layer with the fiberglass ribs is hand-tacked to the face fabric with matching thread. Then, I hand-stitch the cord rings through the lining and interlining just behind the ribs. By only stitching the cord rings behind the ribs, I can eliminate pinholes that allow light to shine through the shade when installed in the window.
I hand-stitch all the side and bottom hems on all the shades I fabricate. I also stitch on all the rings by hand and usually cut and assemble the headrails myself. This is time-consuming and requires a great deal of skill, but it ensures that the final product is something you’re proud to own.

Are custom soft shades worth the price?

Yes, custom soft shades are typically worth the price. Ready-made shades come in limited sizes, fabrics, patterns, and trim. Because they are mass-produced, they also often have issues you may not notice until you install them.

On the other hand, custom-made shades are fabricated to fulfill your exact needs and tastes. They’re made to your windows’ precise measurements, so the final product will fit your window perfectly, even if it’s an odd size.
Although expensive, custom soft shades are an excellent investment and can be a stunning design element in any room. I understand that everyone is on a budget, and I take that into consideration when fabricating all of your window treatments. If you’re ready to add soft shades to your home or next interior design project, contact me today!

Why are Roman shades and other soft shades so expensive?