| If you really want to add some classical style to your | | | | bespoke blind. But increasing numbers of people are |
| home, I cannot recommend Roman Blinds highly | | | | beginning to make their own DIY Roman blinds at |
| enough. These are the kind of blinds that are made of | | | | home. |
| a single piece of material that is rolled into pleats. | | | | How you go about this really depends on your level of |
| Roman blinds were first invented in (can you guess | | | | DIY skill. If you're up for a real challenge, you can make |
| from the name) ancient Rome. Or at least, that's what | | | | them from scratch, by buying your material (both for |
| the myth is. In reality, they were probably invented | | | | the blind and a separate lining), cutting all the material to |
| somewhere in the Mediterranean (where they are still | | | | size and then attaching it to a dowel before hanging it |
| hugely popular, by the way), and were later | | | | in your window. For the less adventurous, or less |
| popularized by the Romans. They were then brought | | | | skilled, though, the option of buying a DIY Roman Blind |
| back into the world of Western windows by the | | | | kit exists. Basically, you get a box filled with all the |
| Victorians, who loved their neo-classical decorations. | | | | materials you will need to construct your blinds - all you |
| The real beauty of roman blinds is that you can really | | | | really need to do is provide the screwdrivers, scissors, |
| make them out of whatever you want. Thick material | | | | etc, then put it all together and hang it in your window |
| or thin material, they'll all work as Roman blinds. And | | | | frame. |
| you can also make them out of just about any kind of | | | | Roman blinds, by the way, aren't just a great option for |
| fabric, from finely spun silk to less impressive, but more | | | | house windows. They are also a great choice for |
| durable, plastic. Linen and cotton are the most popular | | | | covering conservatories, which have great swathes of |
| materials that people make these blinds from today, | | | | glass, just begging to be covered. If you want to cover |
| although paper based blinds are also becoming more | | | | a whole conservatory or sun room however, please |
| and more popular. | | | | make sure that you get some reasonably high quality |
| Obviously, you can buy roman blinds ready made and | | | | reflective blinds and use these to back your roman |
| ready to hang. Either as a standard, off the shelf | | | | blinds, as this will do a great deal to keep out the |
| model or, if you're feeling more flush with cash, as a | | | | sunlight, and to keep you cool. |