Are you shopping for window shades online and wondering whether you should buy Roman shades or roller shades? Honestly speaking, they look quite similar in the photos; they pronounce literally the same. And they both cover windows, both come in tons of colors and patterns, and both seem to be a choice for the house. But down to earth, what are their differences? And what kinds of houses do they each suit for?
Let's get started with the basics.
Roman Shades vs. Roller Shades: The Basic Difference
Roman shades go up vertically but fold horizontally.
Pull the cord and the fabric bunches into horizontal folds, stacking on top of each other. Even when the shade's hanging down, you can see faint lines showing where it'll fold.
Roller shades, on the other hand, roll vertically around a tube at the top.
Roller shades fabric wraps around a tube at the top of your window. When you pull it up, it just disappears into that tube. There are no folds, and no pleats, weather the fabric is covering your window or not.
How do They Look and Feel?
Roman Shades: Texture and Warmth
Roman Shades folds catch light throughout the day. Light hits one side of a fold, the other side stays in shadow. This creates depth that changes as the sun moves, making a room feel warmer and less flat.
And if your room is full of hard surfaces like wood floors, leather couch, or metal lamps, Roman shades can break that up and add that unique softness without looking fussy, fitting naturally in traditional spaces.
In modern rooms, they keep things from feeling too cold or empty.
But here's the tradeoff: when you raise a roman shade, all that fabric has to go somewhere. It bunches up at the top, taking 6 to 10 inches of space. Some people like how this frames the window. But others think it looks bulky, especially on smaller windows where that stack blocks part of your view.
Roller Shades: Clean Lines and Space
Roller shades are just flat fabric when they're down, smooth and simple. When you raise them, the fabric wraps tight around that top tube, ending up as a 2-3 inch roll you barely notice.
If your place is modern or you like things minimal, roller shades fit just right in. There will be no texture competing with your furniture, just clean, simple lines that don't demand attention.
Plus, if you've got a great view outside, roller shades keep it wide open, never eating up any of your window space.
Light Blocking: Roller Shades Win
Both types can use blackout fabric. But here's where structure matters more than material.
Roman shades have a fundamental flaw: When the shade is down, the fabric folds on top of itself. Where one fold meets another, the layers can't lie perfectly flat against each other—there's always a tiny gap. Even with thick blackout fabric, pinpricks of light can sneak through these spots.
Most people sleep fine with this. But if you work nights and need to sleep during the day, or you've got a baby who wakes at the slightest light, those gaps will drive you crazy.
Roller shades solve this problem completely. The fabric sits flat against your window. No folds means no gaps between layers. Add side tracks and you block almost all light. Way better for bedrooms where you really need total darkness.
Privacy: Depends on Your Fabric Choice
With thick fabric, both give you privacy when closed. The real difference shows up with sheer or light-filtering fabric.
Roman shades with sheer fabric: Better privacy.
All those folds stack up and create multiple layers between you and the outside. Light passes through, but someone walking by sees layers of textured fabric, not what you're doing inside.
Roller shades with sheer fabric: More see-through.
Just one flat layer of fabric hanging there. Fine if you want natural light with some privacy during the day. But at night when your lights are on, people outside can see way more than during the day.
Daily Use: Roller Shades Win
Roller shades are dead simple. Pull down, pull up, done. The fabric just wraps around that tube. Simple mechanism with few moving parts, so it rarely breaks.
Roman shades need more care. Inside the shade, cords run through rings or loops sewn into the back. These cords create those even folds. Pull the main cord crooked and those internal cords get tangled up in the rings. Yank too hard and you might pull a cord out of its channel.
They're not delicate exactly, but you need a lighter touch. Once you figure out how to pull straight and smooth, they work fine.
Cleaning: Roller Shades Win
The core difference is structure.
Roller shades hang completely flat. No folds, no creases, nowhere for dust to hide. It just sits on the surface where you can see it. Wipe it with a damp cloth and you're done in two minutes.
Roman shades have all those horizontal folds that create pockets. Dust falls into these pockets and settles there. You can't just wipe the surface because the dust is hiding inside each fold. You need to pull out the vacuum, use the brush attachment, and work it into every single fold to actually get the dust out. Takes way more time and effort.
And here's the kicker: you can never wash Roman shades in a washing machine. Roman shades have cords running through the back that control how the fabric folds up. The cords thread through rings or loops in a specific pattern. Toss them in water and those cords get tangled or shift out of their channels. Your shade comes out either broken or folding all weird and uneven.
Fabric Choices: Roller Shades Win
Roman shades have strict material requirements. The fabric needs to fold smoothly every single time you raise the shade. If the material is too heavy or too stiff, it won't bend properly. It bunches up in weird clumps or makes a thick, awkward stack at the top instead of neat, even folds. That's why roman shades only work with soft, bendy fabrics like cotton, linen, or soft polyester.
Roller shades have no such limitations. The fabric just wraps around a tube—it doesn't need to fold or bend repeatedly in the same spots. Stiff fabrics actually work better here because they roll smoothly and hang perfectly flat without getting ripply or wavy. You can use light sheer fabrics, heavy blackout material, bamboo, or even waterproof vinyl. Whatever you need for whatever room.
Durability: Roller Shades Win
The simpler design wins over time. Roller shades have fewer parts that can break. The fabric doesn't fold, so there are no weak spots from repeated creasing. The mechanism is just a spring or a simple motor. Lasts longer, especially for windows you use every day.
Roman shades wear down in predictable ways. Those cords inside control the folding. Use the shade daily and those cords rub against the rings with every pull. Over time, they fray or stretch out. Plus, the fabric folds in exactly the same spots every single time—day after day, month after month. Eventually, those creases start to show wear. The fabric gets thin there or even tears along the fold lines.
Installation: Roller Shades Win (Slightly)
Both are DIY-friendly with a basic drill, but roller shades are simpler.
Roller shades: Mount two brackets at the top of your window, and click the roller tube into place. Maybe 20 minutes, tops. Hard to mess up.
Roman shades: A few more parts—the headrail, the cord mechanism, and sometimes separate mounting brackets. The instructions walk you through each step clearly. Just takes a bit longer to get everything lined up right.
Wide Windows: Roller Shades Win
Wide roman shades have a weight distribution problem. Very wide shades have a lot of fabric and a lot of weight spread across that width. When you pull the cord, the mechanism has to lift all that weight evenly. Often, one side of the shade lifts faster than the other because the weight isn't perfectly balanced or the cords don't pull at exactly the same rate. Makes the whole shade look crooked and sloppy.
Roller shades eliminate this issue entirely. The fabric wraps around a single tube that runs the entire width of the window. When you pull, that tube rotates and the mechanism pulls evenly across the whole width automatically. Always rolls up straight and smooth, no matter how wide your window is.
Custom Sizing Matters for Both
Both work better when made for your exact windows, but for different reasons.
Roman shades need precise proportions. Standard sizes can give you uneven folds—one fold at 8 inches, the next at 6 inches. This looks awkward and throws off the whole appearance.
Roller shades need exact width. Store-bought sizes are usually narrower than your window frame, leaving gaps on the sides. Light leaks through these gaps, which defeats the purpose if you're trying to block the sun or maintain privacy.
That's why you need customized roman or roller shades.
Joydeco makes both types in custom sizes. You measure your windows, we build shades that fit exactly. No light gaps, no uneven folds, no awkward lengths. It costs more than off-the-shelf options, but still super affordable and looks beautiful.
Your shades will fit properly and look finished.
Quick Comparison
| Roman Shades | Roller Shades | |
| Look | Textured, soft | Flat, clean |
| When raised | 6-10 inch stack | 2-3 inch roll |
| Style | Traditional, cozy | Modern, minimal |
| Light blocking | Good (small gaps) | Better (flat seal) |
| Cleaning | Takes time | Easy wipe |
| Daily use | Needs care | Simple |
| Durability | Wears over time | Lasts longer |
| Fabrics | Soft only | Wide range |
| Wide windows | Lifts unevenly | Always straight |
Which One Should You Choose?
Choose Roller Shades If You:
Have kids: Kids can be naughty and rough on everything. Sometime they sceam and yank shades up and down hard just for fun. If you want window shades that can handle the abuse, that's roller shades. Because Roman shade cords can tangle easily when pulled wrong. And kids, will definitely pull them wrong.
*Important safety note: If you have young children in your home, no matter which shades you choose, do the cordless version—dangling cords can wrap around the neck and pose huge risks!
- Have Wide Windows: The single roller tube lifts the fabric evenly across the entire width, making sure the shade always goes up straight, even on the largest windows.
- Want Low Maintenance: The roller shades fabric hangs perfectly flat, so dust sits only on the surface. Do a quick wipe with a damp cloth, and that's all they need.
- Like Modern or Minimal Style: The smooth, simple profile blends into the window frame. No visual weight of fabric folds that might clash with a clean aesthetic.
- Need More Fabric Options: Roller shades can be made from almost any material from heavy blackout vinyl to solar screens or waterproof fabrics, because the material only needs to roll, not fold.
- Need Total Darkness: Roller shades provide a flatter seal against the window, blocking out more light than Roman shades for pitch-black bedrooms. Suitable if you have a night shift worker or baby who needs a quality day sleep in your home.
Choose Roman Shades If You:
- Want a room that feels warmer: The folds add softness and make spaces with hard floors and furniture feel cozier and more lived-in.
- Have traditional or cozy decor: Roman shades match farmhouse and classic styles naturally. Roller shades look too modern for these spaces.
- Want natural light with privacy: Sheer roman shades let light in but keep people from seeing inside. Better than roller shades, which are more see-through.
Or... Mix Both
In real homes, many people choose to use both types of shades in different rooms.
Roman shades go in the living room and main bedroom—spaces where appearance matters and you want things to feel finished and intentional.
Roller shades, on the other hand, go in kids' rooms, kitchens, bathrooms, and home offices—spaces where practicality is more important than aesthetics.
You can consider how you actually use each room and choose what makes sense for the specific spaces.
The Quick Choosing Chart
| Choose | Your Situation |
| Roller Shades | You have kids or wide windows |
| You want low maintenance and simple operation | |
| You like modern/minimal style | |
| You need specific fabrics or total darkness | |
| Roman Shades | Your like a warm feeling or has traditional decor |
| You want natural light with privacy | |
| You don't need complete darkness | |
| Mix Both | Different needs in different rooms |
The Bottom Line
Roller shades win on practicality. They block more light, last longer, clean easier, work with more fabrics, and rarely break.
Roman shades win on atmosphere. They add warmth and texture that roller shades can't match.
If you need shades for a bedroom where you sleep during the day, a kid's room, kitchen, or bathroom, roller shades are the better choice.
If you want your living room or main bedroom to feel warmer and more finished, choose roman shades for atmosphere.
Or use both. Roman shades where looks matter. Roller shades where function matters.
Joydeco makes both in custom sizes with all kinds of fabric options. You get shades made to your exact measurements, shipped ready to install with clear instructions. Check out Joydeco collection and see what actually works for your windows!
4 FAQs about Roman vs. Roller Shades
Q1: Can I put up Roman and roller shades by myself?
Yes, you can easily use a basic drill to put them both in yourself. It only takes twenty minutes to hang a roller shade. All you have to do is put up two hooks and click the shade into place. There are a few more parts to Roman shades, but the instructions make it easy to follow each step.
Q2: What kind of shades are best for a kid's room?
For a child's room, choose cordless shades. They don't have any dangerous cords hanging down, so you don't have to worry. They can also handle rough pulls and withstand rough play better. They do a great job of blocking light, which makes them great for naps.
Q3: How do Roman and roller shades work on windows that are really big?
If you have a big window, choose roller shades. A lot of the time, Roman shades that are very wide lift unevenly, making them look crooked. Your roller shades will always roll up straight and smooth, no matter what size they are.
Q4: Which lasts longer, a Roman shade or a roller shade?
Most of the time, roller shades last longer. Because they are simple, they have fewer parts that can break. The cords on a Roman shade cause the fabric to fold in the same places every day. These folds may wear out over time. A roller shade will last longer on any window that you use a lot.
