I Replaced My IKEA Curtains with These Stylish Roman Shades, and They’re Worth Every Penny

I’ve lived in the same prewar apartment for 4.5 years, but if you came over you might think I just moved in 4.5 months ago. I’m a huge proponent of slow decorating, but that — combined with my crippling indecision and general furniture/decor pickiness — has essentially rendered me useless in terms of, well, actually decorating at all. It’s also an expensive process, OK?  

But I’m pleased to report that, starting last fall, I made substantial progress in my bedroom. I ordered a new bed and painted the whole space from a bright white to light blue. Next, I wanted to switch up my window treatments and replace my IKEA curtains with simple white Roman shades. I’m fortunate enough to have not one but three pretty windows in my bedroom; the only problem is that they’re taller than most at 72 inches. 

After struggling to find ready-to-ship shades longer than 64 inches, I sadly realized I had to go the custom route. I do see myself staying in my apartment long term, so splurging felt somewhat justified. But I needed something that looked nice (I’m a design editor, after all!) without totally breaking the bank. Once I entered my dimensions and criteria — blackout lining, inside mount, etc. — to compare pricing across nine different brands, though, I couldn’t believe that some cost $1,000 plus for a single panel (and keep in mind I needed three!). 

I ordered fabric samples from a few more “affordable” retailers, but even those felt risky since it’s still hard to gauge the overall style and quality, and custom Roman shades are nonreturnable. I tried to crowdsource options that other people already owned and could vouch for — especially before dropping hundreds of dollars — and a PR friend eventually came to my rescue with a recommendation from her apartment: Etsy’s relaxed Roman shades.

I’d already had a few custom Etsy shades waiting in my cart, and I’ll admit that these are still a big investment. I felt confident taking the plunge on this style, though, since they earned at least one person’s stamp of approval. I opted for a simple all-white, linen-blend design, but I love that this Etsy seller (SHIessentials) also offers the ability to add a trim color for extra personalization that looks undeniably chic. 

Once I placed my order, all three shades arrived about six weeks later and actually surpassed my expectations. These come unlined, or with a white or blackout lining at slightly higher price points. I went for the last of the three options, and it works — so much so that I have to turn the lights on every morning before opening the shades because my room stays that dark. 

I also hired someone from TaskRabbit to install them, which took mere minutes and included all the necessary hardware — even small plastic attachments designed to hold the cord in place and keep it taut against the window. This component is optional and probably best suited for inside-mount styles, but I find it makes each of the cords much less noticeable overall and stops them from flinging around whenever I open or close the shades. 

Above all, I just think that these Roman shades look great. I love the relaxed style when they’re drawn up, which I can position at any length, but they’re also surprisingly pretty when fully lowered, too. Thanks to the blackout lining, they make me feel like I’m sleeping in a high-end boutique hotel somewhere far, far away. 

Plus, the shades expose the stunning molding around my recessed windows — one of the main reasons I wanted to ditch my former curtains — while making the room feel much more open. And, looking ahead to summer, I know the panel by my bed won’t block my AC unit at night. 

Because of my window dimensions and customizations, three of these relaxed Roman shades set me back about $800 total (…I know). But before you put me on blast, hear me out: I shopped around a lot, and this actually feels comparable (if not more affordable) to designs from more budget-friendly blinds brands that admittedly looked a little cheap. 

If you have to resort to made-to-order shades for a set of windows in your own home — whether in the bedroom, living room, or even bathroom — I promise this high-quality, easy-to-install, and high-end-looking option is worth every penny. You can buy fabric swatches in a handful of colors before you order, and even consider playing up any room’s palette with a fun trim. 

Buy: Etsy Relaxed Roman Shades, $99+