Roman blinds or curtains: when roman blinds are the better choice

Roman blinds are the more practical choice in small rooms (under 15 m²), above radiators and where furniture stands under the window: raised, they take only 20–30 cm above the window and leave the warm air from the radiator free to rise. Curtains stay ahead where sound absorption matters, where full draping is wanted, or on the widest picture windows. Three things decide it: the size of the room, the position of the window and how much light control you want.

When are roman blinds more practical than curtains?

A raised roman blind takes only 20–30 cm above the window. It needs no room at the sides and leaves the wall uncovered, so a small room does not look crowded. In a room under 15 m², a roman blind is almost always more practical and neater than curtains.

Recess windows are another case where roman blinds win outright. They are fitted inside the recess or on its edge, neatly and with no extra elements. A traditional track with curtains often looks wrong in such a spot, or simply does not fit the width of the recess. In a minimalist interior a roman blind keeps the lines flat and clean, without draping that makes a room look heavy.

Roman blinds above a radiator: what to know

Above a radiator, choose a roman blind. Long curtains hold back the warm air rising from the radiator and make the heating less efficient: a curtain hanging to the floor, or even to the sill, makes a pocket in which heat collects between the fabric and the window. A roman blind raised to sill level does not have this problem.

A lowered roman blind must not touch the radiator: leave at least 5–10 cm between them. If the recess is shallow, fix the blind on the edge of the recess rather than inside it, so that the fabric hangs freely and does not touch the radiator. Choose the length so that, lowered, the blind ends at least 5–10 cm above the top of the radiator.

Furniture under the window

Here the advantage of a roman blind is clearest. When a desk, a bed or a bench stands under the window, long curtains lie on the furniture and have to be pulled aside or tied back every day. A raised roman blind clears the sill and the furniture, and the desk stays free to use.

Where the gap between the sill and the top of the furniture is under 20 cm, a roman blind is almost always the more practical option. With the bed directly under a bedroom window, a roman blind with a blackout lining stays clear of the bed and darkens the room fully at night.

Standard lining or blackout?

The lining decides the light control, how the fabric falls, the weight of the blind and its look. Light, see-through fabrics (voile, net sheer) suit a kitchen or living room: they let light through and give privacy by day. A standard lining suits a living room, dining room or study, where you want a little more privacy. A blackout lining is the standard for bedrooms and children's rooms, and blocks practically all the light.

What is the stack height of a roman blind, and why does it matter?

Stack height is the height that a raised roman blind takes up above the window. The folds of a raised blind take 20–30 cm, but the exact figure depends on the thickness of the fabric, the model and the type of mechanism. In low recesses it is a critical factor: if the recess is 120 cm high and the stack height is 25 cm, the raised blind will cover almost a fifth of the glass. On windows that open inwards, the raised blind must not stop the window opening.

The drawing shows three types of fold. A classic roman blind lies flat when lowered, and when raised it folds into a stack at the bottom: when it is fully raised, that stack is the stack height. The cascade and the Austrian blind are shown for comparison; this guide and the roman blind prices refer to classic roman blinds.

What to check before ordering:

1. 1Measure the height of the recess and work out how much glass stays open when the blind is raised (subtract 20–30 cm from the top).
2. 2Check whether the window opens inwards. If it does, the mechanism has to be fitted high enough.
3. 3Discuss the type of fabric: a blackout lining adds to the stack height, so in low recesses a lighter fabric is better.
4. 4If the recess is shallow, fit the blind on the edge of the recess, so that the height of the recess does not limit the stack height.

When are curtains the better choice than roman blinds?

Curtains have their own clear uses. Thicker fabrics absorb sound and reduce echo, which matters most in large living rooms with hard floors. On picture windows 3–4 m wide, draped curtains give an effect a roman blind cannot repeat. In classic, art deco or French-style interiors, a full fall and a pleated heading are part of the look.

Frequently asked questions

What length of roman blind should I choose when there is a radiator under the window?

Choose the length so that the lowered blind does not reach the surface of the radiator: you need a gap of at least 5–10 cm between the fabric and the heater. Measure the distance from the fixing point to the top of the radiator and subtract the safe gap; that is the maximum length of the blind. This keeps warm air circulating and protects the fabric from overheating.

Do roman blinds suit small rooms and recess windows?

Yes. Raised, they take only 20–30 cm above the window and, unlike curtains, need no room at the sides, so a small room does not look crowded. They suit recess windows particularly well: they are fitted inside the recess or on its edge, with no extra parts in view.

How do I measure the window for a roman blind when furniture stands under it?

First measure the distance from the sill to the top of the furniture. If it is less than 20 cm, a roman blind is almost always the more functional choice. Measure the width of the blind to the window opening or the recess, and the drop from the fixing point to the sill or the top of the furniture. Raised roman blinds do not get in the way of the sill or of furniture under the window.

When should I choose roman blinds rather than curtains?

Choose roman blinds when there is a radiator, a piece of furniture or another object under the window, when the room is small or when the window is in a recess. Curtains stay ahead where full draping, better sound absorption or the widest picture windows are wanted. Roman blinds also suit minimalist and contemporary interiors, where a clean, uncluttered look matters.

What do roman blinds cost, and how does that compare with curtains?

Making a roman blind costs €32 per m² (one layer) or €64 per m² (day and night), and the price of the mechanism depends on the width. Roman blind fabrics per metre: voile from €9.50, net sheer from €12, blackout lining from €11. Curtain fabrics cost €9.50–16.50 per metre for sheers and €11–43 per metre for lined fabrics, and making €8 per metre for sheers and €13 per metre for lined curtains. A roman blind may cost a little more to begin with; the space it saves and its years of use often make up the difference.

What do sheer and lined curtains cost?

Sheer curtain fabrics cost €9.50–16.50 per metre, lined ones €11–43 per metre, and making €8 per metre for sheers and €13 per metre for lined curtains. A roman blind in a see-through fabric (voile from €9.50 per metre, net sheer from €12) does a similar job to sheer curtains, but takes less room. A roman blind with a blackout lining (from €11 per metre) is an alternative to lined curtains in a bedroom or child's room.

Can roman blinds be hung above a radiator?

Yes, and there it does better than curtains. Long curtains above a radiator trap the rising warm air and make the heating less efficient; a roman blind does not. The lowered blind must not touch the radiator: leave a gap of at least 5–10 cm between the fabric and the heater.

What is the stack height of a roman blind, and why does it matter?

A raised roman blind takes 20–30 cm above the window, and this is called the stack height. The figure decides how much of the top of the glass stays covered when the blind is fully raised, so it matters most in low recesses and on windows that open inwards. A blackout lining adds a further 3–5 cm to the stack height compared with a light fabric, and that has to be allowed for before ordering.

Which lining should I choose for a roman blind, standard or blackout?

It depends on the room. A standard lining suits a living room, dining room and study, and a blackout lining suits a bedroom and a child's room, where full darkening is needed. See-through fabrics (voile from €9.50 per metre, net sheer from €12) suit a kitchen and living room, where natural light by day matters. A blackout lining adds a little to the weight and the stack height of the blind, so in low recesses a lighter fabric is better.

Do roman blinds suit windows that open inwards?

They do, but the stack height has to be worked out with care: the raised blind must not stop the window opening. Fixing on the edge of the recess (rather than inside it) usually solves the problem, because the mechanism then stays out of the path of the opening window. Before ordering, go through it with the designer and measure exactly how much room the window's opening mechanism needs.

How do roman blinds differ from roller blinds?

A roman blind folds into flat horizontal pleats when it is raised, where a roller blind winds onto a tube. So roman blinds look more refined and are closer to traditional curtains, while keeping the advantage of being compact. Roller blinds are often cheaper and better suited to an office, and roman blinds to a home interior, where appearance matters.

Do roman blinds suit a child's room?

Yes. A roman blind with a blackout lining darkens a room fully for daytime sleep, and it has no long length of fabric for a child to hang on to. Choose a blind with a chain safety device or a cordless control, so that the mechanism is safe for small children.

How do I care for roman blinds so that they last longer?

Dust them regularly with a soft brush, or with a vacuum cleaner with a soft attachment, so that dust does not build up in the fabric. Light see-through fabrics (voile, net sheer) can usually be washed by hand or in a machine on a gentle cycle, while roman blinds with a blackout lining are only dry-cleaned. The mechanism lasts longest when it is used correctly: raise and lower the blind evenly, without sudden movements.

Where can I buy roman blinds in Lithuania?

Roman blinds are sold in textile and interior shops, and online with delivery and fitting. When choosing a supplier, check whether a measuring and fitting service at home is offered; this matters most for recess windows and for awkward cases with a radiator or furniture under the window. We help you avoid the commonest mistakes, from wrong measuring to the wrong lining.

Roman blinds, curtains and roller blinds: a quick comparison

What do roman blinds cost in 2026?

Roman blinds cost from about €200 per window, with fabric, mechanism and making. The price of a day and night roman blind by window size is in the price table on the roman blinds page, along with the prices of motorised roman blinds. You can find the exact price for your window with the price calculator, or after measuring.