Back in 2012, when I finished my house renovation and moved in (finally), one of the decisions I was pondering back then was what kind of blinds or shades to put on my windows for privacy and sun control. It wasn’t a hard choice for me, because I fell in love with bamboo Roman shades and knew that the texture and color would enhance my casual, but traditional style home.
Back 30 years ago when I moved in my very first house, there were limited choices on shades and blinds. We all remember the dreaded mini-blinds, don’t we? That is exactly what I put in my first house, but thankfully the choices have broadened significantly since then.
The next trend that came along was white wooden blinds, the 2 inch variety that was so popular for many years. Those were in my last house in Birmingham and were super popular in the 1990’s.
But, there are lots of choice to make when it comes to window coverings, so let’s talk about a few of those today. Now, there are cellular shades, roller shades, Roman blinds, bamboo Roman blinds, to name a few.












So, what are your favorite ways to dress windows? Do you love cellular, bamboo, pleated, or roller shades? Or do you still have traditional wood blinds in your house? I would like to know what everyone is doing these days!
Note: This is a sponsored post from Payless Decor. They supplied the bamboo Roman shades in my house. All opinions and ideas are my own.
You’ll love the Lucy Eden fabric from Richloom, Rhoda. I used it to make an upholstered cornice in the powder room at my last house and it’s gorgeous! Full of vibrant colors and the fabric has a good weight to it too. I know it will be beautiful in your room.
I have the bamboo blinds and custom fabric curtains in my foyer, living room and kitchen. In the other parts of the house I have dark wood thick blinds. The bathroom doesn’t have any covering on the windows because they face the woods and no chance of anyone looking in. The windows are turn outs and it is nice to have all that sunshine coming in.
Love this Rhoda! I have bamboo shades in many rooms in my house. I just love the texture they add. I have them paired with and without drapes and they look great either way. I swear by the bamboo blinds sold at JCPenney, which are currently on a huge sale…ordering some for my son’s room today:)
I had Payless bamboo roman shades throughout our previous home. Loved the look. For our new home, I am going with Plantation Shutters. I’ve always loved that look and always wanted shutters. Decided it’s time. Our basement isn’t finished. There is a single window and slider. Those windows will have blinds and I will definitely be shopping Payless.
Hey, Pat, I’m so glad to hear you ordered through Payless and loved them. I’ve always liked Plantation shutters too, such a classic look.
Love your bamboo shades. I have only one up in this house. but want more but with the privacy or blackout liner. We get alot of afternoon sun since a tornado got alot of the pine trees before we moved here. Which one did you get the privacy liner or blackout? Thanks for all the info. May order some samples.
HI, Bonnie, I got the white privacy liners.
I have my house up for sale but I put faux white blinds on the dining room door to the sunroom that is half glass, I made curtains for three bedrooms and put privacy liners in them. The bathrooms (face woods) have very light grommet curtains and faux wood shades are in the basement family room. I love roman and cellular shades but because of the odd shaped windows I couldn’t put them up in this house but I hope to use them in the next house.
And if you had done your house 40 years ago, you would have used bamboo shades! Even prettier than the ones being used today, they were “burnt bamboo” that looked like tortoise shell. Pier One was the first to carry them; and they were quite inexpensive. Everything eventually comes back!
I do remember those. I had them in my first apartment and you’re right, they did look burnt. I was a big fan of them back in the late 70’s, early 80’s.
Love the look of your bamboo shades! Did you move your Ikea cabinet? I thought you attached it to the wall and was wondering if it is very difficult to relocate? Thanks!
Hey, Dawn, oh no it’s still there! I love that built-in bookcase. I’ll show the whole room as soon as I get my new drapery panels finished & up.
Rhoda, that fabric is gorgeous and I cannot wait to see it made up into drapes! I love woven wood blinds and would love to put some in my guest bedroom. I’ll be sure to order them from Payless Decor. Plus, my sister-in-law is building a new home and will need blinds, too so I’ll share the site with her.
Hi! I love your style!! I know this pair is old but I just came across it and I am considering the same bamboo shades from payless Decor. Do you still like them? Do you have the movable liners? In the pictures you posted are those with liners? I wasn’t sure how “fluffy” the Roman blinds would look when pulled all the way up with liners.
Hi, Annie, I had Payless blinds at my old house and now at my new one and love them all. This style is different that my current ones and don’t have this Tibet style anymore, but my current house has Bali Natural in the Premium line. All of mine have been lined with a white privacy liner and I love how they function. They are not too fluffy at all and help keep too much sun from coming in. The liners are not removable.