Interesting Facts: The development of Roman Blinds

Roman blinds are one of the most popular blind styles available on the UK market today, but interestingly, their origins started rather differently to how we know it today…

Where it all started

Created more than 2,000 years ago in Rome (surprise, surprise!), essentially the concept of the Roman blind still remains the same today – to provide a simple solution to an everyday problem.

Introduced to The Eternal City in the ancient times, during the construction of the Colosseum, the Roman blind was invented out of pure necessity. Dust was constantly kicked up from the horse-drawn carriages and masonry remnants from the creation of the Colosseum, which was a nuisance and a huge inconvenience when windows were opened. Therefore, hanging a damp cloth from the windows seemed a natural solution to stop the dust from entering the home.

Developments

Once the blind (damp cloth) was well established in the home, it was soon discovered that as well as keeping the dust outside, it was also very useful in protecting against the very hot, mediterranean sun and keeping their homes cooler.

The Romans are known for their love of elaborate decorations and the development of the Roman blind confirms this. They soon turned the damp cloths into ornate furnishing, with various patterns and colours to choose from, and once this was well established in the homes of many Romans, it became widespread throughout the whole Empire.

Following this, the strip of material then incorporated a drawstring, in order to lower and raise the blind as and when needed. The most common design of cord slats that interlinked is typical of Roman creativity, which came much earlier than even the simplistic roller blind.

However, unlike the vertical operating Roman blinds we have today, the Romans designed their blind to fold back, horizontally and away from the wall.

Present day

It is clear in today’s society, that despite the wide range of blinds styles available, there is still a strong demand for the Roman blind from homeowners. Therefore, today’s manufacturers wanted to draw on their modern day skills, resources and efficient systems in order to appeal to a newer, modern market. Part of appealing to a wider range of people meant they had to offer something different. The solution was varied fabric selections.

Regardless of your style and tastes, you can now choose a Roman blind to complement your interior design, whether that be a red and white polka dot insulated fabric blind to keep your rooms warmer throughout winter, or a wooden or bamboo blind which is becoming increasingly popular due to its easy maintenance of wiping down with a cloth to clean away any dust.

Although the style and appearance of the Roman blind may have come a long way since its origins in Rome, the basic principle remains the same, and we strongly believe they will continue to grace the homes of many, for years to come!

Angel Blinds and Shutters

Here at Angel Blinds and Shutters, we have a whole host of quality Roman blinds in various fabrics, patterns and colours to suit your tastes. All our blinds are made to measure to ensure a perfect fit and we include an installation service as part of our package. Simply get in touch with our friendly team today for more information about our services.