By the NZ Blinds team | Updated June 2026
Roman blinds are fabric blinds that fold into soft horizontal pleats as they lift, and hang flat when lowered. Choose them for lounges, bedrooms and dining rooms where you want warmth and a tailored look; for bathrooms or total blackout, a roller usually wins. NZ Blinds, made to measure from $388. Here is how to choose.
The quick version, before the detail:
| Feature | Roman blinds | Roller blinds |
|---|---|---|
| Look | Soft, layered fabric folds | Flat, sleek and minimal |
| Light control | Filters light; gaps at the sides | Edge-to-edge with side channels |
| Insulation | Strong (fabric plus lining) | Moderate |
| Price from (NZ Blinds) | $388 | Around $99 |
| Best rooms | Living, bedroom, dining | Almost anywhere, incl. wet rooms |
| Cleaning | Occasional dust or vacuum | Quick wipe down |
| Child safety | Cordless option | Cordless option |
What are Roman blinds?
Roman blinds are a single piece of fabric that folds up in even sections on a cord, chain or motor. NZ Blinds supplies each one to measure from $388, in a crisp Flat Fold or a softer Soft Fold, with a translucent or blackout lining. The fit is exact, not off-the-shelf.
Lowered, the fabric covers the window; raised, it stacks into neat pleats at the top. You pick the fabric, lining, fold style and operation on the custom-made Roman blinds page, which uses the Norman Centerpiece range.
Roman blinds vs roller blinds: which is better?
Neither wins outright. Roller blinds are flatter, cheaper and, with side channels, block light to the edges, so they suit bathrooms, kitchens and full blackout. Roman blinds bring softness, texture and more insulation, which makes them the better pick for living rooms, bedrooms and dining rooms.
Want a sharp, low-maintenance window in a wet or busy room? Go roller. Want warmth and a furnished look in a lounge or bedroom? Roman blinds are hard to beat. For total darkness, a blackout roller with side tracks still edges ahead.
What are the pros and cons of Roman blinds?
The big pluses are style, warmth and a made-to-measure fit. The trade-offs are a higher price than rollers, light gaps at the sides unless you add a blackout lining, and fabric that dislikes damp rooms. Here is the full picture.
What people love about them:
- Style. A soft, layered look that feels more like a curtain than a blind.
- Warmth. Fabric and a lining trap a little air at the glass, so rooms hold heat better.
- Choice. A wide range of fabrics, colours and textures, plus options like edge or ribbon banding.
- Fit. Made to your exact measurements, so you avoid the gaps a standard size leaves.
Where they fall short:
- Price. They use more fabric and labour than a roller, so they cost more.
- Light gaps. Light slips in at the sides unless you add a blackout lining and mount them outside the recess.
- Damp rooms. Fabric is not ideal right over a shower or a kitchen sink.
- Upkeep. They need the odd dust or vacuum, and large blinds feel best motorised.
Which rooms suit Roman blinds?
Roman blinds work best in living rooms, bedrooms, dining rooms and studies. In bedrooms, add a blackout lining and an outside mount to cut the light gaps at the edges. Skip them in bathrooms and directly over kitchen sinks, where steam and splashes are hard on fabric.
For the warmest possible window, compare them with honeycomb blinds, which trap air in their cells and lead the range on insulation. In wet or splash-prone rooms, a roller or venetian copes far better than fabric.
How much do Roman blinds cost in NZ?
NZ Blinds Roman blinds start from $388, made to measure. They cost more than roller blinds, which start from around $99, because each one uses more fabric, lining and hand-finishing. Your final price depends on the size, the fabric, the lining and the operating system you choose.
Operation options include cordless, chain, the SmartRelease system, rechargeable AutoWand, or full motorisation through the ShadeAuto app. The easy first step is to see the colours on your own wall before you commit.
Do Roman blinds block light, and which mount is best?
On their own, Roman blinds filter light and leave small gaps at the sides. For a dark room, choose a blackout lining and mount the blind outside the recess so the fabric overlaps the frame. An inside mount looks neater and frames the window, but lets in a little more edge light.
So inside or outside? Use an inside mount when you have a deep, square recess and want a tidy look. Use an outside mount for the best light block, for shallow recesses, or to make a small window look bigger. For complete blackout in a bedroom or nursery, pair the Roman blind with a side-track roller.
How do you measure and install Roman blinds?
Measure the width and drop of your window in millimetres, then decide on an inside or outside mount. NZ Blinds makes every Roman blind to those measurements and ships it with brackets and a step-by-step guide, so most people fit one in minutes with a drill and a level.
For an inside mount, measure the width in three places and use the smallest. For an outside mount, add an overlap of at least 50mm on each side to limit light gaps. Full instructions are in our measuring guide.
How do you clean and care for Roman blinds?
Dust or vacuum Roman blinds with a brush head every few weeks, and spot-clean small marks rather than soaking the fabric. New blinds settle over the first week or two and can drop 20 to 40mm as the fabric relaxes, which is normal. Keep linen away from freshening sprays, which can stain it.
Frequently asked questions
No. Roman blinds are still a popular choice in New Zealand homes, and the 2026 trend leans to plain, neutral linens in a flat fold, often layered with curtains. For a modern look, pick a Flat Fold in a neutral fabric; for a classic feel, choose a Soft Fold.
With a translucent lining, a lit room can be seen into from outside after dark, like most light-filtering blinds. For night-time privacy, choose a blackout or privacy lining and an outside mount so the fabric overlaps the frame.
Yes, to a point. The fabric and lining trap a layer of air at the glass, which slows heat loss. If warmth is the priority, honeycomb blinds insulate best, but a lined Roman blind still does more than a single-layer roller.
Not really. Fabric holds moisture, so a steamy bathroom or a window over the kitchen sink is hard on a Roman blind. A roller or venetian blind is the more practical choice in those spots.
A made-to-measure Roman blind with quality fabric and hardware lasts for years of everyday use. Keep it out of constant damp, dust it regularly, and choose a cordless or motorised system to avoid worn cords over time.
The bottom line
In short: choose Roman blinds for warmth and a soft, tailored look in living rooms and bedrooms, and a roller for wet rooms or full blackout. NZ Blinds made to measure Roman blinds from $388, with blackout or light-filtering linings and cordless or motorised options.
Next step: browse the custom-made Roman blinds range. Related reading: roller blinds, honeycomb blinds and our measuring guide.