What is a Roman Shade?

Roman shades are modern and stylish window treatments made from fabric. Categorised as soft window treatments, Roman shades can be used to add a stylish, minimalist theme to an interior space.

Unlike blinds, shades have no adjustable vanes or slats that help you adjust for daylight filtering; rather, they come in various types with different levels of opacity.

Roman shades offer a clean, smooth look that is elegant without being overbearing, like heavy curtains and drapes. Its streamlined look works well with rooms that have small to medium-sized windows. This doesn’t mean that you can’t use them for wider windows. However, with wider windows, you may need to install two or three Roman shade panels.

How you install Roman shades depends on the type of windows you have. If you have beautiful window openings with mouldings, trims, and elaborate sills, then it's best to fit them inside the window. This will keep the architectural details in view. However, if you have non-descript or plain windows typical of modern homes, it is better to mount the shades on the outside of the window frame.

Types of Roman Shades

There are different types of Roman shades. The variety of fabrics and opacities means that these shades offer a choice for every kind of window and every type of interior design concept. It also means that there is always a choice available to suit everyone’s taste and style. The different types of shades include:

• Cascade Roman shades
• Pleated Roman shades
• Cassette Roman shades
• Waterfall Roman shades
• Flat Roman shades
• Relaxed Roman shades
• Cassette Roman shades
• Hobbled Shades

Features of a Roman Shade

1. They stack up evenly in horizontal folds when opened.

2. They are visibly smooth with a clean, uncluttered look, and without bumps or creases.

3. New innovations in liners and operating systems.

4. Can be raised or lowered with the help of a cord system and rings sewn on the back of the fabric.

5. Gives a clean, streamlined look to the window

6. Roman shades are available in both rolling and stacking options.

7. Durable and easy to clean.

8. Available in an array of colours, textures, patterns, and dramatic designs,

9. They usually have a neutral colour back lining for a smooth, consistent view from the outside of the building.

10. Roman shades can be customised to feature curved bottoms, embellishments, tassels, embroidery, fringe, or other types of bottom trims.

11. Thermal or blackout liner for energy efficiency, light blockage, and complete privacy.

12. Can be equipped with cordless operation for both convenience and child safety.

Roman shades have a wide price range, from the cheaper versions to the much more expensive ones. Price tags will depend on the fabric used, the features they have, and the type of operating system they possess. 

Further reading:

How to Clean Honeycomb Window Blinds

How to Clean Bamboo Window Shades the Easy Way
Soft Window Treatments - Basics of Window Dressing

What are Plant Terrariums?

A terrarium is a glass container that holds natural plants, pebbles, rocks, and soil. It is an ornamental piece of a natural setting that makes a great table or shelf display for your living room, foyer, or bedroom.

There are two types of terrariums, the open ones and closed kinds. While the open terrariums are open to the atmosphere and contain dry-weather plants that need the occasional weekly mist, the closed terrariums contain vegetation that requires a moist environment to thrive. The glass walls allow for both heat and light to enter the terrarium.

Aquariums and terrariums have some similarity in that they are glass containers, but while one contains fish in a natural environment, the terrarium contains a mini garden, kept in a unique environment that’s conducive for plant growth.

The kind of plants you can grow in terrariums depends on whether they are the open or closed types. Plants that thrive well in open terrariums are succulent plants like cacti, aloe vera, and jade plants. while closed terraria are best planted with moisture-loving plants like ferns, moss, air plants, and orchids.

Plant Terrariums as a Home Décor Item

If you like interior décor objects with a natural setting, you will love terrariums. It is like a mini garden or forest enclosed in its a little world. You can create one yourself because they are quite easy to build as long as you use the right plants conducive for the different types of terraria, the open or closed system. You can also purchase them if you are not a hands-on individual like many of us.

Bring new life into any interior space with terrariums by adding them to your room in any of the following ways:

1. Perfect for accenting your coffee table
2. Great for creating a mini-oasis atop your study desk.
3. On a floating shelf, set at eye level, no higher than 5’0” from the floor.
4. As a display item on the foyer console.
5. Create a lush focal point with moss, ferns, and flowers with a terrarium
6. As a centrepiece for your dining table.
7. As a piece of furniture on a stand to serve as a coffee table, just like an aquarium coffee table.
8. In the bathroom, you can hang a teardrop terrarium with an adjustable hanging rope.
9. As decoration object displayed on a chest of drawers in the bedroom.
10. Hang it solo to round out an empty corner or grouped with similar pieces for a stunning display in any room with ‘dead’ corners.

Features of a Terrarium

• Closed terrariums are self-watering. The mini garden releases water vapour which collects on the glass walls of the container and trickles down into the soil.
• Because they are self-nourishing the plants in closed terrariums require very little maintenance.
• Every terrarium has a drainage layer of charcoal (or gravel) that ensures excess water drains away from the soil and prevent root rot.

Related posts:
Where to Display Indoor Water Features in Your Home

Top 5 Materials for Kitchen Worktops 

Pet Furniture: 7 Impressive Pet Bed Ideas Suitable for Stylish Interiors

Style Your Walls with Peel and Stick Decals

How to Hang Curtains: The Right Heights and Styling Rules

Curtains and draperies do far more than cover a window. When hung correctly, they reshape a room's proportions, add elegance to bare walls, and pull an entire interior scheme together. When hung badly, they make ceilings feel low, windows appear small, and rooms feel unfinished. The difference almost always comes down to height.

Why Curtain Height Matters More Than Style

Most homeowners focus on fabric, colour, and pattern when choosing curtains, but the single biggest impact on how professional a room looks comes from where the rod is placed. A beautifully made curtain hung at the wrong height will always disappoint, while a modest curtain hung correctly can look genuinely elegant.

Curtains come in many forms, such as pinch-pleated drapes, eyelet panels, box pleat, tab-top, goblet, tailored pleat, and cased-heading styles. The rules for hanging height apply across all of them.

The Most Appealing Height: Floor to Ceiling

For the most professional and design-forward result, hang your curtains at full wall height, with the rod mounted at or very close to the ceiling line. A floor-to-ceiling drop creates a strong vertical line that makes walls appear taller, and rooms feel more spacious. This is the approach most interior designers use, and it works in virtually every room.

If ceiling-height hanging is not possible or not your preference, position the rod a minimum of 6 inches above the top of the window frame and no more than 12 inches above it. Anything lower than 6 inches will make the window and the room feel cramped.

Adjusting for High Ceilings

In rooms with high ceilings, the rod must be placed higher to prevent the curtains from appearing squat or disconnected from the architecture. As a rule of thumb, the higher your ceiling, the higher your installation point should be. Curtains that float halfway between the window and the ceiling rarely look intentional.

If you are using a valance or swags alongside your main curtains, position the top of the valance 12 to 15 inches below the ceiling line in a room with a high ceiling. In a room with a standard or low ceiling, keep the gap between the valance top and the ceiling to a maximum of 12 inches.

Width: The Other Measurement Most People Get Wrong

Curtain width is just as important as height. Extend the rod a minimum of 4 inches beyond the window frame on each side, measuring to the bracket and not the finial. This allows the curtain panel to stack clear of the glass when drawn open, letting in maximum light and making the window appear significantly wider than it actually is.

Hem Allowance and Finish

Leave approximately 1 inch between the curtain hem and the floor. This small gap allows for easy cleaning beneath the panels and prevents the fabric from dragging, which causes premature wear. If you prefer a more dramatic, pooled look, allow 3 to 6 inches of extra fabric, but this only works best in formal rooms with low foot traffic.

Before hanging, steam-iron all panels thoroughly. Curtain creases from packaging do not drop out on their own, regardless of how long the fabric hangs.

A Styling Trick Worth Knowing

One of the most effective ways to make curtains look taller and add depth to a window is to layer two treatments. Hang the curtain rod at least 12 inches above the window frame, then fit bamboo shades or Roman blinds directly inside the window recess or just below the rod. When the curtains are drawn back and the blind is lowered to approximately one-third of the window height, the blank wall space between the rod and the frame disappears completely. The result looks considered, layered, and far more expensive than either treatment would achieve on its own.

The single rule that ties all of this together is straightforward: hang your curtains high, extend them wide, and let them reach the floor. Everything else is detail.

Further reading:

Soft Window Treatments - Basics of Window Dressing
How to Clean Honeycomb Window Blinds
Your Complete Guide to Beautiful, Functional Living Spaces

Where to Put Indoor Water Features in Your Home and Why Their Position Matters

You might think a water feature is just a decorative extra, something for fancy hotels or spa waiting rooms, but once you understand what moving water actually does to you and a space, you will want one in your home, ASAP.

The sound of flowing water naturally lowers stress. It is not just a feeling. Studies on biophilic design (the practice of bringing nature into interiors) show that moving water reduces cortisol levels and blood pressure. That gentle trickle of water is also white noise, which blocks out distracting sounds and helps you focus or sleep better. 

So yes, water features are both a style upgrade and a genuinely useful addition to your home.

But the real question is where to place it.

Below are nine different ways to use water features in your home.

 

Indoor water features - A good enhancement for your interior space.

At the Front Door or On the Porch

If you have a porch or covered veranda, this is one of the best spots for a freestanding fountain or a tiered pond-style feature. Add a few potted plants around it, and the whole entrance feels like a garden retreat. 

Bonus: the sound of moving water near the entrance softens street noise before it reaches inside.

In the Foyer

The foyer sets the tone for your entire home. A wall-mounted waterfall placed opposite the entrance door is one of the simplest ways to make a strong first impression. Wall-mounted designs are smart here because they do not eat into floor space, which is usually limited in an entrance area. The moment people walk in and hear that sound, their mood shifts instantly.

Along the Hallway

Many hallways are forgotten spaces. Most are. A compact tabletop water feature on a console table completely changes that. Keep the scale and size in proportion to the hallway width and go vertical rather than wide, if the space is narrow.

In the Living Room

This is where you have the most options for indoor water features. 

A tabletop fountain on a coffee table puts the movement of water right in your line of sight when you are seated, and becomes part of the room rather than something you only notice when you walk past. Larger living rooms can take a freestanding floor feature that doubles as a room divider. The sound also helps soften hard surfaces like timber floors and big windows, making the room feel more comfortable and less echoey.

On a Feature Wall

Do you have a blank wall that needs enhancements? Turn it into a feature wall with a wall-mounted waterfall panel. Many of these types come with built-in LED lighting, adjustable flow rates, and remote controls that let you reduce the flow or switch it on/off while relaxing on the sofa. Slate and natural stone panels look especially good because of their texture and the way the water moves over them. Water flowing over stone works beautifully together.

In a Niche or Alcove

If you have a recessed niche or an alcove and are not sure what to do with it, put a water feature there. A tall freestanding waterfall column with some smooth river pebbles at the base and a couple of low-light plants, like peace lilies or lucky bamboo, will turn an awkward corner into the best spot in the room.

In the Bedroom

This one surprises people, but it makes a lot of sense. Research on sleep shows that consistent white noise reduces the time it takes to fall asleep. It also reduces nighttime waking. A small tabletop fountain on your bedside table or dresser does the same job as an electronic white noise machine, but it looks far better and is aesthetically appealing. Some models even have a built-in lamp. Just make sure the pump has an adjustable flow rate so you can control the volume and flow.

In Your Home Office or Study Area

Unpredictable noise, a conversation nearby, traffic outside, or a notification going off can be the biggest focus killers when you are trying to work or study. A water feature on or near your desk creates a steady, consistent sound layer that your brain quickly tunes in to. The soft cascading sounds effectively cancel the distraction of random or irritating noises. Looking at moving water during a work break is also genuinely restful for the eyes.

In a Courtyard or Indoor Atrium

If you are lucky enough to have an atrium or internal courtyard, this is where a water feature can really shine. A pond-style setup with stone edging, tropical plants, pebbles, and soft lighting engages your sight and hearing, and the air around you. Moving water adds a slight humidity that can make a space feel fresher. This is the closest you can get to an actual garden, without going outside.

Materials Indoor Water Features are Typically Made From?

Indoor water features come in a wide range of materials:

• Ceramic
• Slate
• Terracotta
• Granite
• Marble
• Bronze
• Glass
• High-quality faux stone resin. 

That range means there is always a finish that will suit your existing interior style, whether it is modern, rustic, traditional, or somewhere in between.

One Simple Rule for Placement 

It is best to place your water feature where you spend the most time. Allow the sound and the sight of moving water to do its thing quietly, continuously, and without you having to think about it. 

Further reading:
How to Decorate Your Home with Accent Chairs 

What are Plant Terrariums?

Study Interior Design Course Online

If you've always wanted to study interior design or interior decoration, whether you want to become a professional, or you simply want to be a part of a high-flying career, and you have scheduling conflicts - a job or family commitments, long-distance' study is a great option to consider.

Today, it is now a fact that you can become a professional in most fields of endeavour by being schooled and tutored in the comfort of your own home.

Isn’t it time to embrace this opportunity?

When you study interior design in a school, college, or university, online or off, you allow yourself the opportunity to be a professional in the field. You can also be a part of a high-flying career in the building and real estate industry.

Before You Decide to Study Interior Design

Before you make your decision, you'll first have to know which program you intend to pursue, a diploma in interior design, or a BA degree program that is a more advanced study.

You'll also want to know where to study online, requirements for enrollment, financial obligations, and the job opportunities in the interior design industry.

Having answers to these will help in your decision making.

Which Program Should You Pursue?

To be a professional in the field, formal training is essential. You don't really need formal training if you don't plan to go commercial with your skills. There are many that have a God-given talent of being creative and don't plan to go beyond doing decorating tasks for their own homes, their friend's, or their family's but if you want to go steps further and approach it as a business venture, you want to pursue this educationally.

Interior design, a highly competitive career, is a lucrative market in the building industry and services of interior designers are always required, especially by private and commercial clients, architects, the real estate industry, the movie industry, retailers of furniture and furnishings, property developers, and builders, just to mention a few. 

So, depending on how extensive your dreams are, you can opt to go for the diploma course or for a degree program.

Diploma Course – It’s always best to start at this stage where you are taught the fundamentals of interior design, like drawing, decorating, and simple perspectives. The topics covered in most online schools include:

• Form and space
• Colour and texture
• Technical expertise
• Environmental and global awareness
• Expressions of creative sensibilities

HND Interior Design Course - If you already have a foundation course in interior design and decoration and wish to up your status to become more professional, you can enrol in an HND course. With this, you will also learn marketing and business skills required in the industry, and will know how to:

• Design and know all the factors of space planning and interior layouts
• Remodel, renovate and reconstruct interiors
• Offer simple project management services related to interior design

BA Degree - This is a more advanced study where you’ll learn the elements and principles of design with its practical applications, including (but not limited to):

• Problem-solving in space planning
• Exploring creative designs
• Business aspects of interior design
• Use of CAD (computer-aided designs) software
• Relationship between people and spaces

You will also be taught on how interiors if designed properly and inventively, can influence human interaction, emotional responses, and improve the quality of human lives.

All class projects including attendance will be done by telephone, email, the internet, online forums, and courier services.

When you pursue a degree program, you will have the opportunity to work in an equally lucrative niche in interior design - rendering and perspectives, the good old-fashioned way, before the advent of CAD technology.

Where Can You Study Interior Design Online

A decade ago I’ll probably tell you there were just a handful of colleges offering interior design as an online course, however, things are now different and you will find more schools and colleges offering interior design course, with a majority of them in the USA, Britain, Canada, some parts of Europe, and South Africa.

Some of the top schools and colleges that offer an interior design online course include:

• New York School of Interior Design
• University of Nebraska 
• Brenau University
• Baker College Online
• Ball State University

Requirements for Enrollment

You are probably aspiring to become a professional interior designer if you are reading this. But there are many who may not be reading this article because they believe that to become an interior designer, you must be creative and have the ability to draw. This is true to some extent, but I'd like you to know that some have become professionals in the field, just by getting an education to become one.

Truth be told though, there is no doubt that being creative is an added plus.

If you aspire to go for the associates or diploma course, you don’t require much more than your academic marks and your creative abilities which must be demonstrated through a portfolio submission of your artistic and creative works.

However, to obtain a degree, you'll need to fulfil the following conditions (the general requirements stated under Colleges of Arts and Sciences):

• 75 hours of art courses.
• Foundation in fine arts courses
• Required courses in art history
• Credit hours selected from ceramics, advanced drawing, advanced design, printmaking, painting, photography, sculpture or visual communications.
• Required fine arts courses in the interior design concentration.

And if you are a transfer student, to study interior design, you must take a minimum of 12 credit hours of 100-level fine arts courses at a university, with 9 hours of it being in their area of specialization.

Financial Obligations

You might consider applying for financial aid to study interior design online but it can be a bit complicated in that you need to start the process of applying at least three months before you plan to enrol for the course. If you can, apply for a scholarship or grant. They are the best options because you don't have to repay.

Outside or private funding is another option worth considering. If you start your research early enough, you’ll discover some charities, benevolent individuals, charitable businesses, and community organizations that offer scholarships to study.

And of course, there is self-financed. If you are blessed enough to have funds at your disposal, that means you are good to go ahead to pursue your dreams conveniently. 

Job Opportunities

Formal training is required if you want to get a headway in this competitive job market, however, in a number of cases, an associate's degree in interior design is sufficient to get your foot through the door of the industry.

As a professional designer, you can either opt to work for an establishment, a small firm, or privately for yourself. It all depends on your aspirations. Job opportunities include working for:

• Interior design firms
• Architectural firms
• Hospitality design firms
• Design departments of corporations and institutions
• Carpet manufacturing industries
• Commercial furniture dealerships and retailers
• Real estate firms
• Contract design firms
• Home design magazine publications
• Kitchen and bathroom manufacturers
• Product, accessory, and furniture retailers
• Stage set design firms

The great thing about interior design is that there are many ‘branches and twigs’ (niches) that sprout out from a huge ‘tree trunk'. Additionally, here are some entry-level jobs you will also qualify for:

• Interior Designer Assistant
• Junior Designer
• Business Development Coordinator
• Interior Decorator
• Colour Consultant

Studying Interior Design Online Requires Discipline

Like any other distance learning education, with interior design, you will have to be committed and disciplined as there is no tutor 'breathing down your neck' during class. You work at your own pace. Learning can be slowed down or accelerated to suit your needs thus offering flexibility that'll fit into your busy lifestyle.

So, though it takes discipline and motivation to stick with an online course, you will still find it exciting, beneficial, and satisfying.



Further Reading:
Distance Education: Pros and Cons of Online Study
What Is the Difference Between Interior Design and Interior Architecture?

How Do Interior Designers Bill their Clients for Design Services?

Niche-Specific Interior Design Career Opportunities