This will come as no surprise, Gentle Readers, but I think about window treatments a LOT. Especially during the transition from winter to spring, with the change in temperature and light…I’m reminded what a critical design element window treatments are. And then I get to thinking about window treatments through the ages. Who invented drapes? Did the Romans really invent Roman shades?
I decided to do some digging.
Venetian Blinds
“Venetian blind” is a misnomer: they originated in Persia! Today, the slats are primarily wood, as opposed to their aluminum film noir predecessors. Venetian blinds are surprisingly effective at providing both light control and privacy. (FWIW, I prefer slats that are 1.5-2″ wide. No skinnier, no wider.)
Venetians discovered the blinds while trading goods with Persians in the mid-1700s. Soon after, “Venetian blinds” were introduced in America. One of the first well-known buildings to use these blinds was St. Peter’s Church in 1761 — in my adopted hometown of Philadelphia :)
Fun fact, because you know I can’t resist an art history sidebar: Venetian blinds appear in the work of several Impressionists! Edmund Charles Tarbell painted “The Venetian Blind” in 1898.
And James Tissot features them in “Tea” in 1872.
Roman Shades
“Roman shade” is NOT a misnomer, as the Romans can take full credit. When archaeologists excavated the ruins of Pompeii, they discovered a window from 79 AD (79 AD!!!) covered in one layer of wooden slats underneath a layer of linen. In other words, a shade!
J
The modern version of Roman shades (string replaces the slats) was created by Thomas Harris in 1808. I love the fabric version,
but “natural woven Roman shades,” made of bamboo or natural grasses, also have their place. I use either type of shade as a first layer under drapes, or in small rooms that can’t accommodate the volume of curtains, or just when I’m after a tidy look.
Drapes (or Curtains)
The Victorians recognized that floor-lengths drapes were pretty AND insulating against those dreary damp days.
During the Victorian era (mid- to late-19th century), the fabric weaving process became more cost-effective due to the inventions of the Industrial Revolution. With the manufacture of synthetic dyes, fabrics became even less expensive, — and more ornate and vibrant. (Fun fact: Designer William Morris REFUSED to stray from his beloved natural dyes, so his designs were not immediately popular — too pricey.) All of that = let’s use more fabric!
Ornate fabrics were a popular way to display wealth. But Victorians used drapes for warmth, privacy, and to protect objects from sun damage. Sometimes, they used them to divide rooms.
I love the drama of a floor-length drape but tend to gravitate towards lighter weights and patterns than Queen Victoria’s velvet.
Photo by Stacy Zarin Goldberg
Café Curtains
(AKA Brisbees, but since practically no one else uses that term, I may have to revert to “café curtains,” or, better yet, “short curtains.” Would that catch on, do you think?)
Despite being a French staple, café curtains actually were invented in 19th-century Vienna. These simple yet effective sill-length window treatments shielded diners from curious passers-by while allowing light in from above.
Today, I use short curtains ;) often, especially in bathrooms, on stair landings, under floor-length drapes, and over kitchen sinks. You may remember short curtains from your youth, when your mother paired them with matching valences above. The valences have gone by the wayside, fortunately!
Oh, Gentle Readers, I could go on! But I think that’s enough history for today. Please know that from a decorating standpoint, window treatments are a fabulous investment. They complete a room, they provide light control, and, of course, they prevent your neighbors from seeing you naked.
Annie Elliott Design is a Washington, D.C based firm, but we also love working in NYC and on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. We’re booking projects for late spring/early summer 2026. Please contact us to discuss.