Want to hang rod pocket Roman shades on your RV but unsure if they will serve the aesthetic, functionality, and convenience you are looking for? Explores 10 most sought-after prose of rod pocket Roman shades for windows of your recreational vehicle. Also discover the easiest way to install Roman shades on curtain rods, their cons, FAQs, etc.
Premium heavy fabric (wind-resistant) Roman shades are one of the most popular choices for RVs, as they offer timeless design, privacy, stability, and ease of operation. And rod pockets add to their design, ease of installation, and affordability.
What Are Rod Pocket Roman Shades?
Also known as pole top or casement shades, rod pocket Roman shades are stylish and versatile window treatments that can be hung on curtain rods. They have pockets sewn into the top and designed to be slipped onto a rod or pole for a smooth, pleated look without the need for rings, hooks, or other hardware.
A casing sewed onto the front of the curtain panel creates a lengthy pocket at the top where the curtain rod may be pushed through & hidden from view, creating a cleaner, homogeneous look.
What Are Curtain Rods?
Also referred to as curtain rail, curtain pole, or traverse rod, a curtain rod can be defined as a hollow tube or a pole, typically made of plastic or metal. Held by brackets or directly screwed to the RV window ceiling, a rod provides necessary structural support to eyelet or rod pocket curtains or Roman shades.
10 Pros of Rod Pocket Roman Shades for Your RV
1. Easy, Bracketless Installation
Hanging a Roman shade on a curtain rod is a super simple job. You only need to feed the rod through the pocket in the fabric. And secure it into the ceiling of your window frame, without any brackets. However, bracketless installation is only supported on an inside mount.
2. Simple, Elegant Look
As the installation hardware is simple – typically consisting of a curtain rod – and hidden, rod pocket Roman shades exude an effortless elegance.
3. Customizable Aesthetic
Depending on the level and intensity of aesthetic you want to achieve, the curtain panels can be bunched on the rod as tightly or as loosely as you wish.
4. A Popular Window Covering Trend
Rod pocket Roman shades are quite popular and easily available window coverings on online and brick-and-mortar shopping stores.
5. Extremely Lightweight Yet Functional Fabric
The blinds are typically made of thin, lightweight fabric. Plus they are sheer or light filtering to let in UV-free light while maintaining privacy and a moderate level of insulation. Also, they provide sound dampening, reducing echo, reverberation, and outside noise.
6. Suitable for Ceiling Mount
As a curtain rod can be screwed to the ceiling of the window, it can also be secured to the ceiling of your RV to treat large ceiling-height windows.
7. Less Expensive
Compared to heavier curtains and drapes, rod pocket roman shades are considerably less expensive, saving you $40 to $50 per window treatment, thanks to the substitution of expensive hardware with a simple, affordable rod.
8. Can Fit Any Window
Rod pocket shades are available in a huge variety of sizes, from extra small (12 x 16”) to extra-large and over-size (103 x 120”).
9. Create a Personalized Look
With lots of custom options, rod pocket Roman shades can be paired with any color, pattern, and texture of your RV, creating a personalized atmosphere and making a statement of your on decorating style.
10. Work Well with Layered Window Treatments
Rod pocket Roman shades can be paired with roller blinds, mini blinds, or honeycomb shades to create an amazing layered look and enhance the thermal regulation of your travel trailer. Layering Roman curtains with cellular shades will reduce unwanted summer solar heat through the RV window by up to 60%, according to the US Energy Department.
On a Tight Budget?
Instead of a pure organic cotton fabric, select a faux roman shade with rod pocket design.
6 Cons of Rod Pocket Roman Shades
1. Hard to Move for Opening & Closing
The biggest drawback of rod pocket Roman shades is that the curtain panel is difficult to move to the side for opening and closing. Being narrow, a pocket rarely slides across the rod with any amount of ease. Opening and closing this type of Roman curtain is more like a tug of war.
2. Not Designed for High-Traffic RV Windows
As the pocket firmly fits around the curtain pole, rod pocket Roman blinds are not fit for RV kitchens and RV living room windows, which need to be opened and closed frequently.
3. No Lower/Lift Functionality
Rock pocket roman shades can only be moved sideways, covering or uncovering the entire length of the window to the left or right. They cannot be raised and lowered or positioned midway, hindering the provision of privacy and natural light simultaneously.
4. Difficult to be Motorized
For motorization, you’ll need to remove all the pockets along the entire length of the shade and attach the fabric to a roller mechanism.
5. Visibility of the Rod at Ends
Even when the rod pocket Roman shades are fully closed, a tiny part of the rod is visible at each end, negatively affecting the overall finish. To counter this decor loophole, add curtain rod finials to completely hide the rod ends and increase the ornamental impact.
6. No Top Down Bottom Up Option
There is a single, undivided piece of fabric that suspends vertically from a rod and only slides to the sides.
How to Make & Install Rod Pocket Roman Shades in 6 Easy DIY Steps
Step 1: Measure and cut fabric about twice the length of the window width to allow for the folding and bunching of the Roman shade panels.
Step 2: Iron the fabric to remove wrinkles and lay it on a flat, smooth surface.
Step 3: Fold 2.5 inches of fabric width-wise, sparing a centimeter extra for stitching.
Step 4: Sew the free end of the folded 2” of fabric to the main fabric length, creating a pocket for a 1” diameter rod to slip through.
Step 5: Feed the rod through the pocket. Your rod pocket Roman curtain is ready to hang.
Step 6: Adjust the rod inside the window recess and secure it to the ceiling of the window using screws. If the window isn’t deep enough, use brackets – typically two for 4 to 6 feet wide windows – for an outside mount.
Functional Tip
Want to create rod pocket roman shade blackout for your RV’s bunkroom, select room darkening or 99% opaque fabric to block almost all external light to sleep deeper, longer.
6 Alternatives to Rock Pocket Roman Shades
- Grommet Roman Shades – Large metal or plastic rings at the bottom, called grommets, not only hold the operating cords but also give a classic, pleated look to your RV window coverings. They are a more practical alternative to rod pockets for wide or heavy fabrics.
- Back Tab Roman Shades – Also referred to as hidden tab curtains, back tab Roman shades feature tabs or loops of fabric sewn onto the back of the curtain panels.
- Swag Roman Shades – Also referred to as London Roman shades, swag roman shades add a more ornate and traditional feel with their inverted pleats at the bottom of the fabric, creating soft tails or swags. They are perfect for adding drama to formal motorhome spaces.
- Soft Fold Roman Shades – Also called relaxed fold or European fold Roman shades, they create a soft, curved appearance when raised.
- Roll Up Roman Shades – Can be easily rolled up or down, giving you a greater freedom to adjust the level of privacy and light in your mobile home.
- Motorized Roman Shades – Operate your camper truck’s new Roman blinds with a wireless remote control, voice commands, or a smartphone app.
Expert Safety Tip
Traveling with your kids and pets in the RV? We highly recommend child-safety rod pocket Roman shades that totally eliminate cords – avoid strangulation hazard, in the wake of RV window covering typically lying within the easy reach of your little ones.
Cordless blinds are also CPSC-approved and 100% conform to the New Federal Safety Regulations for Custom Window Coverings in the US.
Factors to Consider When Buying New Rod Pocket Roman Shades for Your RV
- Request Samples – Ask the manufacturer if they provide free samples. If offered, a free swatch will help you determine the material quality and create a perfect match for your decor.
- Measurements – Correctly measuring the dimensions of RV windows will help you achieve better look and thermal regulation with your new rod pocket blinds.
- Weather Conditions – When travelling in extremely hot or humid weathers, consider heat-resistant and moisture-resistant fabrics options for your new Roman rod pocket curtains.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to use rod pocket tape for Roman blinds?
- Step 1: Start with the bottom tape first (cord pocket side), gradually moving upwards with the hem side down.
- Step 2: Next apply the rod pocket tape on the hemmed right-hand side of the Roman shades, flushing it with the edge of the fabric. Make sure the edge of the tap covers the chalk line.
- Step 3: Repeat the same for the left-hand hem.
- Step 4: To ensure long term durability, stitch all the sides, along the full length of the tape, as close to the top edge as possible.
What is the downside of Roman blinds?
- Susceptible to Mold Build Up – If installed in damp environments such as the kitchen or washroom of your RV, Roman shades will absorb moisture, providing optimum conditions for mold build up. A viable solution is to choose synthetic fabric to resist moisture and make the space well-ventilated to keep the fabric dry.
- Prone to Staining – Porous construction of Roman shades will attract dust, dirt, and stains, adding to the difficulty of their cleaning. As a preventive measure, you can paint the fabric with stain-resistant coating.
- Sway in the Wind – will sway in the wind in a speeding RV, causing light leakage and compromising privacy. To prevent this, install temporary attachment hooks all the way along the sides of the Roman fabric.
How to make RV windows not see through?
- Silver Foil – Apply silver foil with foam insulation, cut in pieces to the sizes of each of the RV window panes.
- Peel-and-stick film – if you don’t like silver foil, choose peel-and-stick window film, which is also the smartest option to make your RV window non-see-through. However, it cannot be opened or closed like a blind.
- Blackout shades – if you need total darkness along with privacy.
- Light filtering RV blinds – create a balance of soft daylight and privacy in your camper truck.
- Solar shades – choose 1% opacity, which will also keep your space private at night.
- RV day and night shades – best solution for 24/7 privacy and light customization in your motorhome.
- Motorized Option – looking for extra luxury to lower your privacy blinds while you are driving the mobilehome truck? Consider motorization.
Should you travel with RV shades up or down?
It depends on the weather, time of the day, the direction of your RV travel relative to the sun, and the condition of the road. If you are travelling south to north (e.g. Florida to Georgia) in the late morning in summer, keeping your RV shades down will beat the heat, keep your RV’s interior cooler, & save on cooling costs. If it’s a winter breeze, you’d love to keep the shades up to enjoy some sun bath.
If you are journeying on rough roads, a heavy shade rolled all the way up could hit against and crack the window or the glass.
Need More Help?
We are ready to further assist and provide information about the benefits of rod pocket Roman shades for your RV camper truck. Contact our experts for consultation using 24/7 Live Chat or call (800) 490-5720 or email support@rvblinds.com today!