Shades & Blinds are used to
provide privacy and/or reduce or block bright light. They can be used
alone or with other fabric treatments. They can be raised or lowered
from the top or bottom. Romanshades come in many styles, gathering
in neat horizontal folds when raised but are flat when lowered.
The shades
above (left and middle) are both balloon shades,
with the typical pouf of material at the bottom, but as you can
see they can be light and airy or made from a heavy fabric such
as velvet, as in the picture above.
For the privacy
of a bath, (above) shades can lower from the top to let in light
above eye-level.