A Closer Look at Woven Wood Shades: Custom Options for Savannah and Bluffton Homes
/Woven wood shades continue to be a popular option for our clients in Savannah and Bluffton who want a window treatment that balances style and function.
With their organic texture, natural materials, and range of customizations, woven Roman shades can enhance everything from coastal retreats to historic restorations. But not all woven shades are created equal—and the difference is in the details.
At Savannah Window Fashions, we specialize in helping homeowners, and interior designers make confident choices with custom window treatments that are beautiful, functional, and well-thought-out. Woven shades are one of those window treatments that really shine when customized properly—and that’s exactly what we do best.
What Are Woven Wood Shades?
Woven wood shades (also sometimes called grass or bamboo shades) are window coverings made from natural materials like grasses, reeds, bamboo, jute, and wood fibers. They’re typically constructed in the style of a Roman shade, folding neatly when raised and laying flat when lowered.
The appeal of these shades is their organic texture and the way they filter light. Whether you’re going for relaxed coastal or refined traditional, a woven shade can add depth and softness without overwhelming a space.
Material Options: More Than Just Bamboo
Many clients think of dark, heavy bamboo shades from the 1970s—but that’s no longer the norm. Today’s woven wood collections feature a wide variety of materials and weaves:
Fine grasses and paper-based fibers for a delicate, sheer look
Reeds and jute blends for more texture and warmth
Wood slats and mixed materials that incorporate subtle patterns and movement
Textile blends that combine fabric with woven materials for added dimension
Depending on your choice, woven shades can lean either breezy and casual or tailored and structured. We bring a range of samples to your in-home consultation so you can see how they look and feel in your actual space, with your lighting.
Customizing Your Woven Roman Shades
Woven wood shades are highly customizable, and these details are what turn a simple window covering into a truly custom solution. Here’s what we walk through with every client:
Lining Options
Woven shades can be left unlined to let in dappled light and highlight the texture of the material, or they can be lined to add privacy and improve light control.
No lining – ideal for sunrooms, kitchens, or spaces where you want filtered light and don’t need privacy.
Light-filtering liner – tones down harsh sunlight without completely darkening the room.
Room-darkening liner – blocks nearly all light, perfect for bedrooms or media rooms.
Linings can also protect furniture and flooring from UV exposure, which is especially important in sunny coastal homes.
“One thing to keep in mind—when you add a room-darkening liner, you lose some of that texture and detail that makes a woven shade special. It’s a tradeoff we talk through carefully depending on your room and how you need it to function.”
Edge Binding
Edge binding is a tailored fabric trim added to the sides and bottom of the shade. We recommend it for both visual polish and added durability—especially on loosely woven materials. On inside-mounted shades, edge binding helps prevent fraying where the shade rubs against the window frame. We offer a range of linen and cotton bindings in natural colors that complement the shade without distracting from it.
Mounting Options: Inside or Outside?
Mounting a woven wood shade inside the window frame creates a clean, built-in look. It works well when the window has sufficient depth, and when we're aiming for a streamlined feel.
Outside mounting can make the window feel larger and cover more of the frame, which is often helpful in historic homes where window casings aren’t always square or consistent.
This is one of the many things we take into consideration during your site visit—there’s no one-size-fits-all solution.
Control Options
Woven wood shades are available with several operating systems. While traditional corded systems are no longer considered child-safe and have been phased out, we offer:
Cordless operation – simple and clean, especially great for smaller windows.
Continuous loop clutch – better for heavier shades or large windows.
Motorization – the best option for convenience, especially in hard-to-reach or high-use areas.
Motorized woven wood shades can be controlled by remote, app, or integrated into your smart home system—something more and more of our Savannah and Bluffton clients are requesting.
Why Choose Custom Woven Shades?
You might be wondering why not just order a woven shade online or from a big box store. The answer is simple: fit, function, and finish.
Off-the-shelf shades don’t account for things like uneven window frames, necessary deductions for hardware, appropriate projection for layering, or how your chosen material will behave over time. Our team handles all those details—from measuring and specifying to fabrication and installation—so your project turns out exactly right the first time.
Here in the Low Country, woven wood shades can be a great option for many different kinds of homes and rooms. They bring in texture, soften the light, and are incredibly versatile from a design standpoint. But what makes them work long-term is thoughtful customization. That’s where we come in.
This Hartmann & Forbes woven wood shade is woven to size with a custom edge banding as part of the fabrication process.
Ready to Explore Woven Wood Shades for Your Home?
If you’re searching for custom woven wood shades in Savannah or woven roman shades in Bluffton, Savannah Window Fashions is your trusted local expert. We offer full-service project management, from design to installation, so you can feel confident every detail is handled.
Schedule your Discovery Call today so we can discuss your project.
