*Freshine provided us with complimentary Roman shades for this review. We were not paid for this post, and all opinions and experiences shared are our own.
I’m always looking for home projects that make a big difference without turning into a big ordeal. You know the kind—something I can actually tackle myself without calling a contractor, buying a dozen new tools, or giving up halfway through.
Our glass front doors have always let in tons of natural light, which I love, but they also come with a couple of downsides: not much privacy and a LOT of sunlight and heat coming through the glass.
So when I had the opportunity to try Freshine Roman Shades, I was excited to see if they could give us the privacy we wanted while also making our entryway look a little more polished.
And I have to say—the finished result looks SO good!
Why We Wanted Shades on Our Front Doors
I didn’t want to completely cover our glass doors because one of the things I love about them is all that natural light. But there are definitely times when you don’t want everyone outside to be able to see straight into your house.
I also wanted something that would help block some of the bright sunlight coming through the doors and give us a little more control over the heat.
Most importantly, I wanted something that looked like it actually belonged there.
The Freshine Roman Shades gave the doors a much softer, more finished look while still allowing us to raise them whenever we want all that beautiful natural light.
The Roman Shade Look
One of my favorite things about Roman shades is that they feel a little more decorative than traditional blinds.
Instead of having slats, the fabric folds up as you raise the shade, creating that classic Roman shade look. When they’re down, they give the doors a clean, simple appearance that works really well with the rest of our home.
They honestly made the whole entryway feel more finished.
And because the color we chose is light and neutral, the shades don’t make the area feel dark or heavy.
Can You Install Freshine Roman Shades Yourself?
Yes!
This was probably the biggest surprise for me. You absolutely don’t need to hire someone just because you’re installing window treatments.
We walk through the installation in the video so you can see exactly how we did it, but the basic process is pretty straightforward: figure out your placement, install the mounting hardware, attach the shades, and make sure everything is lined up and operating correctly.
Of course, you’ll want to follow the instructions included with your particular Freshine shades since your installation may be slightly different depending on your window or door.
But this is definitely a project I’d put in the DIY-friendly category.
Watch the Freshine Roman Shades Installation
In the video, I’m showing you the shades up close, how we installed them on our front doors, how they operate, and what they look like when everything is finished.
Sometimes it’s much easier to see a DIY project being done than to try to figure it out from written instructions!
More Privacy Without Losing the Natural Light
This may be my favorite part.
When we want privacy, we can simply lower the shades. When we want all the sunlight coming through the front doors, we can raise them.
That flexibility is especially nice on glass doors because I really didn’t want to permanently cover up the windows.
The shades also help reduce the amount of direct sunlight coming through the glass, which can make the entryway more comfortable when the sun is beating directly on the doors.
We Added Automation, Too!
One feature I’m really loving is that we added automation to our Freshine Roman Shades, so we don’t even have to think about raising and lowering them every day. We can program the shades to automatically go up in the morning to let in all that natural light and then lower in the evening when we want more privacy. I love anything that makes the house work a little smarter for me, and this is one of those little conveniences that you don’t realize how much you’ll appreciate until you have it!
They Look Custom Without the Custom-Installer Hassle
Window treatments are one of those home upgrades that can get expensive FAST—especially once you start adding professional measuring and installation.
That’s another reason I liked doing this project ourselves.
The finished shades give our front doors a much more customized, intentional look, but we didn’t need to bring someone in to install them.
And there’s something very satisfying about finishing a home project, standing back and thinking, “Yep. I did that!”
The Finished Result
I think the difference is pretty dramatic.
The doors looked perfectly fine before, but adding the Roman shades made the entire space feel more elegant, cozy and finished. Plus, now we have the added benefits of privacy and better control over the light coming into the house.
It’s one of those relatively simple changes that makes you wonder why you didn’t do it sooner.
Are Freshine Roman Shades Worth It?
For our home, I’m really happy with how they turned out.
I especially like that we’re getting several benefits from one upgrade: a more finished look, added privacy, better light control, and an extra layer between the glass and the room when the shades are lowered.
And the fact that this is something you can install yourself makes it even better.
If you’ve been staring at bare windows or glass doors and thinking they need something, Roman shades might be worth considering. They add softness and style without completely changing the look of the room—and you don’t necessarily have to pay someone else to install them.
For me, that’s exactly the kind of home improvement project I love: easy DIY + beautiful results!