Roman Shades from Mini Blinds

We’ve been needing some major updating in our bedroom. I’m working on a headboard plan, so I thought I should tackle the window treatments as well. We’ve had these treatments for about five years, and I have loved them.

 

My mom made the valances, and we used some of her old drapes to balance out the windows. They have held up well and looked great, but it was time for a change. I’m going for a less-is-more look in our bedroom now since it’s so small. It's always been small, but I just now noticed! We have a huge bed and dark furniture, so I want it to feel larger. When I saw this tutorial on making roman shades from mini blinds, I knew that’s what I wanted to do. I was going to attempt doing a tutorial for y’all (took pics and everything), but this one is so clear and fabulous, I just want you to use it instead.

First, I had to find some fabric that I loved. Our walls are blue and our coverlet is cream, so I wanted to keep the fabric neutral. Enter this fabulous fabric I found at JoAnn’s! It was on clearance for $8 a yard, then 50% off that, plus a $1.50 end of bolt discount, plus a 20% off entire purchase coupon. I got 3.8 yards for $11! I did a happy dance in the aisle when I found the fabric. E was yelling “No Mommy!” She hates it when I dance. I’m not THAT bad.

I got these mini blinds at Wal-Mart for about $10 each. I needed two.


I used Liquid Stitch to glue my blinds to the fabric and Stitch Witchery to hem the sides of the fabric. The main thing when gluing your fabric to the blinds is to make sure you don’t get any glue on the lift cord. Your blinds will not slide up and down if the lift cord is not completely free.


Ben decided to take a pic of me hanging the blinds. I love a good power drill!


Here’s the before of the other side of the room. Don’t you love my alarm clock I’ve had since I was in middle school? I just can’t part with it!


TaDa!! Here are our new Roman Shades! I am so happy with the results. The room looks so much lighter and brighter. I still need to get some black out shades to go underneath because we like our bedroom nice and dark.


The blinds go up and down very easily. I chose to extend the fabric outside of the molding because of the way our windows had been installed. There was no room to mount the blinds on the inside of the window. The window frame is almost flush with the molding.


Close up of the pleats. This fabric could not be more perfect for our room! I am still pinching myself that I got such a great deal on it!


Here’s the whole room with both Roman Shades. Tiny, isn’t it?


Tackling the headboard is next, and then I’m thinking the bedside tables need a nice coat of Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in Old White. Then, maybe I’ll be done!


Making these shades was so easy! The hardest part was measuring and making sure my fabric was even. I think my total for this project was around $35 for BOTH shades!
Beth




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