Quick and Easy DIY Window Shade
After posting, “Our Kitchen Remodel is Complete,” I received several emails regarding the fabric shade over the kitchen sink. Most of you wanted to know where I purchased it, but truth be told, I made it!
A couple of months ago I was perusing through one of my favorite design blogs emilyaclark.blogspot.com. Emily is an incredibly talented Home Stylist with many crafty DIY ideas…but this one in particular really captured my attention, and I just knew I needed to try it myself!
During the process of our kitchen remodel we decided to remove the previous shutter over the kitchen sink as it was hindering the amount of natural light we acquired. I still wanted some sort of a window covering for privacy, but I preferred something less obstructive and with a little more character. I knew this would be the perfect time to try out Emily’s “Easy (and inexpensive) DIY Fabric Roller Shade.”
So I purchased a roller shade from Home Depot for about $9 along with a yard of patterned fabric for about $12 and put myself to work! First, I cleared off a work space on my kitchen floor, unrolled the shade and placed the fabric underneath it. I then proceeded to trim the sides of the fabric to a width that is about 2″ wider than the shade.
DIY Fabric Shade in the making
I then folded the trimmed edges over the back of the shade and used fabric glue to secure them to the shade (use the glue to secure the edges only).
DIY Fabric Shade in the making
I allowed the glue to dry, rolled up the shade and installed it with exterior mounting brackets so that the shade would sit about an inch off of the wall…..
And here is the end result!!!
DIY Fabric Roller Shade
A great big thank you, once again, to the talented Emily Clark for inspiring me to take on this project! It was fun and easy, and I am thrilled with the end result!
Julie Sheehan
That is perfect for your kitchen! Love the geometric fabric you chose.
Megan {Honey We're Home}
The tutorial I’ve been waiting for:) The fabric you chose is so awesome! Where’d you find it? It’s a little hard to tell on my computer- is it grey/tan?? We have blinds in our kitchen but I’d love to add a shade like this.
Emily
Thanks Megan! I found the fabric at Fabric Factory here in Dallas for only $12/yd! It’s kind of a greyish-taupe. You might also try http://www.premierprintsfabric.com/
They have great designs for rediculously low prices…
Abby
It just dawned on me that I still have hideous blinds in my kitchen window. I’m totally going to make a stylish shade for the window this weekend!! I’m thinking I’ll do the same for Brody’s nursery too!!
Emily
Abby, that is a great idea! It was so easy to make!
Amber
OMG I am totally going to do this! I love it. I have the perfect spot for it.
Melissa
I love these. Do they still roll up and down properly? I’ve been trying to get up the courage to make something for the house I just moved into-it has way more windows than our previous places and I don’t want to spend a fortune on window treaments!
Emily Hewett
Hey Melissa,
Yes, they do roll up and down…
Thanks!
Emily
Robyn @ Imperfect Nest
So glad Melissa asked the question about working properly. I think this will be fun to do in my children’s playroom. I didn’t want anything to hang down and get in their way. I’m saving that for the curtains to hang over the closet that I removed the doors from
Kelly Jo
WOW- this turned out fabulous! I love the idea and will blame you when I’m out looking for fabric this weekend for ALL my rooms!!
Nicole
I have been wanting a solution to the current window in our kitchen, and I think this just might be it. Thanks for sharing! Do you think this would word with a wider window since you only glue the backside edges?
Jade
Perfect! My older sister kept complaining about the hideous curtian in her kitchen and how she doesn’t want to sew new ones or buy them. Then I stumbled upon this! Brilliant. Thanks so much! (:
Teri C
I’d love to do the shade on my 6ft sliding doors. I’m thinking that a spray adhesive, along with gluing the sides might hold up well.
I do love this idea and hope so much it’ll work for my door shade. It really needs an up-date!
Amy B
I love this. Can you please tell me more about the brackets you used. Do these outside mounts usually come with the roller shade? So excited for this project. Thank you!
Linda
Great job, Emily
Do you have to bring the shade over the rod or does it matter? Over or under? I know normally
they are under.
Emily Hewett
Thanks! I brought the shade over the rod…
vickey laird
Hey Emily,
Really loved the roller shade idea. I have already made the DIY no sew roman blinds for 6 windows in my kitchen. BUT, they were only 29″ wide. I tried the same process on a 45″ wide window in hubbys office! It was a disaster! Men DONOT know how to maneuver these type blinds!! AND, it was so much heavier! So, back to the drawing board. My daughter saw your post and suggested I try roller blinds, more simple to operate. As I am adding an eagle pattern fabric( BOY SCOUT FOREVER…eagle scout…get it)…LOL…I read a question one of your readers ask about adding adhesive all over blind to stick fabric, since it is so much heavier. I didn’t see a reply… So WHAT DO YOU THINK? Adhesive to cover entire shade with fabric since such a large area? Just don’t want to mess up AGAIN! Fabric is very costly! So, what do you think?
Thanks
Vickey
Emily Hewett
I only used the adhesive on the edges…that’s what I would recommend as it worked well for me…
Debi
Do you put the frabric right side up when placing it under the shade? It looks like yours is right side up, just making sure. Thanks, can’t wait to try this project.
Gloria
Love this shade! Thanks for the tut and explaining that you pull the shade ‘over’ the rod…..that really improves the look too.
Carol
I have found what I’ve been looking for. An idea for window coverings for my kitchen and bathrooms. Since I’m a quilter I have ALOT of fabric (she with the most fabric wins and is the happiest!!! LOL). I can’t wait to make my window coverings. Thank you for the Pin
Tackling the Infamous DIY Window Shade! @ A Well Dressed Home
[...] my last 2 1/2 years of blogging, one of my most popular posts has been the Quick & Easy DIY Window Shade project inspired by the fabulous Emily Clark. So when I opened my email yesterday morning to find [...]
DIY Kitchen Shade « The Pink Lobstah
[...] saw a fabulous post about a year ago from one of my fave blogs A Well Dressed Home and have been patiently waiting to try it. FINALLY- since we purchased our home in September I got [...]