No SEW DIY Fabric Roller Shade

You are sure to find many projects gone right and a few that I'm sure will go wrong posted on this blog. We've purchased our second home and although it was pristine when we bought it, we are committed to contstant improvement, style and making it our own!

 

 

One of the huge selling points to this home was the bedroom right off of the Living Room, ideal for a Playroom. In our last home, our daughter Harper Rose's room was her dedicated kid zone. There were a few issues with it however; it was so lovely I wanted nothing to take place in there! I could see my hard work vanishing before my eyes to grease, grim, food and all other things baby! It was also located upstairs. Again, gorgeous but everyone with children knows the reality of relocating the whole family upstairs to "play" is a far stretch. Back to my infatuation with this perfectly plotted room in the new house!

The Playroom is almost completed now, thanks in part to the easy completion of these no sew fabric roller shades. I found this nifty project originally on my all time favorite blog Emily A. Clark ! After researching on Google I also came across another design blog (now favorite of mine) A Well Dressed Home . Both blogs detail separate projects tackling these window treatments.

Here's my step by step guide to getting this done, stylishly!

Measure your window width; don't worry too much about the length unless abnormally tall or short. You will also need to determine if you will mount the shades from the inside of the window frame or on the outside. If you mount on the outside, note a LONGER width than the inside. Then head to your neighborhood hardware or big box store. Skip walking around for 25 minutes trying to find the small aisle cap with the very limited selection of roller shades and just ask someone. I assume the selection or lack there of is due to the fact that until I saw these two inspiring posts there is NO chance I would have considered using roller shades as window treatments. The 70s called and want their treatments back! Hopefully the kind associate that leads you to the stock will also let you know they will cut the shades to your desired width, for free! The ones we purchased were on sale for $5.97 each; below are the specs online. Don't forget the mounting brackets!

 

 

Head to the fabric store of your choice and select your fabric and purchase your no sew fabric glue. I love bold and graphic prints, so that is exactly what we went with. If you're looking to make a statement with small windows, select something that speaks! If your window is larger and you would like to treat it to let another stunning piece shine, select a solid or a pattern that may appear a little more subdued. Do some quick math before having your fabric cut and ensure you have a little scrap. For 2 windows that were 35" wide and 72" long, I purchased 4 yards. I brought a coupon for 40% off fabric by the yard so my grand total for 4 yards of home decor fabric was $18! You do not need to use something really thick, as a matter of fact, thinner the better.

(If you attempt to do while the kids are home or awake; fair warning- this might happen!)

 

Clear a large flat and clean space to lay out your fabric and unroll the roller shade. Fabric goes down first, pattern down. Then place roller on top of pattern, arranged showcasing your pattern to your liking.

 

Bring roller shade round cardboard base just over the start of the fabric. You want the center (like the center of a paper towel roll) to be free at the top without fabric. This way the fabric will roll easily when retracted or pulled down. Begin folding all three sides of the roller shade over with fabric and glue. Use the glue sparingly as you do not want any access present, however be sure it sticks! Be careful not to fold and glue too tightly. It should be snug yet have a little room to give for rolling.

 

Fold the two corners over tightly like folding wrapping paper and glue.

Your glue will say 24 hours dry time; I sped it up with a hairdryer. Ultimate dry time was about 3 hours. Be sure it is DRY before rolling!

 

 

Before windows.....

 

Best hubby in the world hanging brackets! We chose to hang outside of the window frame as we wanted to keep the horizontal blinds.

 

TA DA! No Sew DIY Fabric Roller Shades are complete! $28 and about 2 hours total time later, we have custom looking window treatments that scream style!

Don't be shy; go out and get it done! Leave comments! We want to know what you think about our first DIY post! Trust me, YOU CAN DO IT!

May there be enough style to last through the coming years; chat soon!