To further inspire you to turn your mini blinds into fabric shades, here are some photos meant to get your creative juices flowing.
Try using fabrics with prints for your shades. Notice that many of these fabrics are mostly white or cream with an accent color print.
Stripes are great on shades, too.
I love the big fat stripe right down the middle of this shade.
Try using a neutral fabric for the base of your shade and then add a printed fabric border.
I think it’s hard to go wrong with a gauzy neutral fabric.
Solid colors are safe, but still a fun option.
If you want to kick it up a notch, add some ribbon trim.
This adorable shade for a little girl’s bathroom looks classy and youthful with the ball fringe.
I almost made a fancy cut-out bottom on my DIY shades, but decided the look was too fussy for my room. Seeing these pictures makes me wonder if I should have just gone for it.
I love this little girl’s room. The solid pink shade layered with the green and pink canopy is just about perfection by my standards.
Here’s another fun print-and-solid layered shade. This one features a valence.
Layering shades and curtains in this room creates depth. An added bonus here is the black shades will make the room nice and dark when you’re sleeping.
Love the look of shade-over-shade here below.
For a totally custom look, use the same fabric for your shades and curtains.
Isn’t this a great photo below? I love the two different fabrics on the shades. Using only the print on these long windows would be overwhelming and using only solid colored fabric would be so boring. But together, the look is genius!
Hopefully you’re inspired! Now get out there and invest a little money in fabric and glue and make yourselves some new shades!
OMG! Loved this post! Great pics of gorgeous rooms and so many shade options. I’m inspired!
a beautiful post filled with yummy eye candy. I so wish i had a spot to try your project out with.
I am always AMAZED at the sheer number of examples on each post! I love this idea btw. :)
These are some great, great ideas. However, I was immediately entranced by the picture of the nursery – the pale blue walls with the shocking pink carpet – what a nice contrast and tells me any gender could be inhabiting that little bed. I love it!
thank you for all the fabulous ideas. i cannot wait to implement this someday. i especially love the picture with the solid and printed curtain, so my kinda look. i love the fringe ball trim too.
thanks!!!
Bless you – how did you know I needed pix like this??? I’ve GOT to replace the curtains on my front window which is like 90″ wide…and I couldn’t visualize how a wide roman shade would look on it – now I can!!!
Thanks an million for all those great pics! :D
fabulous! I especially love the idea of layering the shades. That is def. a new idea to me!
what brilliant ideas!!!! thank you so much.
too much goodness!
i literally just finised making curtains on saturday. sigh.
Jenny, thank you so much! I’m thoroughly inspired. Now not only am I going to tackle the five windows in our bedroom, but I’ll start with one in my baby’s room (I’ll need practice). I’ve got a really cute striped fabric for it. I’ll send a picture when it’s done. Thanks again!
Wow, it’s almost as if you and I have the same photo file. I love so many images, and have them already saved on my computer!
sorry, accidently posted this question on the previous inspiration post.
can anyone help me ID the area rug on the first picture?
Hi Ti,
I wish I new the source for that rug! It’s a gorgeous one. It sort of looks like something from the Rug Company. Maybe?
I titled the photo Kohler, who sells furniture as well as bath and sink fixtures, so that might help in your search a little…
j
This is a wonderful idea that I’m excited to try! I stumbled across a link to your blog on the amazon page for an apartment therapy book a few days ago–love your site!
Thank you so much for this post, it’s very inspiring! I tried my hand at making some roman shades last summer, and am amazed by all the creativity shown here!
I loved the green Relaxed Romans. Does anyone know how to adapt the tutorial?
TIA
Shelley
bwhat a great thing to do with the blinds that little hands have broken a few slats, or small friends have punctured a few holes in! My grandma would be so proud to see the creativity of making something beautiful out of something that might have been thrown in the trash. ;-)
To make the slouchier shades, use a lighter weight fabric (so the plastic blinds won’t bend) and only glue on the last few inches of the slats.
Good luck!
This is an amazing, inspirational post. Thank you so much!
I wish I could see how you made the blinds… just when I needed them. Maybe you could email me directions?
I love this tutorial! I'm working on my second room of shades in the past 12 months and I've hit a bit of a snag. The cord that lifts the shades up and down has slipped out of the gears and I'm not sure what to do. Jenny, do you have any tips about what I can do to fix it? Can't wait to get my green zebra print shade up in my little rental kitchen. Thanks for your help and inspiration!
Absolutely amazing! I am now on my third variation of no sew roman shades and I am so inspired by these pics! Thank you!! I saw your burlap shades – have you ever tried stenciling on burlap? I'm thinking about trying it possibly with a ribbon edging. Love your blog!!!
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I am so totally inspired ! Thank you,, love your blog..
These are all amazing, just when I was in a designers rut, you saved me. Fabric…Check, Glue…Check, Here goes nothing : )