Thursday, January 9, 2014

Ideas for Dressing up Inexpensive Roller Shades

We need window treatments. Remember all those new windows we installed after getting our energy audit last year?  Well, those new windows need new window treatments.


We waited to do window treatments until the new window were installed, which is usually not a problem out here on our little peninsula. We rarely worry about privacy out here (to the possible dismay of our neighbors), and the views are Uh-Maze-Ing.

Sometimes, however the afternoon sun can be BLINDING, and sometimes we just want to watch a movie on our projector during the day.

In a perfect world, I would call my local blinds and shades rep and have something custom installed. The quality, beauty and function of really nice custom window treatments is incomparable. I recommend going custom whenever it makes sense. That said, my budget is screaming for something a little less expensive.  I have looked at off-the-shelf, semi-customizable pleated shades and bamboo shades and grass shades. Nothing seems quite right, and really, even the semi-custom stuff starts to get expensive when you're covering dozens of windows.  So, now we're looking at budget friendly roller shades. Plain roller shades can be bought off the shelf, cut to width and embellished to suit your decor.

Here are a few of my favorite DIY embellished roller shades from around the web:

Janis, at All Things Beautiful shares how she stenciled a houndstooth pattern on the shades in her son's room. Wow!


I am Momma, Hear Me Roar shares how she dressed up her roller shades to coordinate with her other window treatments.


I love the map laminated roller from this Better Homes and Gardens article.  What a great way to dress up a boy's room -- or a living room, or an office!


These roller blinds were dressed up with painted stripes!


I like the classic details of this roller shade from Good Housekeeping.  Simple instructions can be found here.


I was completely wowed by these painted chevron roller shades from The Velvet Toolbox!  Oh my goodness!


Lest you feel intimidated by the painted chevron, folks, it just doesn't get any easier than these roller shades embellished with orange masking tape!  Check them out at How About Orange.


Here is another simple and classic idea!  Simply add a pretty tassel.

photo: Joseph De Leo

You can even replace the plastic that comes with your roller shade with sheer fabric, like this pretty roller shade.


Janell Beals shares how she added just a touch of rickrack to the shades in her daughter's room.  I love the whimsy the rickrack adds!


What do you think? Love the look of embellished roller shades? Love roller shades? Hate them?  Lord knows, I've had a few run-ins with rogue roller shades in older homes, but I think I'm up for the challenge (and goodness knows, the neighbors will all breathe a sigh of relief)!