How To: Make Shades from Mini Blinds

Window coverings can be a costly and often neglected project for many. During the summer however, they more than pay for themselves by keeping some of that sun heat out of your home. IKEA shades work well (if there's one nearby), but mini-blinds are often the cheap and default option for most. Here's an easy and attractive DIY upgrade to the standard mini-blind...

Jenny from LittleGreenNotebook has put together a great Hot-To on turning standard mini blinds into a roman-shade-like shades.

The materials are simple:

Tape measure
Scissors
Fabritac (or comparable fabric glue - not hot glue)
Mini blinds (think recycled)
Fabric (yardage depends on the size of your window)
Trim (optional)

I'll let you visit LittleGreenNotebook for the full instructions, but here are a couple photos of the process:

All photos from LittleGreenNoteBook.

Little Green Notebook via How's House.

Comments (4)

very, very cool

posted by Lizzykewl on July 1st 2009 at 3:06pm
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I did this project, reusing my beat up old mini-blinds. The outside view ends up looking a bit unfinished, but from the comments on LittleGreenNotebook it seemed that gluing on a liner makes it not fold up nicely. So I glued ribbon on the back side of just the mini-blind slats - it looks pretty good. Also, it's a bit weird because the pull cord ends up between the shade and the window - I don't mind it, but I suppose other people might.

posted by MrsCatbird on July 1st 2009 at 3:18pm
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MrsCatBird, thanks for the tips!

posted by ttbj on July 1st 2009 at 3:57pm
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I wish I'd seen this seven years ago when I got rid of all the mini-blinds in the little house I bought.

posted by Annieo on July 2nd 2009 at 4:22pm
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