How to Create Faux Roman Shades

Today, I'm sharing a tutorial for how to create Faux Roman Shades. These can be no-sew, if you prefer. I've also got a $250 giveaway to Minted, which is where I got the adorable fabric for my faux roman shades, as well as my curtain panels, too!

This window is in the family room in our new home. Tomorrow, I'm sharing the entire room here on the blog (with a white sectional, fun throw pillows, artwork, and lots of colorful touches!). Right now, we are using this as our tv room. It's a bit hidden behind the kitchen and the perfect place to hide out and binge on a few seasons on Netflix (not that we ever do that). Check out the tutorial to create these Faux Roman Shades below.

I created the same roman shades in our kitchen in our previous home. I posted that tutorial here on the blog, but the photos from back in 2012 are really tragic, y'all, so there's no need to put you through that again. That version was no-sew all the way (glue gun city, y'all).

But, I did make a vow to not hot glue any window treatments here in the new house (just a personal challenge, really), so I did sew these roman shades. My sewing skills are still rusty, so go easy on me if something looks off in a photo. You can easily do this with Stitch Witchery or any other type of seam tape.  

These drapery panels were actually ordered all ready to go from Minted.com. Are they not the cutest, y'all? I love that they're kind of playful and unexpected for a family room. They come in loads of other colors, too. Minted has so many curtains...I had a really hard time making a decision. They're all designed by artists and are kind of amazing. Click here to see these Chunky Stripe curtains (they come in 10 color options). 

My watercolor, dotted fabric is from Minted, too. Again, I was amazed at the fabric selection at Minted. Everything in their Minted Home collections is truly beautiful and one-of-a-kind. Click here to see this fabric on their site.

To make these faux roman shades, you'll need your fabric, pins, a rotary cutter or good scissors, and three tension rods that fit your window width. 

The inside of my window measured 35" across. In order to ensure I had no bunching of fabric, I created these shades to be a little less than the full 35". Since I was using panels on either sides of the shades, I knew the shortage would be covered up.  

I just created super simple hems with a basic stitch. Truly, if you are more skilled with a machine than I am, you would probably want to do a blind stitch. 

This is how you'll hem (or iron-on hem) your fabric. The top is a rod pocket for your shade to hang from. Leave both edges open to fit your top tension rod through.

This is definitely an in-progress pic (those are my cute Minted pillows and covers in that box...I'm showing them to you here tomorrow!). One trick that I love to use to make windows appear wider is to get a larger rod than the window width. Once the panels hang here, the window will seem as if it is the width of that rod. Also, add height to a room by hanging drapery panels all the way to the ceiling.  

I ended up using different tension rods than in my supplies photo (I bought the wrong width, BLARGH!). Hang that first rod with the shade on it at the top, then place the next rod about six inches below, and the last rod another six inches below that.  

Grab the edges of your shade and pull them to hang over the rod. You'll need to play with them a bit to get the lengths you like...as well as enough length so they don't keep sliding back over the rod. Repeat this with the bottom rod, too.

Obviously, these are not functioning roman shades (that's the faux part!). They're just decorative. But with my panels on the window, I can still have privacy in here at night. Plus, I love the layered look of panels and roman shades. The mixing of different fabrics is my absolute FAVE!

What do you think? Is this something you'd do to your windows?
From window treatments to custom artwork, you can grab everything fun for your home (and so much more!) at Minted. 

Click HERE to enter to win $250 to spend at Minted (one of my readers will win this!). 

This giveaway is only open to legal residents of the 50 United States and District of Columbia who are at least 18 years old as of the date of entry, except officers, directors, members, and employees of the Sponsor, the judging organization (if applicable), or any other party associated with the development or administration of this Promotion, and the immediate family (i.e., parents, children, siblings, spouse), and persons residing in the same household, as such individuals. This Promotion is void outside the 50 United States and the District of Columbia, and where prohibited.

Stop by tomorrow to see this entire space!

Thank you to Minted for sponsoring today's post and giveaway.
All opinions are my own.

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