We have two skinny windows next to our master bed that I’ve struggled with. Some basic shades exist on them already that aren’t very visually appealing. I decided roman shades were the way to go with these, however after scouring the internet, I found super limited options at the width I would need, and I am not ready to commit to custom shades for this space. So I decided to make my own window coverings. I do not sew, so I used iron-on adhesive and it worked so well! Note that because I have blackout shades behind the faux roman shades, I don’t intend for mine to be functional, they will just stay as they are hung and I will move the shade behind them up and down.
1. Measure Window & Cut Fabric. Measure your window to the inside edges and add at least 1/2 inch (depends on the width of your fabric tape) to each side and the bottom and 2 inches to the top for the hems. If your fabric has a pattern, stripes or otherwise, make sure the pattern is centered an symmetrical, and can also be replicated if there are multiple windows. Using stripes with my fabric made it actually really easy to measure & cut & keep straight.
2. Hem. Hem the sides and bottom using sides using no sew iron-on adhesive. Again, having stripes made it really easy to keep everything straight and symmetrical.
3. Make a Rod Pocket. For the top, put one of the tension rods along the end, fold it over and use the adhesive to attach, making a pocket. I made it large enough so I could slide the tension rod out so I can easily switch out my shades seasonally if I want.
4. Hang. Put the top tension rod as far up in your window frame as it will go and let the shade hang down. Place the other 3 tension rods down the top part of your window at equal intervals. You can play around with what look you like best, smaller folds or larger ones. Just pull the shade out a bit to let it drape at each rod. If you want a flatter look, you can always iron seams onto the shade.
Enjoy!
What do you think?