How to Make a Fabric Covered Roller Shade

Learn how to turn a boring vinyl roller shade into a decorative, fabric covered roller shade. By covering a roller shade with fabric you can custom design any roller shade to match your home decor. Design a fun and whimsical theme for a child's bedroom or playroom. Create a fabric covered roller shade with a fruit, wine or food theme to liven up the kitchen. Add a touch of country to any room with a plaid or stripe fabric covered roller shade. Fabric is available in a multitude of shapes, patterns, themes and colors, so your design options are endless. Let your creativity flow, and have fun designing your fabric covered roller shade.

Materials

vinyl shade
3 yds of cotton fabric
tailors chalk
scissors
spray adhesive
fabric glue
coordinating ribbon (optional)
tassel (optional)

Directions

Begin by laying the fabric with the front side facing down, on a flat surface. Smooth out the fabric so it is nice and flat. Unroll the roller shade completely, and lay it carefully onto the fabric. Weight the shade down with a book on each end, to hold it in place. Using the tailors chalk, make an outline of the shade onto the fabric, adding an additional 1" border of fabric all the way around the roller shade. You don't need accurate measurements, just be sure to leave a fabric border.

Next, roll up the roller shade and set it a side. Using the scissors, cut the fabric along the chalk line. Take the cut fabric and with the front facing up and the pattern going in the right direction, begin rolling the fabric from the bottom towards the top.

Now once again, unroll the roller shade completely. Lay the roller shade right side up onto a flat, protected surface. You are now ready to begin attaching the fabric to the shade. You are going to attach the fabric, in sections. Beginning at the top of the roller shade, spray a coat of the adhesive back and fourth across the shades width and approximately a foot down. Starting with the top of your rolled fabric, place the fabric onto the shade rolling it down and pressing it in place. Make sure to smooth out any wrinkles or air bubbles. Once you have this section nice and smooth, continue this procedure for the next section. Follow this step, to cover the entire front of the shade with fabric. Let the fabric covered roller shade dry thoroughly.

Once the fabric covered roller shade has dried, still keeping it unrolled, flip the shade over with the back side facing up. Using the scissors, cut away any excess fabric around the shade. Cut as close and as straight as possible along the edges, carefully so not to cut the shade.

You have finished making your fabric covered roller shade. If you would like to embellish your fabric covered roller shade, you can glue a ribbon across the bottom or attach a tassle to the bottom center. Another option is to add beaded fringe or a feather boa along the bottom. Be as creative as you like, when designing your fabric covered roller shade!

Tip: A light weight cotton fabric works best for a fabric covered roller shade. It is easy to work with and thin enough, so the shade will still roll up and down.