Fabric Roller Shades for Windows

Roller shades get a bad rap. Most people think of them only as the window treatment used behind a sheer curtain. They can really be so much more than that.

One of the easiest and quickest window treatments to hang are roller shades. The mounting brackets are simple to install and don't require any special tools. There are lots of options for almost any interior design.

When you think of window roller shades, do you think of cheap white plastic? You would be right, the majority of cheap roller shades are made out of a spring roller and plastic. But roller shades can be so much more than that. If you think of them in terms of a blank canvas, you can imagine all kinds of possibilities.

The mechanism that raises and lowers the shade is usually either a spring roller, or a clutch mechanism. Spring roller shades can be frustrating to work with because over time the spring doesn’t maintain the right amount of tension and then it causes the shade to stop functioning. This is usually easily corrected by removing it from the bracket and re-rolling the shade.

The clutch mechanism has a rope or beaded chain to raise and lower your shade to an exact position. This type of shade doesn’t have the same frustrating issues that the spring rollers do.

Motorized roller shades are the most expensive of the three types. These shades can be raised and lowered by flipping a switch on the wall or by remote control. They can even be programed to open and close on a timer.

Custom roller shades are fabricated to fit your window exactly, and to use specially ordered fabrics. These will cost more than a typical roller shade, but not as much as a motorized shade. The benefit to ordering custom roller shades is that you will be able to have coordinating window treatments made. For instance, if you wanted to have drapes or a valance made with the same fabrics.

If cost is an issue though, consider making your own custom roller shades.

Ideas for Shade Material

One of the best things about using a roller shade is that your selection of material to use is large. Here are some great mediums to make your own roller shade.

A stunning wallpaper design can be easily glued to the existing plastic shade. Just be sure to get all air bubbles out before letting it dry.

Vintage tablecloths are often so beautiful, but the wrong sizes for tables now days. Re-purpose them to be roller shades. Kitchens are a perfect space to use these in!

Light weight fabrics are ideal to use. Both plain and patterned fabrics will look nicely tailored on the window.

Paint – on the plastic or canvas fabric. Create your own naturally lit masterpieces. This is best used on shades that won't be kept rolled up. If they are kept in the raised position too long the paints will start to stick together.

Maps are often sold on spring rollers. You will probably need have them cut down to size.

Does all of that sound too confusing for you? Consider purchasing a roller shade kit. They are especially helpful when you want to stabalize your fabric. You use an iron to fuse a backing to the fabric. This is also provides a cleaner appearance from the street.

1. Buy cheap roller shades, cut to fit your windows
2. Remove the plastic shade from the cardboard roller (note the way it was wound on the roller)
3. Cut your fabric the width of the shade plus side hem allowances, and the length of your window plus 15”. Note – your window length may not be as long as the roller shade, so you will only need as much fabric as it takes to cover the window – plus the pocket hem and extra at the top of the roll so that the cardboard does not show. I generally add 15” for all of this.
4. Staple or glue the fabric to the cardboard roller once you have all of your hems sewn. Be careful to do this the same way it came with the plastic on the roller.
5. Roll up the shade, and you are done
6. Lastly, mount the brackets to the wall and hang the shade.

A few things to be aware of here –

• When you cut your fabric, if you have a pattern, make sure it is centered before you cut.
• If you have multiple windows in the same room, you want the fabric to look the same on each window. If your fabric has a pattern on it, find where it repeats. Once you’ve figured that out, then you can cut your fabric.
• Thicker fabrics do not work well on a roller shade because of the thickness of the roller when all of the fabric is rolled up around it.