I want to replace window coverings - help!

[ThoughtCriminal]

3 windows in our living room have ancient aluminum mini-blinds. We hate them.

The inside window dimension is 61" wide and 46.5" high and I'm having troble finding anything ready-made that fits inside that width. There are all kinds of nice custom treatments but the cost is way over budget.

Any ideas for an attractive, low-cost, DIY solution for the not-too-skilled?

[NMDemDist2]

1. curtains are EASY to sew. I do it all the time

and one of my favorite window treatments are good old fashioned roller shades. Penny's sells nice ones starting at $10 ($25 for a big window like that) and I can tell you they hold up. We had them in our PHX house for 7 years and they were like new when we sold. and they're easy to clean since they're vinyl, just wipe em with a damp cloth

here's the link to the one's we've used and I'm about ready to order 3 for my new bedroom

http://www4.jcpenney.com/jcp/ProductsHOM.aspx?DeptID=25437&CatID=28540&CatTyp=DEP&ItemTyp=G&GrpTyp=ENS&ItemID=0f7adf8&ProdSeq=2&Cat=roller&Dep=Window&PCat=Shades&PCatID=28537&RefPage=ProductList&Sale=&ProdCount=9&RecPtr=&ShowMenu=&TTYP=&ShopBy=0&RefPageName=CategoryAll.aspx&RefCatID=28537&RefDeptID=25437&Page=1&CmCatId=25437|28537|28540

as for curtains, they're easy too. I don't sew really but have made curtains several times. the key is to measure measure measure and iron down where you're gonna sew. DH laughs cuz it takes me 4 times longer with the tape measure and ironing board than the sewing

I have seen lots of HGTV shows where they make cornices that look easy enough for me to do

what did you have in mind??

here's a pic of some curtains I did out of a king sheet with the roller shade in my old house



also, here's the kitchen (I know the color of the shades is ghastly but that kitchen had ISSUES!) I made the toppers out of a couple cafe curtains I found at the thrift store. These were west facing windows and those shades got COOKED all summer. I had very little fabric for these but they were the right color and pattern and only $2 for the curtains.

Thrift stores are great places to find curtains and drapes cheap cheap too!

[ThoughtCriminal]

2. Nice - thank you

And you have good taste IMVHO.

[NMDemDist2]

3. you didn't say what you were thinking of wanting in your room

do you need privacy? light control? is the room formal or casual?

so many choices, so few windows :rofl:

[ThoughtCriminal]

12. Mostly privacy - casual

There is also a bit of a glare on the TV across the room, but we seldom watch it during daylight hours.

[NMDemDist2]

13. warpy's idea below is a good one, here's a link i found for rice paper

shades that look good

http://www.surprisesurprise.com/products/Rice_Paper_Blinds.507.html

[troubleinwinter]

4. AZDem always has the BEST ideas!

Those shades are sure a great price... and come in the wide width needed.

Do you really need inside mount? You may be able to go with ready-mades if you use outside mount. I used to be in 'the industry', and outside mount is considered more insulating, because of the extra airspace. Depends on your style & needs.

I have ordered many times from American Blinds (most recently when I moved & had to get a houseful!!) http://www.decoratetoday.com/default.asp?si=5. FREE shipping.

[NMDemDist2]

5. awww, shucks!

:blush:

hey, got a question for ya. my MH has 2.5-3" recess in the windows. there used to be two windows (like a storm window) but the interior ones are gone now. do ya think it's better to have inside mounts exactly the right size or should I go with outside mounts that hang over top and bottom and both sides?

since we are hoping not to use the gas furnance this winter and get by on just the EconoHeaters my window covers will make a big difference I think

:hi:

[troubleinwinter]

6. Mostly a matter of personal taste.

If ya have pretty window trim, it's nice to have them inside mount.

I know I aint got pretty trim, so I prefer outside mount. I use miniblinds because I like to tilt/adjust the light... so the blinds are always pulled down, but tilted open. And outside mount makes the windows appear larger.

In general, outside mount is a bit more energy efficient, because of the deeper airspace between blind and glass.

Your windows have a pretty good depth, so if you go with inside, try to mount them flush with the front of the depth for most airspace. IF you use roller shades... even better, you can pull out the staples at the top, and "reverse roll" the shades, restaple, giving you another inch or so of air space. Sorta like changing the way the toilet paper rolls!

Good choice (energy-wise) for rooms you don't use much (or don't need to see out of all the time) are the "cellular" or "honeycomb" shades.

For miniblinds, in winter, tilt the top of the slat towards the room (heat rises and will sorta gloss over the slats & rise & stay in the room). In summer, tilt top of the slat towards the glass and the heat coming thru the window will stay somewhat trapped against the glass.

[NMDemDist2]

7. thanks for the info! smart trick on the shades and I really don't care

for mini blinds and have mostly taken them down except where I haven't addressed privacy needs

I really need to get going on getting some drapes made before the weather turns.....

those honeycomb ones do work well, I have a southern door with a window and I bought a cheapie paper shade for there (in the utility/laundry room) and it really does a great job keeping the heat down in there in the afternoon

[troubleinwinter]

8. I was gonna mention the paper ones!

I have seen them now & then at places like Cost Plus. I have always wondered if one could take some thin watercolor paint and give them a soft coloring, or if the glue would give out.

Mini-blinds aren't the most beautiful things, but I like the ability to control the light. Being able to tilt them to still let light in & see out, while keeping the blaring sunlight out.

I worked for years at a place that made the custom window coverings for customers of high-end department stores in CA (Bullocks, Breuners, etc.), model homes, as well as private interior decorators... draperies, roman shades, lambrequins, shades, etc.

I think because I was around so many draperies, I haven't chosen to have them for years. I usually have a simple valance or tab side panels.

We once moved into a house where the living room had four big windows with pleated traverse sheers, jaquard satin draperies, swags and jabots. I pulled em down the first minute of the first day. Thousands of dollars worth of custom draperies!

When I moved in here, the living room & dining had gathered rod-pocket valances of some very nice plaid fabric. I took the rod-pocket stitching out, raised the rods and put the valances on rings. They look a bit more 'tailored' and less busy. Also, the valances were hanging about 7" into the window... I raised them so they barely cover the top of the window. They give the impression of being much larger and let in more light.

Hey... do you remember in Frugal/Energy forum someone came across the idea of bubblewrap on the window glass? I told a friend who lives in a MH in very hot/cold climate and has a room where she doesn't need to see out of the windows, but needs it temp controlled for her pets. She tried it! Says it works great! I thought it was so clever.

[NMDemDist2]

10. i'm really thinking of trying my hand at Roman shades

depends how much overtime this new job is gonna throw at me in the next couple months...,

[troubleinwinter]

11. They are cool.

They're easy to make, just a bit tedious, sewing miles of straight lines & stringing cords.

I imagine you get Joann's 40% coupons either online or in the mail. http://www.joann.com/catalog.jhtml?CATID=95002&PRODID=131993#review

WHAT new job? Didn't catch that! Congrats!!

[NMDemDist2]

18. for curtains, I want to try my hand at the new "back tab" ones they

are making now. It looks easy to do and gives a nice tailored look I think. you can also use them on a pocket rod or with clips

http://zoom.jcpenney.com/is/image/0900631b80dedc92M.TIF

[youthere]

20. I made a set for my living room one time and they turned out great.

They were tedious though.

[Warpy]

9. My front window is 60 1/2"

So I have a 60" rice paper accordion shade with drapes at either end to cover the small gap. There is enough drapery material to cover the window in cold weather, an added layer that really cuts down on drafts off the cold glass.

I've had the shade up for about 8 years without problems. My cats haven't destroyed it.

Import stores usually stock them, and you can also check discount stores.

[ThoughtCriminal]

14. Have you seen other colors?

White would be OK, but we would like to consider adding some color to the room.

[NMDemDist2]

15. this place has a couple choices

http://www.brylanehome.com/product.aspx?PfId=85098&DeptId=7541&producttypeid=1&ViewAll=1&affiliate_id=008&affiliate_location_id=01&WT%2Emc_id=k22350&mid=j11129192

but not in the size you need it seems :(

[Warpy]

16. Nope, and the only way I'd consider adding color

is with quick drying oil based spray paint.

Rice paper dissolves with water.

[politicat]

17. a few ideas we've tried over the years....

Our back door has glass in the upper half, and it's right next to the laundry machines, so if we need to run to the machines to get something in the morning, the neighborhood gets a peek. So we found mulberry paper at one of the craft stores (it's a heavy, translucent tissue paper) and glued it into the window frame on the glass. (It is a mullioned window, so we did alternating squares of a red and cream.) It was very pretty and we replaced the paper every 6 months or so when it got sun-faded. We used a paper glue and it came off with a spritz of water and a scraper.

ETA: We did the same thing with a kitchen window at my great-grandfather's house. Each morning when he was having breakfast, the sun got him right in the eyes and made it hard for him to eat, but he liked that spot because he could look out the other kitchen window and see how the farm was doing. So we glued a thin wrapping material rather like interfacing (we got it at Meijers) used for wedding presents (it had a delicate silver bell pattern on it) on the offending window, leaving the bottom half uncovered. It was the perfect sun diffuser - let the light in without blinding anyone.

We have cats, so miniblinds are right out - they will either bang up the slats or hang themselves on the cords. We have matchstick bamboo blinds on most of the windows; they're good for privacy (I can see out, but people can't see in) and the cats can't kill them. On the other windows, I got Redishades from Lowes (they're folded paper with clips) and stapled them to the top of the window. When the shades are beaten up (every year or so) I pull them off the wall and replace. They run $6 and I like the way the light comes in through the paper far better than through blinds. I considered real paper blinds, but I'll still have to replace them every year, so the Redishades won.

In one apartment, I tacked sheer fabric over the window and painted designs on it with craft paint. The window looked out on the parking lot, and I wanted privacy, light and a screen from the sheer ugliness of the world outside. I used thriftstore sheers and celtic stencils, and it looked very nice. Trim the fabric to the window size plus 1 inch in all dimensions. It also kept cat out of window, because while I was allowed to have her, there were some dogs that roamed the neighborhood and she would have gone through the glass to kill them.

We covered a set of the matchstick blinds with red velvet and bound the edges with black gaffer's tape to darken our bedroom. I ended up having to use spray adhesive to get the velvet to stay in place, but they look really nice and keep the morning light and the street light out of my eyes.

I made my living room curtains out of used banquet tablecloths that I found at a restaurant resale shop. The cloths were 90x90 and a little faded. A run through a black dyebath (the LR is in grey, black, cream and red) restored the color and all I needed was rods and supports.

My sister covered a couple of windows in her kitchen with vintage aprons - she opened the seam ends on the ties, scrunched the aprons onto a cafe rod, and hung them. They're wild aprons, and go perfectly with her very vintage kitchen.

[Mist]

19. This is simple, but perhaps a bit temporary:

A panel with two tension rods, top and bottom. Move the bottom one up to top of the window during the day, leaving the bottom half of the window open to light. This works if you don't care about the view too much!

[youthere]

21. My aunt did the coolest thing...

She was able to find some fabric tablecloths on clearance for $2 apiece and she attached clip rings to them (I think they are like $7 a bag) and then hung them on a "decorator" rods (a piece of painted dowel with purchased finials attached). I think altogether she dressed two patio doors and three windows in her living room for under $100.

[youthere]

22. If you are artistic at all...

have you considered painting the glass? Glass paints are available at craft stores in a lot of different colors and they remove easily with a razor blade scraper.