| When you are decorating a room, the window | | | | In order to replace the plastic with fabric, use the |
| treatments can often break your budget. Panels | | | | plastic that has been removed from the shade as |
| can easily run over one hundred dollars from the | | | | a pattern. Add a couple of inches to the width |
| popular decorating stores. For an inexpensive | | | | and about three inches to the length. Then you |
| window treatment, try using roller shades. | | | | will need to make the fabric stiffer using the |
| Roller shades are very inexpensive and easily | | | | fusible interfacing. You will find fusible interfacing at |
| installed. If you just choose the inexpensive plastic | | | | most fabric or craft stores. |
| window shades, they are not going to do much to | | | | This interfacing is attached to the back of the |
| complement your new decor. Why not get | | | | fabric using an iron. Use seam sealant along the |
| creative with those roller shades and make your | | | | final trim lines to prevent the interfacing and fabric |
| own custom window treatments. | | | | from separating. Trim the sides to the size of the |
| You should be able to find roller shades that fit | | | | plastic shade using long scissor strokes to prevent |
| your window for less than ten dollars. If you have | | | | the sides from looking chopped. At the bottom of |
| an existing window shade, you can save even | | | | the shade fold one-half to three quarters of an |
| more money. | | | | inch to serve as a hem and secure using no-sew |
| You will also need to choose a fabric for the roller | | | | tape. |
| shade. Once again, if you have something that will | | | | With thinner material, you can simply attach the |
| work in the room great, otherwise, you will need | | | | material to the plastic shade. You will need to find |
| to purchase fabric that coordinates with your new | | | | material that is slightly narrower than the plastic |
| room. Look for discontinued fabrics or even the | | | | portion of the shade so that you have finished |
| end of a bolt of fabric that will match your room | | | | edges. Spray the material lightly with the spray |
| to save even more money. The fabric should not | | | | adhesive, being careful that you do not saturate |
| be sheer nor should it be plush. | | | | the fabric. The material is then laid smoothly onto |
| With thicker fabrics, you are going to remove the | | | | the unwound shade and the wrinkles are |
| plastic from the shade and replace it with fabric | | | | removed. Be sure that you attach the material on |
| that has been stiffened to stay in place. Before | | | | the side that will face the room. Use double stick |
| removing the plastic, be sure that you note the | | | | tape if you want to add trim to the shade. |
| direction it is rolled onto the roller shade. This will | | | | If you are having difficulty with the shade opening |
| allow the spring to work and allow you to raise | | | | and closing, take it down and roll the shade tightly. |
| and lower the shade. | | | | Secure it with several rubber bands. If three or |
| With thinner fabrics, you will simply use spray | | | | four days, remove the rubber bands and put the |
| adhesive to adhere the fabric to the plastic of the | | | | shade back in the window. It should work with no |
| shade. | | | | problems now. |