How You Can Make Your Own Blinds

In this article, you will learn more about the steps to make DIY blinds. Venetian blinds are sturdy and beautiful window treatments that come in various sizes, colors, designs, and materials.

While you can buy blinds in home improvement stores, it’s also possible to create your own blinds with a little creativity and resourcefulness.

How You Can Make Your Own Blinds

Before going through the steps to making your own blinds, take a look at the description and benefits of Venetian blinds for your reference and additional inspiration.

What Are Venetian Blinds?

Venetian blinds capture the European home aesthetic and are known for their horizontal slats. This window treatment can be made of wood, aluminum, plastic, vinyl, fabric, and other materials.

The slats of Venetian blinds are held together with cords or decorative tapes, that can be rolled up or down every time the blinds are raised or lowered. Cordless varieties are also available, which use a motor and controller to raise or lower the blinds.

Here are the benefits of installing Venetian blinds at home:

• Versatile: This window treatment is adaptable to many indoor settings. For instance, aluminum blinds work well in high-damp areas, while real or faux wood blinds add elegance and functionality in your living room.
• Easy to Clean: Blinds are easy to clean and maintain by using a damp cloth to wipe out dust and grime.
• Privacy And Light Control: Venetian blinds offer superior privacy and light control, and are much cheaper than shutters.

Step-by-step Guide To Making DIY Blinds

Now that you’re aware of what Venetian blinds are all about, as well as their benefits, it’s time to learn how to make your own Venetian blinds at home. The steps below use fabric as the main material.

Step One: Prepare All The Things You’ll Need 

One of the best ways to improve your home is changing your window treatments into something new and interesting. Doing it yourself means that you’ll create Venetian blinds that fit your style perfectly, and learn a new skill in the process!

Before you get started, preparation is very important to ensure the process is efficient and fun. Take a moment to prepare the following materials and tools for this project:

Materials:

• Fabric for the blinds (in a design that fits the aesthetic of the room)
• Velcro tape
• Dowels
• Battens
• Eye hooks 
• Nylon cord 
• Plastic rings

 Tools:

• Sewing machine  
• Tape measure
• Scissors 
• Drill  
• Iron and ironing board
• Glue gun
• Pencil

 Step Two: Take Measurements

Mark the areas to install wood dowels that will be used to hang up your DIY blind. Next, cut your chosen fabric and then hem it and flip it over. From the bottom, sketch each fold of the blind using a marker (8 to 12 inches). 

Check the following tips when taking blind measurements:

• Space the marks nice and even so it can be folded up when it is on the wall. 
• When measuring the length, make room for the extra dowel for a very long blind or remove one for a short blind.
• Leave additional space on the top, as this part is where the blind will be hung.  

Step Three: Make Dowel Pockets

Fabric strips should be cut for the dowels. Here’s how:

• Cut the fabric strips about 2 inches for pockets.
• You can use a fabric lining to create a sturdier blind.
• Adjust the dowel pockets as necessary.

Step Four: Tape Or Stitch Fabric Strips

The next step is taping the fabric strips to form the blind pockets using a hemming tape. Use an iron to get the fabric strips to stick. Spread the fabric strips, working carefully while ironing the long fabric edges. To create pockets, leave the shorter ends open.

You can also stitch each fabric strip backed with lining to conceal the stitching in front of the blind.

Step Five: Insert The Dowels In Pockets

Insert the dowels into the dowel pockets. You can use 3⁄4 inch wood dowels with the same pocket length. Slide the dowels into the pockets, which will be used to string the blinds. 

Step Six: Install Your DIY Blinds

Install your outside-mounted DIY blinds using a headrail or wood over the window using 2-inch drywall screws. Every 12 inches, add the screws across the middle part of the wood. For inside-mounted blinds, attach a wood board to the window frame’s top edge for adequate support. Staple your DIY blind against the board. 

Step Seven: Attach The Screws

Attach eye screws about 2 inches from the wood board ends, twisting the screws clockwise. Add more eye screws for added stability, especially if you have heavy blinds that need extra support.

Step Eight: Tie And Run The Blind Cords

Tie blind cords through eye screws so you can lift the blinds. Cut a separate cord for every eye screw column set. The cord is run from the top to the bottom and the bottom eye screw is knotted.

Make sure that the cords are about 1 1⁄2 inches longer than the DIY blinds. Once it is done, make sure to cut the excess length.

Next, run the cords on the upper eye screws, then to the right. Allow the cords to hang from the side. You can also install an additional eye screw under the headrail for extra support.

Remember that the cord’s length highly depends on the blind’s length and the length you want for the pull-out cord. You can leave the cord long and cut the excess length later if you’re still undecided.

Step Nine: Hang A Metal Cleat

Installing blinds requires a metal cleat to hold the pull cord, so you have to install one on the wall. This blind feature is like a wall rack, keeping your homemade blinds properly positioned wherever you want them. Metal cleats usually come with screws. 

Put the metal cleat to the blinds and keep it close to the headrail. Tie the cords together, creating a pull cord that perfectly fits in the cleat. You can reposition your blinds by taking the pull cord from the cleat. Once you’re done adjusting, you can place the metal cleat back.

As you can see, making your own fabric blinds from scratch is completely doable. With the right materials, tools, and a spark of creativity, you can make beautiful and functional blinds for any room in your home.