I’ve always loved working with fabric, and I realized I’d never tried making a roman shade—even a fixed, purely decorative one. I decided it was time to remedy that, so here’s how I created a faux roman shade for my kitchen window.
The window was bare and begging for something soft. It opens into the sunroom, so I didn’t need a functioning shade that opens and closes. That made a faux shade a perfect solution: you get the look and the charm without any of the hardware or moving parts. If you enjoy natural light and rarely lower your shades, a decorative roman-style panel can bring warmth and pattern without blocking brightness.
I didn’t follow a step-by-step tutorial; I improvised as I went, but the process was simple. I measured the window and decided on a finished shade about 47″ wide by 18″ long. To allow for hems and the decorative loops that create the roman look, I cut a rectangle of fabric 49″ wide (for side hems) and 30″ long (to allow enough material to create folds and a little volume in front).
The fabric I used was a patterned cloth I loved. I picked up a yard of it locally when I found a good price, but any medium-weight upholstery or drapery fabric would work well for this project. The important considerations are that the fabric be substantial enough to hold the folded shape, and that the pattern and color suit the room.
To begin, I hemmed all four sides of the 49″ x 30″ rectangle using no-sew iron-on hemming tape. Heat-activated tape like Heat N Bond is quick and sturdy for this kind of project, and it eliminates the need for sewing if you prefer to keep things fast and low-tech. The hems give the shade a neat finished edge that looks polished when hung.
Next, I cut a short piece of 1 x 2″ scrap wood to match the finished width of the shade (about 47″). This board would anchor the top of the shade to the wall. If you don’t have a saw handy, a store that cuts lumber can size it for you. I wrapped small scraps of fabric around each end of the wood to conceal the raw edge and secured those wraps with white tape so the board would look finished from the sides once mounted.
Then I rolled the fabric around the board and taped the back side so the tape would be hidden when the shade was hanging. The flat, two-inch face of the board is the side that would be screwed to the wall; I kept tape on the back and bottom only so there would be no visible adhesive or raw wood at the top front of the shade.
To create the roman-style loops, I worked on the floor and used visual references—lining up the top of the shade with a nearby rug helped me keep everything straight. I made soft loops about 5″ deep that would show on the front, then folded and pinned each loop from the back. I pinned where each fold met the back of the fabric, so the front face stayed clean and uninterrupted.
I used long straight pins and concentrated the pinning on the back so only a tiny amount of fabric was gripped on the face; that kept the front smooth and nearly pin-free. I made two rows of folds roughly 5″ apart and also pinned the bottom edge so it would billow slightly and read like a raised roman shade. I adjusted and re-pinned a few times to keep the lines even—this part took patience and a little trial and error, but the results were worth it.
I originally planned to stitch small tacks where the pins were placed to permanently secure the folds, but the pins held very well and I was concerned that tiny stitches might create puckers. Since the pinned folds lay flat and looked neat, I left them as-is. If you prefer a more permanent finish, a few discreet hand stitches along the back folds would do the trick.
To hang the shade, I predrilled three holes into the wooden mounting strip and attached it to the wall with screws. The fabric was pulled slightly aside while the board was screwed in, so none of the fasteners went through the fabric; once mounted, the fabric fell back down and concealed the wood and screws.
The finished effect is a modest but refined treatment that dresses the formerly naked window. The shade doesn’t affect the light at all but adds texture, pattern, and a sense of height. In my kitchen it also ties together colors and elements in the room, acting as a visual bridge between the tile, rugs, and wall color.
Overall this was an easy, affordable update: roughly an hour of work and the cost of a yard of fabric. If you want the look of roman shades without the fuss of mounting blind hardware or running cords, a faux version like this is a fast, attractive solution.
What similar small fixes have you made to freshen up rooms? Decorative touches like faux rugs, plants, or shades can make a big difference without a big budget.
