Remember when John joked about who would win the bathroom makeover—he wanted to build a framed mirror while I leaned toward a DIY window shade? Well, the race is settled: Momma won.
We found the bold patterned fabric at an outlet called Mary Jo’s a while back. We’d used some of Clara’s favorite colors—pink and orange—for her worm-themed birthday party, so picking a fun fabric for the hall bathroom felt perfect. The room is mostly neutral with white tile, white trim, and gray walls that carry a soft plum undertone, so I wanted to add playful pops of color. We’d already added turquoise knobs to the vanity and some colorful art, and the new fabric shade ties those elements together.
The process was very simple and even easier than the kitchen shade I made recently. This project cost about $8 and took roughly fifteen minutes—no sewing machine required. In fact, this version required less fabric (only half a yard) and no pinning, so it was quicker than the kitchen shade. Here’s the step-by-step breakdown.
Minutes 1–3: Make a Paper Template
I used several pieces of cardstock and tape to make a quick paper template that matched the exact width and length of the window. Taping the template in place made it easier to visualize the final size before cutting the fabric.
Minutes 4–5: Cut the Fabric
I placed the paper template onto the fabric so the pattern was centered and cut the fabric with an inch border on each side and a wider allowance at the top (about 3″) for mounting. I deliberately left the extra inch on the sides and bottom because that matched the width of my hem tape, so once hemmed the fabric would match the template dimensions and fit the window precisely.
Minutes 6–8: Hem the Fabric with an Iron
All four edges were hemmed using no-sew iron-on hem tape. It’s a quick way to get a neat finish without sewing. If you haven’t used hem tape before, there are many short tutorials that show the basic technique—pressing the hem tape in place with a hot iron, then folding and ironing again to secure.
Minutes 9–11: Attach a Wood Mounting Piece
With the fabric hemmed to the template width and a couple inches extra at the top, we grabbed a scrap 1″ x 2″ piece of wood and cut it slightly narrower than the fabric width. This wood will be the mounting piece that sits at the top of the window frame.
Minutes 12–15: Secure the Shade and Mount It
I stapled the fabric to the wood so it would be held firmly, then screwed the wood directly into the top of the window frame like an inside-mount shade. For the bottom, I found a scrap dowel, trimmed it to just under the shade width, and rolled the bottom edge of the fabric around it. A few tiny tacking stitches in a couple of spots kept the dowel secure and gave the shade a clean, weighted hem so it hangs nicely. That step is optional—my kitchen shade doesn’t have a bottom dowel and still hangs straight—but I liked the finished look the dowel created.
The window is also frosted, which provides privacy while still letting light in, so the room feels bright rather than dark. The colors in the small fish canvas echo the shades in the fabric and tie the room together. If you want a playful, colorful moment in a small bathroom, this is a low-commitment way to do it: half a yard of fabric, a few minutes, and some inexpensive materials.
Update: A common question was how to wash this DIY shade. Like most store-bought Roman shades, it isn’t designed to be machine-washed. We didn’t have issues with similar unwashable shades in our previous home after years of use. If washability is essential, one option is to attach the fabric to the mounting wood with removable, washable Velcro instead of permanently stapling it.
The space still needs a few finishing touches, like framing the mirror and adding more color accents to balance the new shade, but it’s already feeling a lot more “us.” The other side of the bathroom has brighter elements that help balance the overall look.
If you have a plain bathroom, a half-yard of lively fabric, and a few bright accessories, you can refresh the room without a full renovation. A cheerful patterned shade is easy to change later if you want a different look.
Updated to-do list for the bathroom:
- Trim out the unbalanced window
- Switch out the light fixture
- Add meaningful art
- Build a shelf over the toilet for leaning art
- Refresh the wall color to help the tile pop
- Upgrade the vanity hardware
- Frost the window
- Make a bold fabric shade for the window (done)
- Frame out the mirror for a less builder-basic look
- Change the brassy doorknob to an oil-rubbed bronze finish
- Paint the whitewashed shelf a solid white to coordinate with the updated look
- Add finishing touches, accessories, and share a budget breakdown
Psst—want to know where we got something or the paint color? Check our shop page for details about items in the house.
