Sunday, February 27, 2011

DIY Ladder Tape Detail on Blinds

This project (blind and valance) is so simple and inexpensive.  It probably took a total of 3 hours and approximately $55 total. 


Today, I'll explain how to add ladder trim detail to basic blinds. 

Materials:
- Wood or faux wood blinds (I use 2" faux wood blinds from JC Penney) and tools needed for installation (drill/screwdriver/pencil/level).
- Ribbon or jacquard trim (I found this greek key trim on ebay - I think it was about $20 for 10 yards).
- Hot glue gun and glue sticks.

Step #1:  Measure your trim by adding about 3 inches to the length of the blind.

Step #2:  Cut as many lengths of trim as needed to cover the lift cords (I chose to cover all 3, but you could also leave the middle lift cord un-covered)

Step #3:  Glue the top end of one of your cut trim pieces to the underside of the top of the shade (centered above one of the lift cords) with your hot glue gun (I created a little clean "hem" first by folding over the end of the trim and gluing it down).


Step #4:  With the blinds closed, find the lift cord between the top two slats and pinch it to the trim.  Keeping the cord and trim pinched in your fingers, open the blinds. 


Step #5:  Turn the trim so you can access the back of it with your hot glue gun, and place a small bead of hot glue over the lift cord to attach it to the trim (see photo below).

Step #6:  The tedious part will be holding your arms up high, because you'll need to keep the trim/cord steady while the glue dries.  Once the first glued spot is dry, test the shade by opening and closing.  If it's able to close fully, open the shade again and work your way down the shade adding a dab of glue to connect the trim to the cord between each slat.



 Step #7:  At the bottom, I just glue the trim to the bottom piece of the blinds all the way under and around the back.  To keep the end from fraying, you can either treat it with fray check, seal it with a lighter (if it's synthetic) or create another hem by folding and gluing.




Step #8:  Repeat for as many lift cords as you intend to cover.

That's it!  Here's how it looks open:


And, here it is open and lifted:



It's fully functional, and gives the window a really custom look at a really great price.

Tune back in tomorrow for a tutorial on the box-pleat valance!

If you try this - I'd love to see photos!


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15 comments:

  1. Karen April 22, 2011 at 9:55 AM

    This is fantastic. I was planning to replace the wood blinds in our guest bath, but now I'm convinced that this could give me a low-cost alternative.

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  2. SheilaG @ Plum DoodlesApril 22, 2011 at 11:29 AM

    wow, I love this!!! Just found you from another blog (oops, can't remember which one), and I'm loving your projects, can't wait to check out more! :)

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  3. 12 devonshireApril 22, 2011 at 10:12 PM

    Thanks for the kind comments!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Ana @ Don't Fear the RipperApril 23, 2011 at 11:53 AM

    What a stunning transformation! I don't need to think about Smith + Noble anymore ;-)...

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  5. Regina from The Queenly AbodeApril 23, 2011 at 10:59 PM

    Hi, I would love to cover my blinds like this, do I glue the fabric to the middle cord?
    Thanks,
    Regina

    ReplyDelete
  6. 12 devonshireApril 25, 2011 at 1:08 AM

    Hi Regina - you would only glue to the front cord. The middle cord (front to back) is the lift cord, and needs to remain unobstructed. If you're thinking of covering the whole blind with fabric to make a roman shade (I wasn't sure if that's what you meant by "cover" your blinds), I'm not sure this method would work - but let me know if it does. Thanks for reading! I'd love to see your finished project!

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  7. BlindsOctober 1, 2011 at 3:39 AM

    I am beyond impressed. They look fabulous and stunning!

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  8. janrnApril 24, 2012 at 10:57 PM

    This is definately my next project! Thx for the tutorial.

    ReplyDelete
  9. janrnApril 24, 2012 at 10:59 PM

    This is definately my next project! Thx for the tutorial.

    ReplyDelete
  10. janrnApril 24, 2012 at 10:59 PM

    This is definately my next project! Thx for the tutorial.

    ReplyDelete
  11. janrnApril 24, 2012 at 10:59 PM

    This is definately my next project! Thx for the tutorial.

    ReplyDelete
  12. UnknownAugust 14, 2012 at 12:38 PM

    I like this. :} Blinds are a great window cover for keeping the light out and protecting our privacy. Very useful, indeed. But sometimes they do come in designs which are not so flattering to a room. Thanks for giving me an idea: Putting a little twist to blinds without interfering with its purpose. Thanks! :D

    Roxie Tenner

    ReplyDelete
  13. AnonymousSeptember 29, 2012 at 1:02 PM

    It would take a lot longer, but I would use a needle and sturdy thread instead of glue, at least on the front cord. Attach it where the slat sits on the horizontal cord so the front cord moves independently from the ribbon and everything can stack neatly. I think it would look better when the blinds are lifted.

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  14. AnonymousMarch 11, 2013 at 8:43 PM

    Just curious...how is the glue holding up in the bathroom with humidity and use of opening/raising/lowering? Do you find that you need to re-glue frequently?

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  15. AnonymousNovember 4, 2013 at 10:55 PM

    Thank you, thank you, thank you! I ordered all new blinds from Penney's the other day and the only thing that's been bothering me is the lack of a trim to conceal the cord holes. I just really didn't want to spend the extra money for customs. Your instructions will help to make my new blinds look custom for a fraction of the cost!

    ReplyDelete

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