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roll-up shades

21 years ago

I posted this on home decorating but you guys might have some answers for me too. I just put up inexpensive(cheap) roll-up blinds on the windows in my living room per DH request. They are so ugly! i thought maybe about wallpapering them, but will they still roll up if I do this. I think fabric might be more bulky. Anyone have any ingenious ideas?

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Comments (7)

Cheri_C
21 years ago
I have seen where they stencil a design on them and also use trim like beading on the bottom. You could also use ribbon to decorate the bottom. good luck!
beagler1776
21 years ago
Had been thinking about doing the same to those in my daughter's room, but they suddenly lost their recoil! :( Anyone have suggestions for this problem? Otherwise I guess I'll bite the bullet and make some simple fabric shades myself...
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Thanks for the link. That didn't work though - I can twist and twist and twist that flat end and it doesn't seem to do anything. Each time I twist, I hear kind of a pop inside - I suspect the spring may actually be broken or unattached, and not actually just uncoiled. On the chance that I wasn't twisting it enough, I actually did it for about 15 minutes straight - the blind still fell right down as soon as I hung it up. Soooo....does anyone know how to replace a spring? Or where I could find a different roller part that I could attach the shade onto? Thanks!
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goofyj
21 years ago
They will still roll with fabric on them. The problem usually comes when they are verrry long and are intalled too close to the window for the thickness of the shade with the fabric.

Unless the spring is broken you can tighten it back up by unhooking the sloted side of the roller. The other side is usually a peg that goes straight into a hole. Leave that side in and unhook the slotted side and roll it up by hand. Do a little at a time and check it or you will get it too tight and it will go around and around a few times at the top instead of just stopping. Hope this makes sense. If you get it too tight you can adjust it back.
nanatink
21 years ago
If you're going to cover them, just make sure to do so in something thin. A thin wallpaper, thin fabric, latex paint, or whatever should be fine. And whatever you do don't roll them up for several days in case there's some moisture left in them or you might never get them to pull down again without ruining your new finish.

Have fun!
Chris_eastTX
21 years ago
Are they the bamboo looking or the white ones? You can usually find some pretty fabric marked down at walmart for about $1 or $2.
Have thought about doing it for our sliding door in our kitchen.
cindylue
Original Author
21 years ago
They are the white ones. I had to give up the idea, I had an 87" window for one of them. I tried to put 2 together to make a long one, but it was too heavy for the clutch. so, after (D)H critisized me for trying to make something out of nothing like I always do, I ordered brand new ones to fit. That will teach him!
maddiemom6
21 years ago
Cindylue... I am sorry your husband did that to you.. that makes me sad. I feel very blessed that my husband really cheers on my ideas and gives me lots of support. For my older roller blinds.. I took off the vinyl fabric and just attached the fashion fabric.. they worked like a dream.

maddiemom

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