I would get rid of the dated vertical blinds.

I assume this is a rental or you would take the verticals down as they are a dated look and a sure giveaway to apartment living (nothing wrong with that, but you can improve on it.) You can remove the vanes and store them under the bed. Then get clips to hang light weight curtains like sheers right on the mechanism for the blinds. Looks like the the "headrail" could use a coat of paint. Try to match it to the wall color so it disappears. If you own this place, just remove them and start shopping for curtains. If they match your wall color, they'll visually enlarge the space. Hang as below:

Yes, it's a rental and a studio, so I'm not too worried about the "apartment look." Great idea to remove the vanes, I didn't even think of that. I'll play around and see what I can do.

If you going to keep those verticles, you will have to find a rod that has returns wider than the returns on the blinds, I am not sure if they exist however, and you need support brackets along the span. It would be better to move on from those verticles, and go to a different window covering, plenty of choices, how about a hd verti glide.

take those things down and store them in a closet until you move!

get a regular curtain rod and hang your curtains.

Take down the vertical blinds.YUCK!

I do not think curtains will look good over the valance bracket.......but if you want to, then I think you can order extensions for ordinary brackets.....they fit on top of each other and are secured with a small flat screw....check under curtain brackets on line to see some different types.

I have also felt this challenge - Ikea's ceiling mounted 'cable rod' might work - it'd have to extend out those inches though. If the blinds are so wide that it wouldn't be noticeable how far they stick out, fine maybe....

Sylvia Martin · More Info

• $40 --- Graphite-plated Rod measures 5/8" in diameter
• Adjustable rod includes fixed brackets that hang from a wall and adjust from 4 - 6" from the wall and 2 endcaps
• Easy to install with a drill or screwdriver ??
• https://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/1/1/488434-cambria-classic-complete-88-144-inch-adjustable-curtain-rod-graphite.html

https://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/1/1/794043-optima-144-240-inch-adjustable-curtain-rod-nickel.html

Saying - NOT a silly question. :)

Good reviews. 4 sizes. Classic double layered solid voile poly sheer. As a general rule, for proper fullness panels should measure 2-3 times the width of your window/opening.

Signature Double Wide White Sheer Curtain Single Panel, 100"x96" · More Info

https://www.houzz.com/products/signature-double-wide-white-sheer-curtain-single-panel-100x96-prvw-vr~84065605

Ikea.com / wire curtain hanger / use Dignitet curtain clips - or hang artwork across the wall.

Dignitet Curtain Wire · More Info

[https://www.houzz.com/products/dignitet-curtain-wire-prvw-vr~369351[(https://www.houzz.com/products/dignitet-curtain-wire-prvw-vr~369351)

You could build a wood cornice with shelving board to cover the top of your vertical blinds.

If you want curtains or drapes along with the vertical blinds, you could build the cornice with more overhang and hang a rod inside the cornice or hang your rod on it.

https://www.toledo-window-treatments-windows-blinds-coverings-drapery.com/blog/wood-cornices-over-french-doors/

If you're thinking of replacing the vertical blinds, they come in wood, faux wood, fabric and vinyl.

The good thing about vertical blinds, aside from their being fairly easily cleaned (w/o dry cleaning costs or needing to iron them) is that they offer more ways to control light and privacy.

If you can find a rod with greater than 5" returns, you could use a ceiling mounted rod instead. But I'm with the others...vertical blinds are not a favorite.

http://www.engineeryourspace.com/how-to-hide-or-replace-vertical-blinds/

Presumably, if this is a rental, you can't just drill holes into the ceiling or walls. I'd talk to the landlord. My tenant had a friend replace the vertical blinds for her, and I happily paid for the wood blinds.

I took off the self-valance that my verticals had. Even that looks better. Then I know that Penney's or even Lowe's has extension rod brackets that are long enough to hold a rod out far enough to use with vertical blinds.

Are the attached valance topper easy to take off?????

simple, held on with three brackets.

So tired of hearing what is in "style" and what is "dated". Keep what you like. Vertical blinds built in shear panels are a good alternative with a cornice over the top to style it up a bit. I have them on my very large door wall slider and in my large great room with two large windows. I have large cornice board over the top with 3 silk accent panels. one on each side and one in the middle. The silk panels puddle a bit on the floor. Everyone loves them. Only one "designer" said it is dated. I guess they figure we all have money to change out things every few years. At thousands of dollars a room, most people cannot do that.

HU, this is a design advice board. you're going to hear dated and in style. If you don't like it, perhaps a design advice forum isn't a place to hang out.

Also, this curtain post is over 3 years old. if the verticals weren't dated then, they certainly are now.

This is an old thread which I happened to come across in a search to hide vertical blinds in a rental--in my case, over sliding doors. Check with the HOA if you live where there is one because some do not allow the slats to be taken down in order to preserve the symmetry on the outside, especially in "cookie cutter" neighborhoods. Verticals may be dated--but then so are the ideas of many HOA's-- and the fines are very real and can be quite steep. If you rent, you may be charged by the owners for any fees incurred for the violation of some very antiquated and weird rule. And there are some owners who do not want them removed for whatever reason, which can become a hassle when inspection time comes up before rent renewal.

i have same issue. I use a 1" tension rod spanning btwn the window and the verticals, with lighweight linen curtains. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B086ZNDJCJ/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1 

and bide my time until the housing market tanks.

ps slats fall not infrequently b/c the plastic is cheap, and they break at the point of attachment, so removing and storing sounds good to me.

I didn’t read through all the comments but basically you need a rod with extension brackets that will enable you to hang your drapery beyond the veritical valance. Hope that helps.