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How to Make Cheap DIY Bamboo Blinds with a simple Hack!

Do you love the style of bamboo blinds, but hate the price? Learn how to make DIY bamboo blinds with this simple hack that will save you money too!

We are moving into a new home in the next few weeks, and it has 17 windows. Seventeen. All 17 windows are in need of new bamboo blinds… which quickly adds up to a pricey bill.

Tallying totals and comparing options reminded me of the trick that I tried in our last home. It’s a simple way to incorporate the look of bamboo roman shades throughout your home, without breaking the bank.

With these DIY bamboo blinds, you’ll add texture and style to any room!

Bamboo blinds showing how to get affordable diy bamboo blinds or bamboo roman shades

Disclosure: This blog post contains affiliate links for products or services.

Make Windows Appear Larger

This bamboo blind hack isn’t only a “look for less“; it’s also a tool to make a window appear larger.

For example, our bedroom windows were short. While this is handy for furniture placement and privacy, it’s not my favorite look. The little windows looked short and squatty.

Short window before it was updated with diy bamboo blinds or bamboo roman shades

The remedy? Hang long curtains high and wide to give the illusion of a larger window.

This is a well-known home interiors trick that any Pinterest lover has probably seen in their feed. However, a rarely discussed nuance to the trick is the empty space remaining between the rod and the window:

Window with empty space for diy bamboo blinds or bamboo roman shades

So, what do you do if the awkward, empty space bothers you? Well, it’s the perfect spot to install stylish, textured bamboo roman shades.

diy bamboo blinds and a white curtain

Don’t want to make your own? These are my favorite bamboo blinds (they are cordless, too!). You can watch a video about how cordless blinds work and learn how to install them.

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How to Make Cheap DIY Bamboo Blinds

Making cheap, DIY bamboo shades are simple. Just use the hack for making DIY bamboo blinds that I’ve shared below!

Supplies

Instructions

1. Measure the Bamboo Shade and Identify Cut Points

First, unroll and lay the bamboo shade flat. Measure the shade and determine how many faux bamboo blinds you will make from it.

Then, before you begin cutting the blind into 2 foot sections, determine which slats will be the top/bottom of each of your faux bamboo shades.

At that slat, apply a dab of hot glue onto the cording. This will help hold everything in place as you start to split up the shade into sections.

glue gun putting glue on diy bamboo blinds

For example, I purchased a 6 foot shade for 3 windows. Therefore, I had three 2-foot sections available and added a dot of glue every 2 ft.

Note: In the photo above, the 4 slats between the hot glue and the white circle, will be extra. These slats will be removed so that there is cording available past the glue point, beyond the glued cording. 

2. Snip Cords and Remove Slats

Use scissors to snip the cord at least 4 slats below the hot glue. This will give you excess cording to tie off each shade.

scissors trimming cords on diy bamboo blinds

Then, remove the excess slats and tie off the cording in a knot. Make sure that the knot is secure.

removing extra slats on diy bamboo blinds
tying cords on diy bamboo blinds

Repeat this step for the bottom and top of each faux roman shade.

Note: You can skip the bottom of the original bamboo shade since it already has a finished edge.

3. Measure and Attach the Blinds to the Curtain Rod

Next, wrap the top of each bamboo blind around the curtain rod to determine an approximate loop size. Then, take cable ties and slide them through the cording on two slats.

In my case, I used the second slat from the top and eighth slat from the top. In other words, it took eight slats to wrap the curtain rod loosely.

diy bamboo blinds attached to a curtain rod

Once everything is in place, reinforce the blinds. Apply hot glue to the cording on the top 2-3 slats for extra support.

Then, pull each cable tie tighter (not snug to the rod, though, so you can still pull the blinds off the rod if needed) and snip the end of the cable tie with scissors.

diy bamboo blinds attached to a curtain rod
diy bamboo blinds hanging on a curtain rod

4. Add Weight and Finish the Bottom Edge

Finally, collect the discarded bamboo slats. These slats will be used to add weight at the bottom of each faux roman shade.

extra slats from diy bamboo blinds

To add weight, apply hot glue to the second slat from the bottom and fold the bottom slat back onto the glue.

adding extra glue to the bottom of the diy bamboo blinds
adding more glue to the diy bamboo blinds
adding excess slats to the diy bamboo blinds

Then, add several more slats with hot glue. This step will cover up the excess cording and provide weight so that shade will hang straight. It really gives the shade a finished look!

covering excess cording on diy bamboo blinds using extra slats
diy bamboo blinds hanging in a window

Bamboo Blinds: FAQs

Q: Can you see through bamboo blinds?

A: Yes. At night, bamboo blinds are see-through. Therefore, if you need privacy or blackout conditions, you’ll need to apply fabric to the backs of the blinds.  

Q: How do you cover a window without curtains?

A: Bamboo blinds are a great option for windows without curtains. For example – if you do not have enough wall space around a window to hang curtains – bamboo blinds are a decorative, textural window covering hung inside the window frame. 

Pairing Curtains with DIY Bamboo Blinds

When you pair a soft, white weave curtain with bamboo roman shades, it adds texture and depth to the room. We used two curtain panels to flank the outside edge of windows on each side of the headboard (see the Navy Master Bedroom Reveal for full-width shots).

I chose the RITVA Curtains from IKEA (if you don’t have an IKEA nearby, get them on Amazon) because the texture in the weave feels higher quality than some of the other white IKEA curtains.

diy bamboo blinds (or bamboo roman shades) and white curtains

Of course, the bamboo blinds aren’t functional. If you like the function of a roman shade and are willing to pay the price, simply buy the bamboo blinds and hang them as-is.

However, if you are looking to save some money, this is a simple hack!

Plus, you can still hang a basic room darkening shade inside the window which won’t be visible during the day; because it is hidden behind the prettier bamboo shade (just pull it down at night).

diy bamboo blinds, white curtains, and a gold curtain rod.

So, what do you think? Would this be a helpful trick for your home? I just love the texture that bamboo shades give a room… and for a reasonable price!

More DIY Window Treatments

Do you like this DIY Bamboo Blinds tutorial? Pin it!

How to make cheap diy bamboo blinds or bamboo roman shades

How to Make Bamboo Blinds

diy bamboo blinds

How to Make Bamboo Blinds

Yield: Varies
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Active Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes
Difficulty: Easy
Estimated Cost: $35

Do you love the style of bamboo blinds, but hate the price? Learn how to make DIY bamboo blinds with this simple hack that will save you money too!

Tools

  • Glue Gun and Hot Glue
  • Scissors

Instructions

  1. Unroll the bamboo shade and measure it. Determine how many bamboo blinds you will make from it.
  2. Decide which slats will be the top/bottom of each of your bamboo shades. Add a dab of hot glue onto the cording of those slats to hold everything in place. hot gluing the back of diy bamboo blinds
  3. Snip the cord at least 4 slats below the hot glue. cutting off excess slats from DIY bamboo blinds
  4. Remove excess slats and securely tie off the cording in a knot. tying off the cording on DIY bamboo blinds
  5. Repeat steps 2-4 for the bottom and top of each faux roman shade (skip the bottom of the original bamboo shade since it already has a finished edge).
  6. Determine the required loop size by wrapping the top of each bamboo blind around the curtain rod. Slide cable ties through the cording on two slats. using cable ties on diy bamboo blinds
  7. Add additional hot glue to the cording on the top 2-3 slats for extra support.
  8. Tighten each cable tie {not snug to the rod, though}. Snip the end of the cable tie. cable tie used on diy bamboo blinds
  9. Use the extra bamboo slats to add weight at the bottom of each faux roman shade. extra slats from diy bamboo blinds
  10. Add hot glue to the second slat from the bottom and fold the bottom slat back onto the glue. extra glue added to diy bamboo blinds
  11. Add several more slats with hot glue. adding more slats to finish making the diy bamboo blinds
  12. Hang, add curtain panels, and enjoy!

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Shelly

Thursday 11th of June 2020

I have been wanting to do this so thanks for making it doable and afordable.

Lora Green

Tuesday 16th of June 2020

Hope you love it!!

Stephanie Webb

Thursday 7th of March 2019

Brilliant! This is exactly what I was looking for. Where did you buy your bamboo blinds from?

Lora Green

Monday 11th of March 2019

Thank you! I bought them on Amazon, here is my affiliate link for them: http://amzn.to/2tsvPJF

Craftivity Designs

Monday 13th of July 2015

Thanks! It has made the room feel much more finished.

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