The Easiest Faux Roman Shade DIY
Want a polished, designer look for your windows - without the hefty price tag? Meet the faux Roman shade - the modern, stylish upgrade from the ruffled valances of the past (we see you, 90s kitchens). It adds color, texture, and an effortlessly tailored feel, making your windows look bigger and your space more put together.
The best part? No fussy cords or mechanics - this DIY version is purely decorative, staying in place while hiding those not-so-pretty roller shade mechanisms. And you can make one on a budget - I used shower curtains on sale for mine!
If you love easy sewing projects for your home, this one’s a must-try. I’ll show you exactly how to make a faux Roman shade that fits your style. Let’s get started!
In This Article:
How Much Fabric Is Needed For A Faux Roman Shade?
Before you dive in, let’s talk fabric. The amount you’ll need depends on your window size, how full you want the folds, and whether you’re mounting inside or outside the window frame.
- You'll want the width of your fabric to be the width of your window plus 9 inches to allow for seams and for overhang.
- The length depends on how you are planning to hang your faux Roman shade. I hung mine well above the window so that the finished faux Roman hangs only about 3-4 inches into the window frame.
- The faux Roman I made here is 18 inches tall. You'll need to adjust accordingly if your dimensions are different.
If you’re unsure, buy a little extra - better to have leftover fabric than not enough! And if you find a fabulous fabric on sale (like a shower curtain or tablecloth), grab it. You can always trim it down to size.
What Is the Best Fabric for DIY Faux Roman Shades?
The best fabric for your mock Roman shade valance depends on the look you're going for:
- Medium-weight cotton or linen: Holds pleats beautifully without being too stiff.
- Upholstery fabric: Great for a structured, high-end look.
- Shower curtains or tablecloths: Budget-friendly and often come in fun patterns!
- Sheer or lightweight fabrics: Perfect for softening a space but may need extra lining for structure.
I used medium-weight home decor fabric and a white twill for the lining.
What you'll need to make A faux roman shade
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- Fabric of your choice
- Fabric for the lining
- A white twill home decor fabric works perfect for this. You may want to use a dark color if you're using a dark fabric on the outside.
- Sewing machine- this is my favorite, not too expensive or too complicated
- Coordinating thread
- Straight edge and rotary cutter
- Fabric pen
- Double sided hem tape
- 1 x 3 piece of wood cut to the width of the window minus 3 inches
- Drill and 2-3 screws
- Measuring tape and level
Discover 3 Easy Steps To Design A Room That Both Looks Good AND Functions Well!
How to Make A Faux Roman Blind (Step-by-Step Guide)
Step 1: Cut lining fabric for the faux Roman blind
Cut a piece of fabric for the lining of your faux Roman shade the width of your window by 21 inches. (This will make a faux Roman that's 18 inches long. If the top of your window is really close to the ceiling you may want to make a shorter faux Roman. You really only want to cover about 3-4 inches of the top of the window.)
Step 2: Measure for your side seams
The width of your fabric for your faux Roman shade valance will be the width of your window + 9 inches. This will allow the faux roman to go beyond the edge of the window frame 1.5 inches on each side. If you want it to go further you'll need to add to this measurement.
The length of your fabric will depend on how big you want your folds. You may want to start with a long piece and cut it once you've planned your folds. To give you an idea, my fabric was 50 inches long.
Step 3: Mark the side seams of your Roman shade valance
With the good side of your fabric facing down, fold one side edge over and measure 1 inch in from the edge and make a mark, then measure 2 more inches in from the edge (for a total of 3 inches in from the edge) and make a mark.
Repeat this down the edge about every 10 inches.
Step 4: Prepare your edges to be sewn
Fold your fabric along the 1 inch mark and iron flat.
Then fold again at the 3 inch mark and iron flat. The mark you made should be right on the edge of your fold.
Step 5: Sew the sides of your mock Roman shade valance
Using the edge of your fold as a guide sew a straight line down the side of your faux Roman shade.
Repeat steps 2-5 on the other side of your fabric.
Step 6: Sew the bottom seam of your faux Roman shade
Once the sides are sewn, repeat steps 2-5 along the bottom edge of your faux Roman.
Step 7: Attach your lining
Lay your top piece of fabric good side down and lay your lining piece on top lining up the top edge of your fabric and top edge of your lining. Sew along the edge leaving the edge raw.
Step 8: How many folds should your faux Roman shade valance have?
For a balanced, stylish look, aim for two to four folds spaced evenly. If your window is taller, you might want more folds to keep things proportionate.
Turn your faux Roman good side up and, making sure to leave your lining piece flat, start creating your folds. It's best to put a heavy book at the top of of your faux Roman to hold it in place and just start playing around with the folds starting with the top one first.
You'll be folding the top of your faux Roman blind over a board when you hang it, so keep in mind that about 3 inches at the top won't be seen when planning your first fold.
You'll want to make sure that the folds are straight, so it's often best to get one side looking good, then measure down from the top and adjust the other side accordingly for a perfectly straight fold.
You'll want the underside of each fold to be just under the flap of the fold before it so that your seams won't show on your finished project.
Pin or clip them in place to test out the look before securing them.
Step 9: Sew your folds
Once you have your folds planned, you'll need to make some marks
- First, reach under with your fabric marker and make a mark where the under side of each fold is on your lining piece.
- Then carefully lift each fold and make a straight line with your fabric marker across your fabric. This will help you sew a perfectly straight line.
You're going to sew one fold at a time, which is why you made marks. So take all your folds apart except your first (top) fold.
Gently roll your fabric up and over so that the line you drew for this fold is still laying flat on the lining fabric and place a piece of double sided hem tape just below your top fabric, so that when you lay it back down it attaches the back side of your top fabric and the top side of your lining fabric. The line you drew on your fabric and the marks you made on the lining fabric should match up. This is just to hold it in place so you can sew without mistakes.
Step 10: Sew your fold
Place your faux Roman shade valance on your machine and sew a straight line along the line you made for your first fold, but be sure you're only going through one layer of your top fabric and the lining piece.
Step 11: Repeat for each fold
Lay your faux Roman shade good side up and create your next fold based on the marks you made when you were planning your folds. The line you drew should match up with the mark you made on the lining fabric.
Roll the fabric up, lay the tape, and sew for each additional fold.
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How to Mount your faux roman shade Valance
Step 1: Prepare your board
Cut your 1 x 3 board to about 3 inches less than the width of your window.
Step 2: Start your screws into the board
Start your screws into your board but don't go through the board. The screws at the edge should be about 3-4 inches in from the edges, than one in the middle.
Step 3: Position your faux Roman blind on your board
Lay your faux Roman blind out, good side down, and lay your board on top, lining up the edge of the board with the top edge of your fabric.
Lift the board with the fabric and continue your screws through the board (going a little slow) so that they go just through the board and the fabric.
Step 4: Attach the Roman shade valance to the wall
You'll need a buddy for this part. Hold your board against the wall above your window making sure that your faux Roman shade is centered. You'll want to make sure that the fabric goes past the edge of the window evenly on each side.
Holding the board against the wall, lift the faux Roman so that you can continue screwing the screws in. Start with the middle screw then, using a level, check that the board is level before drilling the side screws in.
Step 5: Let your fauxRoman shade down and adjust the folds
Adjust the folds so they look nice. If you're having a hard time getting your faux Roman shade to lay flat against the edges of the window don't be afraid to grab a staple gun and staple the edges to the wall. Of course you'll want to do this under the folds so no one will see it.
Final Thoughts & More Easy Sewing Projects For Your Home
And that’s it! A faux Roman shade is a simple, budget-friendly way to elevate your windows and add a custom touch to your home. I've made faux Roman shades for my family room and my kitchen too!
Want more home decor projects? Check out Easy Sewing Projects for Your Home for more beginner-friendly ideas.
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