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Home › Our houses › The Victorian

How to make your own matchstick blind valances

July 24, 2012by Christina
Matchstick blinds are great.  They add privacy, filter light without blocking it, bring in the natural element to rooms that are lacking it and they look great with or without curtains flanking them.  But, around here, the cost starts around $30 for a 2 foot wide window.  Unless you go to Big Lots discount store, […]

Matchstick blinds are great.  They add privacy, filter light without blocking it, bring in the natural element to rooms that are lacking it and they look great with or without curtains flanking them.  But, around here, the cost starts around $30 for a 2 foot wide window.  Unless you go to Big Lots discount store, where they are $5 a piece.  BIG difference.  But here’s why they are so much cheaper, the ones for $30 and up come with valances to hide the hardware and the ones from Big Lots look like this:

inexpensive matchstick blinds

Not so pretty.  But with three windows in this room, I just wasn’t going to spend over $90 just on the blinds when I could spend $15.  But the icky exposed hardware was driving me nuts, so I figured out a way to make a valance for them.  Here is how:

I purchased an additional bamboo matchstick blind for another $5 and started by cutting the strings to remove the top piece of bamboo with the hanging hardware. 

bamboo matchstick blinds 

Then pull out several of the bamboo sticks until you have enough string left over to tie the strings back together.  How to make a valance out of matchstick blinds

And tie each set of strings in double knots to secure the sticks.  This will take a while, depending on the length of your blinds, so put some music on and get in a knot-tying groove. 

How to make a valance out of matchstick blinds

Measure how tall you want your valances to be , then add about an inch and a half to that number and cut the strings down the length of the blinds again.  Pull out about an inch and a half of the bamboo sticks from the ends, so you can tie together the strings like before.  When you’re done, you should have a section of blinds that looks like this:

How to make a valance out of matchstick blinds

Fold that piece in half so the long edges are touching and tie together each set of strings. 

How to make a valance out of matchstick blinds

When they are all tied together, center your new seam. 

DSCF8383

And there is your new valance!  It will look better once it’s hanging, don’t worry.  Now let’s put up some nails to hang it with.  Back at your window, put in two small finishing nails above the hanging hardware.

DIY matchstick blind valance

Now just hang your new matchstick valance by propping it up on the two finishing nails. 

DIY matchstick blind valance

Your hardware is covered and instead of $90 for three windows, it only cost $20. 

image

A lot more finished and expensive-looking for just $5 and about 15 minutes. 

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About Christina

I'm a full-time web developer with a dog sitting business, home renovations, and a blog on the side.

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  1. Cher

    Very nice! It looks really good.

    Reply
  2. Anonymous

    thank you thank you thank you. I’ve had these ikea blinds for years and I was just about to chuck them because of ugly hardware until I found this!

    Reply
    • Christina

      That’s awesome! So glad to help. 🙂

  3. Ann DiDonato

    Thankyou just used your idea on three bamboos that are on my screened porch . All three valances came from one 10.00 blind. Great idea

    Reply
    • Christina

      That’s great, happy to help!

  4. Madeline

    What a great idea! Do you think this could be done by using some of the extra length at the bottom of a blind, instead of buying an extra? I need two 96″ wide shades to cover patio sliders – that width isn’t cheap. But I could easily lose 6-10″ at the bottom of each 72″ long shade, since I never roll these down more than halfway anyway. Thanks in advance.

    Reply
    • Christina

      Sorry for the delayed response! Yes, I think it could definitely be done that way. Let me know how it works out for you!

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Hi, I’m Christina.

Little Victorian is your place for inspiration, education, and encouragement for how to be your own interior designer and decorator, and how to carry out your big plans yourself too.

It starts with psychology, then artistry, and ends with power tools. None of those are scary, and you really can do it.

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