DIY Roman Shades - Help

[autumnfire]

I'm going to give Roman shades a try next weekend. The biggest thing that's getting me right now is fabric choices.

I was thinking I'd like to do a solid color but I feel like that's too boring. But when I look at other patterns (I'll use a duck cloth) and have bought a few I feel like it is just too much.I will be making the roman shades with buttons and Velcro. This way I can easily take them off and wash, along with switching them up perhaps seasonally. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. I was thinking of doing something like this with beige duck cloth/canvas and then use one of the fabrics I've listed below for the inner framing work (in dark). Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

Here's a photo from when the old sellers had it. We'll be taking the carpet away next year and replace it with a wood floor (Likely dark) we have a white L couch and beige recliners. And will be painting the walls a light grey and trimming white. I was thinking of a blue and white/off white design would go best.

I have the following fabrics: (I will also be doing accent pillows): Should I go with the idea of just doing a strip of one of the fabrics below or do the shades with the entire patterned fabric?


 

[AmyRI]

I don't really like the idea of a pattern for strips of fabric on a solid color shade. I'd either do 2 solids like your picture, or do a pattern for the whole curtain.

I like the 2nd and 3rd ones. I really like the 4th pattern, but I don't think it'll look very good with gray walls. IMO the 1st one would just look weird on a roman shade.

[mrs.jacinthe]

Oct 2, 2014 10:37:27 GMT -5 AmyRI said:

I don't really like the idea of a pattern for strips of fabric on a solid color shade. I'd either do 2 solids like your picture, or do a pattern for the whole curtain.

I like the 2nd and 3rd ones. I really like the 4th pattern, but I don't think it'll look very good with gray walls. IMO the 1st one would just look weird on a roman shade.

What she said.  

I'll add that I *love* the first fabric.  LOVE it.  But I think it would make better curtains than a roman shade.  With that said, what fabric is it?  Where can I buy it?  

[dr.girlfriend]

I like the second one. I think you need some color, and a nice bold pattern. I love grey and beige together. Let me know how it goes, I'm hoping to do one for my kitchen (eventually).

[autumnfire]

Oct 2, 2014 11:06:22 GMT -5 mrs.jacinthe said:

Oct 2, 2014 10:37:27 GMT -5 AmyRI said:

I don't really like the idea of a pattern for strips of fabric on a solid color shade. I'd either do 2 solids like your picture, or do a pattern for the whole curtain.

I like the 2nd and 3rd ones. I really like the 4th pattern, but I don't think it'll look very good with gray walls. IMO the 1st one would just look weird on a roman shade.

What she said.  

I'll add that I *love* the first fabric.  LOVE it.  But I think it would make better curtains than a roman shade.  With that said, what fabric is it?  Where can I buy it?  

Thanks so much ladies! This is a duck or canvas cloth on fabric.com I'll try to post the link tomorrow. The first fabric is even better in person imho. The grey tones have a little bit of a metallic sheen.

[heliocentric]

I love the first fabric. Agree with the others that I'm not sure how it will look as a roman shade, but I'd try to fold it like a shade and see.

I probably wouldn't use those patterns as the contrast. You won't get to see much of it and it will likely be a PITA to make the stripes. I'd use grosgrain or some other pre-made trim if you go that route.

If you decide to use a pattern, consider that unless you add a full blackout liner, the sunlight will shine through the pattern and might look weird.

Also, since you intend to wash these, you might want to preshrink the fabric before you sew it so you don't end up with fit issues after they are constructed and washed for the first time.

[marcyiam]

Those are really pretty! If you like the idea of the "frame", maybe do the pattern on the back with a solid frame?

And are you using a specific pattern/website to make them?