Balloon Window Shades

Balloon window shades are a wonderful and fun choice for a window covering.

If you’re looking for a fun, whimsical, or charming kind of window treatment that will suit everything from a nursery to a little girl’s bedroom or even a bathroom, then you may discover that nothing gets the job done better than balloon window shades.  Though fabric roller shades may be good for blocking the light and giving privacy, there is something much more feminine and sweet to look at about the balloon style.

Even better is the fact that unlike fabric roller shades, you can make balloon window shades within the span of a single afternoon by taking a basically constructed curtain panel, and then adding on the balloon finish for that extra life to the window treatment.

Beyond the actual fabric itself, don’t forget to purchase your tension rod so that you’ll be able to hang the balloon window shade once you’ve completed your project.  This will need to be purchased to fit the size of the window in which you’ll be hanging the blind.  You’ll also find that this project is much easier, faster, and has a more attractive final product when you use a sewing machine instead of attempting to do it by hand.

Balloon Window Shades - Remember To Get The Tension Rod

Your first step should be to actually install the tension rod so that you have about two and a half inches below the top of the frame itself.  Though this is not the height you would usually use when hanging styles such as fabric roller shades, you will need the extra header room for the balloon window shades style.

Then, measure the width of the window frame, that is, the space in which the tension rod is hung.  When you know the width, multiply that by three and you’ll know how much material you’ll need for the width of your balloon window shades.  By measuring from the top of the tension rod right down to the sill of the window, and then add a foot in length, you’ll know how long the blind should be.

Next, measure and cut your fabric.  If at all possible, try to make it a single piece of continuous fabric.  Otherwise you will have seams that may show.  Next, you’ll want to use a pattern for balloon window shades, or find instructions for applying your measurements to creating the look of the blind from the properly measured piece of material.

For an additional level of appeal, use ribbon and work that into the look of the balloon window shades so that you can make the “poofs” by tying the ribbon around the blind and up into the tension rod at several predetermined intervals.  This look is especially appealing if you’d like that added sweet touch.  Otherwise you can subtly draw up the fabric with thread that is tucked in behind where it cannot be seen.