Remember when John wondered who would win the bathroom makeover race — he wanted to trim out the mirror while I planned a quick DIY window shade? Well, this time I won the sprint.
We picked up the fabric at Mary Jo’s outlet a while back and saved a cheerful patterned piece that matched Clara’s favorite colors — pink and orange — from a worm-themed birthday we threw for her. The hall bathroom is mostly neutral (white tile and trim with gray walls that carry a soft plum undertone), so the bold fabric felt like an easy, inexpensive way to introduce color alongside the turquoise knobs we added to the vanity and some new art.
The method was similar to a shade I made for the kitchen, but much simpler. This version cost about $8 and took roughly 15 minutes. No sewing machine, no pinning, and only half a yard of fabric made it quick. Below is a brief minute-by-minute breakdown of the process.
Minutes 1–3: Make a Paper Template
I taped six pieces of cardstock together to create a paper template matching the exact width and length of the window. Taping the template to the window lets you visualize the finished size before cutting fabric.
Minutes 4–5: Cut Your Fabric
With the template centered on the fabric, I cut out the shape leaving a 1″ border on the sides and bottom, and a 3″ border along the top. The wider top allowance is for mounting the shade to the window frame.
I sized the cut so the hem tape would fit inside the 1″ margins, ensuring that once hemmed the fabric would match the template and fit the window precisely.
Minutes 6–8: Hem With Iron-On Tape
I hemmed all four edges using heavy-duty no-sew iron-on hem tape (Heat N Bond is a reliable option). It’s quick and creates clean edges without a sewing machine. If you haven’t used no-sew tape before, a short online demo can show the basic technique.
Minutes 9–11: Attach a Wood Mounting Piece
After hemming, the fabric matched the paper template’s width and had a couple extra inches at the top for mounting. I used a scrap 1″ x 2″ board cut a bit narrower than the fabric width. The fabric was wrapped around the wood and secured with staples so it could be screwed into the top of the window frame for an inside mount.
Minutes 12–15: Mount Shade and Finish Bottom Edge
We screwed the wood mounting piece directly into the top of the window frame so the shade hung like a standard inside-mount window treatment. For the bottom edge I trimmed a scrap dowel to fit just under the fabric width and rolled it into the hem for weight and a neat finish. I tacked the rolled fabric in a few spots with hand stitches to keep the dowel in place, though that step is optional — the kitchen shade we made previously didn’t use a dowel and still hangs straight.
The window is frosted, so the room keeps privacy while still letting light in, and the patterned fabric works with the fish canvas and wall tones to create a fun, cohesive vignette in the bathroom.
Update: A few readers asked about washing the shade. Like most roman shades or fabric blinds, it’s not machine washable. We didn’t have issues with Ikea fabric shades that lasted years without washing. If you want a removable, washable option, consider attaching the fabric to the wood mount with washable Velcro instead of stapling it permanently.
The space still needs a few finishing touches — the mirror will be framed out, and I plan to add more accents to better tie in the curtain — but this small update already makes the bathroom feel more like us. The other side of the room already has some bright elements that balance the new shade nicely.
If your bathroom feels basic, a half-yard of colorful fabric, a scrap of wood, some hem tape, and a few bright accessories can make a big difference without a full renovation. A bold fabric shade is an easy, low-commitment way to add personality — and it’s simple to swap out later if you change your mind.
Updated to-do list for the bathroom:
- Trim out the unbalanced window
- Frame out the mirror above the vanity
- Paint or ORB the brassy gold doorknob
- Paint the whitewashed shelf to a solid white
- Add finishing touches and accessories, then share a budget breakdown
