How To Make Blinds For Skylight Windows

Peggy made her ain custom skylight shade and is here to share her tips and stride-by-step tutorial with her readers.

Skylight shades are a great way to bring low-cal into a room without letting in the heat.

Sabbatical

Why Should I Consider Installing a Skylight Shade?

In the summertime, the sun beats down directly overhead and makes my kitchen likewise hot. I love the light my skylight brings in, and I wanted to install a shade to permit it in and keep the estrus out during those 5–6 months of the twelvemonth.

The toll for a commercial shade is well over $300. I spent less than $l to create this shade, and my skylight measures iv ft. all around. Depending on the size of the skylight you want to cover, the toll of this shade will probable be a fraction of the toll of a commercial shade. This projection turned out to be highly successful, so I'm sharing my method and experience doing this below.

Skylight Shades DIY Materials

• Measuring tape
• Café rods (for the 2 opposite walls in the skylight well)
• Dowel sticks long plenty to fit inside the café rod (optional)
• Drill
• Screwdriver
• Rotary cutter ruler and mat
• Sewing automobile and sewing tools
• Textile

Measurement A: Betwixt the Outside Edges of the Cafe Rods

How to Measure out Your Shade

Take down the following measurements to make the shade correctly the starting time time effectually.

1. Install the café rod hanging brackets on either stop of the skylight well. Make sure to identify them shut to the edges and with enough room for the rod ends to fit on either side.
2. Place the rods in the brackets and mensurate the altitude between the outside edges of each rod. Call this measurement "A" and write it down. This is the distance yous want for the shade length.
3. Measure out the width between the brackets (measurement "B"). This will be the width of your shade.
4. Write down the distance between the wall and the within edge of your café rod ("measurement C").
5. Measure the distance betwixt the wall and the outside border of your café rod (measurement "D").

Measurements C & D

A Skylight Shade Construction Blueprint

How to Choose the Right Cloth

Once you have the shade dimensions, y'all'll need to go the fabric. My measurement "A" creates a taut shade betwixt the café rods. If you want your shade looser to look like a tent ceiling, then add the distance yous want to drape to measurement "A." Run into how to choose the best material beneath.

1. Try Information technology Out

Choose a sheer fabric that cuts the rut merely allows light to come through. Y'all can get an idea of its opaqueness past unwinding some material off the bolt and holding information technology upward to the lights in the store. Yous will probably gather it on the rod, so try doing so in your fist and see how much light you lose. A colored shade will tint the light in your room, and so select a lite neutral color unless y'all want colored calorie-free in your room.

• Know that information technology will get sun damage over time, so you shouldn't spend also much money here. If your skylight is smaller, check out your fabric store's sale racks. Some stores such as Jo-Ann have coupons you tin can utilise to save some money.

2. Make up one's mind the Length

Deciding how much textile you'll need will depend on how much gathering yous want on the café rods. Yous can ask the salespeople for recommendations based on the look and textile yous want. Unlike fabrics come standard in dissimilar widths, so remember to take that into account. For my shade, I made a 107" broad shade for a 42" rod. I've provided a reference to see how the gathering looks with this ratio.

• Thicker fabrics don't need equally much as sheerer fabrics, which await better with more. Sometimes this tin can be easy depending on the width of the material, as y'all may just need one length of the cloth.

To determine the length, you will want, add together the following together:

Coil to Continue

Read More From Dengarden

• Measurement "A"
• 4 times measurement "C"
• An inch or ii to allow for shrinkage or squaring up the textile. If this material volition shrink, brand certain to pre-wash and dry out it before moving onto the adjacent step.
• (Optional) Add together i/iv" to 1/2" to the sum of the measurements above if you want the shade to be a fiddling looser.

The proper length of the shade width depends on the number of panels you need. If your skylight is wide (as mine is), and then yous'll need 2 or more panels depending on the width the fabric comes in and the corporeality of gathering you need. Information technology'due south improve to get besides much and accept enough than take also little and make the shade turn out as well small.

My directions permit for generous hems, so if you follow the directions and it is still too short, you can pull some out of the hem and make the shade fit.

How to Make a Fabric Shade

Follow the instructions beneath to create your material shade.

1. Cut the fabric with a rotary cutter and an Olfa ruler referencing the measurements you took earlier. If A is 44" and C is i ¾," you'll want to cutting at to the lowest degree i length 51" (44" plus four x 1.75"). Cut off the selvage border if needed, and sew the multiple panels together for the width (measurement "B" call back to add for shirring or gathers)
2. Hem the sides with ¼" hems. I didn't demand to do this because I removed the selvage.
3. Carefully iron your ends by folding over an amount equal to measurement "C" on both ends, and and then fold information technology once more the same distance and iron in one case more. Hem the edge, and you can refer to the greenish line in diagram B to see how this should look.
4. Hem a pocket for the café rod, then the distance betwixt the ii orange hemlines in the diagram is equal to measurement "A". You can test the drape to make sure it isn't too curt by stitching the seams with a large running sew and trying information technology out. If the drapery is too tight, you can move both hems outward to provide more slack. The large running sew together is easier to pull out than a tight stitch and is a keen way to meet if you lot like how the shade volition await.

The distance from the border of the shade to the orange hemline should fill the distance between the walls of the skylight well to the outsides of the café rods, and then the unabridged area is blocked. The only area where the sun can come in without passing through the shade is at the edges.

If you purchased café rods with small ends and put your brackets as shut to the sides as possible, the direct light should be minimal. Remember you lot are spending about one-tenth the price of a perfect solution.

The skylight shade is hanging from one rod with the second rod in. The shirring is fifty-fifty between the 2 rods.

Hanging the Shade

Once your shade is sewn together, the installation yous need to do is simple.

1. Cutting the dowels to go inside the café rods. These help keep the rods potent and prevent flexing. This may not exist necessary for your application, merely it was for mine. If your width is narrow, they may not be necessary. Dowels are relatively inexpensive, and so I propose using them if the width is longer than a human foot or the material is heavy.
2. Slide the shade onto the café rod and snap the café rod in the brackets. Smooth the gathers on both ends until yous balance the shade and you're finished with your skylight shade.

Y'all'll notice that my shade is quite tight and pulls the café rods straight with the dowel sticks in place. It sure does keep the heat out and the low-cal coming through, so I think this projection was well worth it!

The completed shade allows enough of sunlight to come in and keeps the straight heat out!

C-Squared on August 08, 2020:

Thanx for the solution to the heat issue in my new kitchen. I had some turquoise voile curtains I kept when I sold my house...so I thought why non re-purpose them? I likewise went to wally world and got two tension rods. Took no time at all and looks great!! Sure crush the heck out of forking out an arm and a leg for skylight blinds.

Sheila Addair on May 27, 2020:

Thank you for the great information. I went out today to buy sheer material and rods at Walmart. They had no sheer fabric so I headed to curtains for a hopeful cheap sheer pair. Got two packs equally in that location was merely 1 panel in each pack 59 W x 46 L. I decided to hang lower and let them droop a footling and I as well didn't want to become up so high. So I measured 12 " from bottom to put my brackets. I use sash rods that extended from 28" 10 48". I did a trial run hanging them every bit they were using pocket on top of curtain and the lesser hem. That would probably have been all I would have had to do had I hung the brackets all the fashion up. However, I folded the bottom hem twice and sewed a pocket for rod starting two " from the bottom to 3 1/2 " from bottom. I just used a ruler to draw a straight line, put some pins and sewed it up. I love it and figure if I need to add another mantle information technology will be no big deal. So far I absolutely dearest information technology. Cheers thank yous thank you!!!!! I feel then proud of myself. I took some pictures if there's a way to post them here, I'd be happy to share.

Muse Peggy (author) on July 08, 2012:

Julie - thanks for posting another option for people. I think for some of the people who have looked at my postal service your choice would be a ameliorate alternative just they would lose the light as well. Where I live cutting the directly light on my head did keep the heat off my head which was my objective. We aren't burning up like most of the country and I love the light in the room and so no need to plough on lights which saves some money and since we don't need A/C I think it's fine for a milder climate. Thanks for sharing some other option for people.

Julie Riley on July 05, 2012:

Hullo Ladies,

Good work but if y'all don't block the sun on the exterior your window volition still transfer heat into your dwelling. I brand skylight shades and they do non toll anywhere nigh the prices yous imagine. A 4' Ten 4' shade is $110.00 and much more efficient then a pall. www.coolviewshades.com

Thanks

akapc on June 24, 2012:

Yous sure got me thinking! And it's working well and yep, saving some $$ in ac. We are in Maryland - not the tropics or desert but information technology has been really hot lately.

BTW, this is non really "black-out" fabric, which would let no light at all through. The shade cloth lets enough of light in - I don't accept to light the identify during the day - and I can still see the clouds! :-) I volition let you know how long the tension rods last... For $3.99 each, basically, or $7.98 per skylight, I am thinking I would rather replace them than go to the hassle of permanently installing the hardware. Nosotros'll see, though! And cheers again for the dandy idea. I can post photos just I tin can't see how on this site...

Muse Peggy (writer) on June 23, 2012:

Hi Anne - bang-up ideas for our readers. I alive in a more moderate surface area and didn't want to block the calorie-free that much. I don't need to turn on lights in my kitchen during the solar day but in places where the heat is greater I think using a 'black out' fabric might be worth it. Information technology costs a lot more than to A/C than to lite. I wasn't going to use tension rods considering I've had them lose their tension and fall and didn't want to have the shade fall on my head. I hope yours hold upwardly. Thanks for sharing, it's actually a concept that tin be adapted to adapt the situation, I did my function just getting people thinking.

akapc on June 22, 2012:

Hi - smashing thought!

Rather than use a sheer, which ouold non block much light, I used 80% shade textile (bachelor online) - I got the knitted diversity rather than woven and I got blackness which is easietr to see through. A piece of shade cloth that'due south 10 by 12 cost me nearly $25, shipping about $viii.

Our skylights them selves are 2' past 4' but while the width of all skylights and wells is two feet, the length of the lower (ceiling) end of the well varies from 4' to 8'.

I used cafe-style tension rods that expand from 18 to 28 inches (list $four.99 at Bed Bath and Beyond, less with the coupons), so I didn't take to do any installation of hardware. I stitched two rod pockets in each cease, i on the end to make a sort of flap to close any gap between the rod and the side wall of the well, and ane farther from the end to put the rod in. I measured the length of each well at the ceiling. The flap on the finish gives a footling leeway. I hemmed the sides of five of the eight and was disappointed that the side hems sort of curled in, which allowed enough sunlight to creep in and heat he room upwards.

Just to become the other three up fast (information technology's really hot here right at present!), I left them wider than necessary by about 3-4 inches on each side and just threw them up. I could suit whatever mismeasurement (in haste) of the length by deliberately making them a bit brusque so pushing the tensino rods upward into the well (which has slanted sides) until the length was right.

These three turned out improve than the hemmed ones, considering they don't curl upward and there is no gap.

The shade fabric allows me to see the trees and clouds and sky, only cuts the heat gain quite a lot. In fact, before, the sunny spot on the floor was quite hot and now it'southward not hot at all.

I was thinking I would want these shades all the style up, which would be difficult for some of the skylights because they are college on the roof, by the ridge, so it would accept a tall ladder and someone to steady it. So I just put them a little fleck above the ceiling level, where I could reach them with a short ladder or fifty-fifty a chair. They look fine - saving money looks even better!

In the winter, when I volition desire the heat proceeds, I can just pull them downwards.

Full cost for 8 skylights was about $100. I await that I will save that on my air workout neb in a couple of months.

Cheers for the idea! If I tin effigy out how to mail service a photo, I will.

Anne

Muse Peggy (author) on June 12, 2012:

Becky - that sounds like a great idea. I don't know if you can mail a photograph of how it looks but if yous can please do. Is your kitchen skylight that large? I've actually found the polyester sheers in various textures etc. in the clearance or with a coupon to be very reasonable to make - $ten or less more often than not and my skylight is 4' x 4' so generally make it with whatever width of fabric I can become that is greater than 4' broad so there is some gathering. I had to remake the one in the photograph here - they don't last long so hold on to your measurements every bit the lord's day will ruin them in a couple years and you'll demand to make a new i. I fabricated my second one much looser then it has a belly and I like that expect besides.

Becky on June 12, 2012:

Great thought! I expect forward to doing something similar with my kitchen skylight. I think I'll try using a painter'due south sail drop cloth (a 5' x 9' textile is bachelor at Lowes'southward for almost $11 here in Arizona). Thanks again for the idea!

Muse Peggy (author) on May 03, 2012:

Gena - you lot may want to use black out fabric even or put a tin foil based production over the skylight from above. I lived in Texas and know how HOT it can be there. We're in Seattle area and and then don't have to totally go along the sun out just you lot might desire to. Good luck.

Gena on May 03, 2012:

Thank you, thank y'all, thank you. Just what I was looking for. The thought was lightly in my head (Hummm, I am a trivial light headed!) Just you spelled it out for me. I just read your instructions and am looking forward to trying it. I alive in a rented mobile dwelling (55+ community) with 3, yes 3! skylights. Hot equally the dickens hither in Texas in the summer. Thanks once again.

Muse Peggy (author) on April 29, 2012:

Continue in mind that if you employ a 'color' its going to color your calorie-free that color as well. After a few years depending on how much sunday you lot get you'll find you need to make a new one so go on your measurements. I already made the replacement for this 1 and fabricated information technology looser and similar that 'look' too.

MIcah Grande on April 25, 2012:

I like your creativity and the whole concept of this projection. Ive been looking for a inexpensive skylight window drape merely its way too much to spend for just one window but after studying this projection carefully it gave me an idea on doin the verbal same thing you did and plus i can put a unlike color cloth to match my curtain on my kitchen. Brilliant and smart idea! Chore WELL DONE!

ryanmicosa from Irvine on April 08, 2012:

hanks for the tip on creating your ain skylight. I practice prefer self-services to accept the maximum exposure to quality and accuracy in installation. A very well read.

http://www.bristolite.com

Muse Peggy (author) on August 08, 2011:

Howdy alwc1020 - yous'll need a very tall ladder at the least and possibly scaffolding. I don't know if a handyman would be worth it twice a year to get up there and hang information technology then to accept it downwardly and put it support. I have mine downwards for the winter equally the sun is low in the sky and so put it back up in the spring. If yous want to make information technology before you telephone call the handyman, y'all can make information technology longer than necessary and it'll just have a scrap of a belly to the shade. I did that this year when my original i (in the photos from this site) wore out due to sun exposure. Skilful luck, let united states know what you did, it'll aid the entire community of skylight owners :)

alwc1020 on Baronial 08, 2011:

thank you for the tip on creating your own skylite cover; my problem is that my skylites are one story high with 1 being over a stairwell; I can only think of getting an in-house painter to come in to place a shade over my skylite specificially the i over the stair well; any other ideas on this?

Becky from Oklahoma on August 07, 2011:

Thank you for writing nigh how to make an inexpensive skylight shade. I have been pricing the ready made ones and they are very plush. Even though I exercise sew, information technology didn't occur to me to brand my ain. I'k definitely going to use your guide and make one. I similar the dowel inside the rod idea too, I think it will work much amend for me and the expect I desire to achieve. You have saved me a swell bargain of money by writing this Hub and I truly appreciate your help. Thanks for a well written, AWESOME Hub.

June on July 02, 2011:

Give thanks you lot for posting this. I had a similar 'brand do' system for years just using old sheets over expandable rods (the ones that you screw and unscrew to get the correct length...leap loaded). I didn't think nearly using two panels...so I simply placed it and so I could however reach the opening machinery. I was only looking for ideas to make new ones...and I recollect your ideas are great. I similar the cafe rod reinforced and if I make ii panels, I tin can still get my opening rod into the mechanism to open or close the skylight. Mine are in a cathedral ceiling (ii) and 1 in a kitchen nook I tin can attain by standing on a chair. God Anoint you for helping the states all save money!

Muse Peggy (author) on June 28, 2011:

Hi Beatrice - I don't 'open and shut' the shade, merely put it up in the leap and take it downward in the fall. Information technology filters the strong summer sun and the kitchen is still very bright, I don't demand to put the lights on during the daylight hours. I imagine yous could come up with some kind of arrangement with traverse rods and wands if you lot wanted to make something less expensive with opening ability. I but don't need that feature. Good luck.

Beatrice on June 28, 2011:

How do you go them open and closed easily? Our skylights are quite loftier up, and even with a step stool the upper portion of the skylight is hard to reach.

Thanks for a great article!

Gretchen on August 19, 2010:

Give thanks you! So easy I dont' know why I didn't remember of this BEFORE my $550 electric bill this calendar month!!

Muse Peggy (writer) on July 11, 2010:

That was exactly why I did information technology too. I tin can recollect of many other things I'd rather do with $500-$grand than put it upwardly in the skylight well. Skillful luck.

emtdmm on July ten, 2010:

After researching the shocking price of manufactured skylight shades, this is a great idea. I will as well be making my ain. Thanks for posting your vivid idea.

Muse Peggy (author) on April 25, 2010:

I concord that the basic concept tin can exist modified to fit the décor of the room. That was a bully addition - Thanks.

Donna on April 23, 2010:

Howdy Peggy, Squeamish chore on the skylight shade. I did this same treatment in my last habitation simply my new house style seemed to telephone call for a more than tailored expect so in this house, I measured a piece of linen that fit the opening exactly then it has a flat un-gathered advent. This arroyo works well for mod spaces. Thanks for sharing your photos and tips.

Donna

Source: https://dengarden.com/interior-design/How-to-Make-a-Skylight-Shade

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