How to Laminate Window Shades

Measure the length of the window space you wish to cover with the laminated shade using a tape measure, and then measure the width of the shade itself. While you will laminate the entire length of the shade, you’ll need the dimensions for printing out an adequate amount of covering material.

Print out the window covering using the window length and the shade width. Use a printing service, and have the covering placed onto photo paper to give you the large printed size needed. Get a borderless print, so that the photo or pattern covers the entire printout.

Remove the shade from the window casing. Most shade rollers use extensions at the edges that slip into notches on the edge of the shade casings. Just lift the roller from the notches to pull it free.

Place the shade onto a glass worktable that you can cut on, or place a sheet of glass onto your worktable that’s large enough to hold the fully extended window shade. Extend the shade from the roller fully across the table, exposing the side that you wish to cover, and place clamps at the roller top and along the wooden slat at the base of the shade to hold it flat against the table surface.

Place the printed covering over the shade. Position the covering along the top of the wooden slat -- so that when you open the shade, you can see the covering fully. The covering should be flush with the edges of the shade.

Take the roll of laminating paper and unroll it over the shade with the backing paper against the window covering. Overlap the wood slat at the base of the shade about 1/4-inch. Use paper that’s wide enough to overlap the shade edges.

Lift the bottom edge of the laminating paper and peel the paper from the clear plastic sheet. Lower the sheet onto the shade as you peel the paper. Work slowly along the length of the shade to avoid moving the coverage material as you place the plastic sheet. Press the sheet onto the material with a piece of soft cloth to remove any air bubbles from beneath the plastic. Continue applying the laminating sheet until you reach the top of the shade, and then cut the sheet along the top with a utility knife. Make the cut lightly to avoid cutting into the shade.

Place a straightedge along the side of the shade so that it’s flush with the shade’s edge. Cut the excess laminating sheet from around the shade with the utility knife guided by the straightedge. Repeat the process for the other side of the shade.

Unclamp the shade and flip it over. Clamp it back into place and repeat the laminating process for the other side of the shade.

Return the shade to the holder across the top of your window and use it as you normally would.