An Unexpected and Unplanned Project

Out of the blue, I needed to replace the window blinds in may master bedroom. In reality, the blinds needed to be replaced a long time ago but………I just didn’t do it! Many years ago, the stick that turned the blinds broke. A few years after that, one of the faux wood blinds broke on the end (I taped it up).
This is the type of repair/maintenance that many of us don’t like doing. My reasoning is the same as always-I didn’t know how, it wasn’t really causing me that big of an issue and I wanted to do other more “fun” stuff.
However, the blinds decided that it was time for them to go. Because I couldn’t easily just turn the blinds to open, I would use the cord to pull them all the way up. It wasn’t that big of a deal. Well, one day I pulled the blinds cord up and went about my business. When I went to close them later, the cord was stuck and I was left with this…….

This is how I got to this unexpected and unplanned project!

BEFORE

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I couldn’t leave it this way so I cut the pull cord which allowed the stuck end to become unstuck. However, the blinds were completely unworkable at this point.
I had to do some research to find out (1) what I needed and wanted to replace these blinds and (2) watch some YouTube videos to determine if this was something that I could do. It became clear pretty quickly that I could do this job so I just needed to find the replacement.
For some folks at this point, they might decide to do something completely different with the window. I decided that I really just wanted a replacement.
I ended up with this product from the Home Depot. Though my window size seems to be very common, they were not common in store. So, I had them shipped to me. I got the 2 inch wide faux wood cordless blinds. I was nervous initially thinking that them being cordless would add an extra install element but it didn’t. In fact, corded blinds are no longer around (for safety sake).

The first thing I had to do was to take the old blinds down. Again, I was nervous thinking that it might be hard to do but found out with YouTube that it was in fact super easy. In fact, the install was pretty easy as well.

AFTER

Because the blinds were so old, I could not just put the new blinds in the hardware of the old blinds. That would have been the easiest. For me, the hardest part of this update was finding the right placement, measuring and drilling the new hardware. Even though this is a 1 person job, this is the place where another set of hands would have been nice.

However, I did manage it and then the blinds just snap in to the hardware!! In this photo, you can see the “cordless” aspect of these blinds. You just push them up! The attached rod is to turn the blinds open and close.

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When I made the decision to replace the blinds, I also decided that I would replace the sheer window covering. I got these two sheer panels at Walmart for $5.00 each. I like the long panels much more than the shorter one (you can see it in the first photos). The shorter panel ended just a the window ledge.
From start to finish, this was about a 2 hour project. If I have to do this project again in another room, it would likely take 30-45 minutes.

And ultimately, I ended up with a new window shade and new sheers freshening up my space. And, an unexpected result is that I am enjoying opening my blinds every day to let the sunshine in!

I sometimes get annoyed when these things that I don’t plan come up. And then, I get excited when I learn something new and beautify my space! And I love it when I can do it myself!!