Update Vertical Blinds to Look Like Wood

“Creativity is inventing, experimenting, growing, taking risks, breaking rules, making mistakes and having fun”
―Mary Lou Cook

Welcome Salvage Friends,

We are super excited to share a feature today.

Beth Labelle is showing a way to update traditional vertical blinds so here she is to share what she did….

Hi all!

Year after year I was trying to figure out what to do with my big sliding glass door. I tried drapes, sheers & vertical blinds but was never satisfied. Even thought about changing the door to French style doors, but I would need help installing  plus it wasn’t cost effective. This is what I decided to do with some Ivory colored verticals.

I tried my best to make them look like wooden slats with iron looking hardware. And, everything I used, to upcycle this, I had at home.

HOW TO UPDATE VERTICAL BLINDS

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First, the blinds were taken off the track and laid them on the floor with paper under them.  I probably should have put something other than news paper so it wouldn’t stick to them. I had trouble with the paper peeling off with them when they dried.

I just used acrylic paint of brown, black and terra cotta and sorta winged it. It was unintentional that the first slat came out that way so I kept doing the same technique. They were sealed with Modge Podge glossy  and now they’re scratch proof.

PAINTING –  I thinned out the black a lot to let the first coat of the terra cotta (or you can use brown color) to show thru somewhat and kept brush stroking it til it came out like I wanted it. Sometimes slats would turn out darker than others but to get the look of wood that worked out fine. You’ll need to let the first coat (the lighter color) dry completely or it won’t work right. You can also thin out the black with the modge podge too, that gives it more staying power and a more polished look. Hope that helps.

To add to the look, I closed up end with a PVC pipe elbow with an iron piece attached together.

I saw some vertical blinds in a magazine the same color for $70 to $100 US dollars. I think I’m happier with my door now. It was easy to do but time consuming.

What ya think?

WE SAY THIS IS A FANTASTIC UPDATE TO VERTICAL BLINDS!

It has a farmhouse – barn door feel to it.

A BIG thanks to Beth for sharing it with all of us.

Before you go, here are a few other posts we think you will enjoy:

• 20 Budget Friendly Farmhouse Projects
• Salvaged Kitchen “Remodel”
• $100 Bathroom Makeover – Rustic Farmhouse Style

And if you are interested in applying to have your Waste Not, Want Not project, tip, recipe, etc shared, you can go here for more information.