How To Add a Liner To Bamboo Shades

Bamboo shades without a liner offer little privacy and simply filter the light. The amount of light that passes between each of the woven wood bamboo slats will vary based on the pattern and size of the bamboo. For instance woven grass shades offer less privacy than thicker bamboo shades. If you have existing bamboo shades, adding a privacy or blackout liner is possible with these easy steps.

Choose a fabric for the liner. Most common liners are neutral colors. Remember that different fabrics allow different amounts of light to pass through them. Choose a fabric that meets your need.

Take down the existing woven shades. Lower the shades so the shades are all the way down. Measure the area of the shades.

Spread out the fabric and cut to the size of your bamboo shades. You may want to cut additional length and hem the edges if you can sew but it is not necessary.

Attach the liner to the woven wood shades. This can be done by either sewing the liner to the shades or by gluing the edges using a hot glue gun.

To attach the liner using the sewing method(recommended):
Using a needle with fishing line, put a knot at the bottom of the line. Start at the bottom of the bamboo shades and work your way up by inserting the needle through the fabric liner and through two pieces of bamboo. You will want to sew the liner about one inch from the edge of the shades. Encircle each piece of bamboo several times, tacking the liner every 6 inches along the side of the shades. For wider woven wood shades, you may want to also tack the liner at the top and bottom as well as the sides.

To attach the liner using the hot glue method:
Apply the hot glue around the edges of the bamboo shade and press the fabric liner into the glue. Allow the glue to dry before moving the bamboo shades and re installing them in your window.

On our Tavarua woven wood shades we hem the edges of the fabric liners and sew them to the shades on our attached liners.