Matchstick blinds are great. They add privacy, filter light without blocking it, bring in the natural element to rooms that are lacking it and they look great with or without curtains flanking them. But, around here, the cost starts around $30 for a 2 foot wide window. Unless you go to Big Lots discount store, where they are $5 a piece. BIG difference. But here’s why they are so much cheaper, the ones for $30 and up come with valances to hide the hardware and the ones from Big Lots look like this:
Not so pretty. But with three windows in this room, I just wasn’t going to spend over $90 just on the blinds when I could spend $15. But the icky exposed hardware was driving me nuts, so I figured out a way to make a valance for them. Here is how:
I purchased an additional bamboo matchstick blind for another $5 and started by cutting the strings to remove the top piece of bamboo with the hanging hardware.
Then pull out several of the bamboo sticks until you have enough string left over to tie the strings back together. 
And tie each set of strings in double knots to secure the sticks. This will take a while, depending on the length of your blinds, so put some music on and get in a knot-tying groove.
Measure how tall you want your valances to be , then add about an inch and a half to that number and cut the strings down the length of the blinds again. Pull out about an inch and a half of the bamboo sticks from the ends, so you can tie together the strings like before. When you’re done, you should have a section of blinds that looks like this:
Fold that piece in half so the long edges are touching and tie together each set of strings.
When they are all tied together, center your new seam.
And there is your new valance! It will look better once it’s hanging, don’t worry. Now let’s put up some nails to hang it with. Back at your window, put in two small finishing nails above the hanging hardware.
Now just hang your new matchstick valance by propping it up on the two finishing nails.
Your hardware is covered and instead of $90 for three windows, it only cost $20.
A lot more finished and expensive-looking for just $5 and about 15 minutes.
Very nice! It looks really good.
thank you thank you thank you. I’ve had these ikea blinds for years and I was just about to chuck them because of ugly hardware until I found this!
That’s awesome! So glad to help. 🙂
Thankyou just used your idea on three bamboos that are on my screened porch . All three valances came from one 10.00 blind. Great idea
That’s great, happy to help!
What a great idea! Do you think this could be done by using some of the extra length at the bottom of a blind, instead of buying an extra? I need two 96″ wide shades to cover patio sliders – that width isn’t cheap. But I could easily lose 6-10″ at the bottom of each 72″ long shade, since I never roll these down more than halfway anyway. Thanks in advance.
Sorry for the delayed response! Yes, I think it could definitely be done that way. Let me know how it works out for you!