We all want our homes to look polished and fabulous, but we don’t all have the dollars to do it.

Mary Dobson reveals how easy it is to "fake" our decor — whether that’s creating a mock Roman shade with half the fabric of a real one, or using plastic grommets rather than more expensive wooden or metal ones.

Here are Mary’s instructions on how to create a Mock Roman Shade and a Mock Box Cushion. Watch the video below for more ‘Fab Fakes.’

Mock Roman Shade

You will need fabric that is twice the length of the area you want to cover and a piece of lining fabric that is just slightly larger than the finished shade.

Measure the desired width of the shade and add 4 inches both to the width of the front fabric and the lining. Turn, press and stitch a double 1 inch hem on the side edges of both pieces.

Be sure that the top and bottom edges of both layers are straight and at the square 90 degree angle to the side seams.

Place the main fabric right sides together with the lining, aligning the sides and the bottom edges. Machine stitch through both layers along the bottom edge, leaving a 1 inch seam allowance. Trim and overcast the cut edge. Press the seam flat.

Turn the fabrics now wrong sides together. You may allow up to 4 inches of the main fabric to show to the back. On the lining, use a disappearing marker to draw a straight line from side to side, up 6 inches from the bottom edge.

Machine stitch along this line.

Mark two or three additional lines on the lining, parallel with the first, spacing those 2 inches apart. On the main fabric, measure and mark similar lines but make them 6 inches apart. Align each subsequent line on the lining with the line on the fabric and machine stitch in place.

To finish, place the shade on a flat surface. Confirm the finished length of the shade and mark the lining to that length plus 1 inch. Cut the lining. Mark the main fabric 6 inches longer than the cut lining and trim.

Align the top cut edges, machine baste to secure and apply soft side Velcro along the cut edge. Turn to the back and press. Mount onto hard side Velcro on the window.

Mock Box Cushion

Measure the width of the foam plus one side of the depth plus 2 inches for seams. Measure the length of the foam plus one side of the depth plus 2 inches.

Cut two layers of fabric to this size.

Place the two layers of fabric with right sides together and stitch around the two long sides and one short size.

Press the seams and flip right sides out.

Insert the foam into the fabric cover and be sure that the seams are sitting exactly at the midpoint of the depth of the foam all around.

Close up the open end by turning the seams in 1 inch and hand stitch.

Work at one corner at a time, turn the pointed end inward, creating a pleat and insert the excess to be closest to the foam. Making sure that the seam lines connect, hand stitch at the center of the newly created pleat to secure.

More fab fakes:

“City Slicker” stretchable faux patent leather www.maxwellfabrics.ca
Snap together plastic grommets from CDH available at fabric stores across the country.

suzanne.ellis@cityline.rogers.com