A length of wallpaper is all it takes to turn a plain roller shade into a work of art -- complete with its own frame. Showcase a very special piece, a favorite vintage paper, or a remnant. You can tie the room together with a pattern that echoes an existing motif, or build a head-to-toe look by using the same paper that's on the walls.

This simple and elegant shade is a sleek alternative to a traditional curtain treatment.

Carve a scalloped pattern into an everyday shade and you'll have a pretty way to let the sun shine in: Daylight will peep through the slits, adding a bright touch to your window decor while creating a shadow effect.

Vines traced from an Early American stencil wind down a pale-gray roller shade in four columns that mirror one another. This charming white-on-gray pattern shows up best on a vinyl blackout shade.

Deep bottom pleats and a patterned fabric give this shade an elegance suited to traditional rooms. It's designed to remain partially raised, accentuating its lovely form.

A fabric shade adorned with ribbon can light up a room even when it's pulled down.

A bright piece of lambskin adds a punch to a store-bought white roller shade.

Tailor a roller shade to suit your style with a twisted-cord tassel pull.

This sheer fabric shade is easy to make and allows plenty of light into a once dark and gloomy kitchen.

Custom curtains and shades can be very expensive. Create your own to save money and customize your window dressing.

A border of pale-green appliques dresses up sheer linen curtains without blocking the sunshine. The botanical motif evokes the foliage inside and out, and the cutouts' positioning can be adjusted to suit any panel size.

Easy and inexpensive to make, cafe curtains are ideal window treatments for those who want to let the light in yet still want to maintain a degree of privacy.

We transformed a Florida map-printed tablecloth into a roller shade by fusing the fabric to linen and then stapling it to the roller of a store-bought shade.

The tailored look of men's handkerchiefs can add punch to more than just pockets. Turn a set of new hankies or pristine vintage ones into a valance.

Two handmade floral stencils, arranged agreeably askew, decorate the inner edges of curtains, framing the window. Designing a border, rather than covering the entire panel, achieves a more customized look (and saves time).

Use this trim down the long edge of linen curtains to add a touch of whimsy.

Turn organza ribbon into soft stripes on cotton-voile sheers.

Create tone-on-tone sophistication by trimming silk-organza sheers with linen in a slightly deeper shade. Green linen panels on silk-organza sheers give just the right touch of color to a living room dressed in neutral hues.