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Bamboo shades on metal doors—without drilling.

A few industrial magnets and a little creative problem-solving gave our French doors the warm, layered look I wanted.

The secret is in the wooden shade header—not the door.

Two matching bamboo Roman shades mounted at the top of metal French doors
The finished look: bamboo warmth, no new holes in the metal doors.
No door drillingThe magnets hold to the metal doors
Screw-mounted magnetsAttached to the wooden shade headers
62-inch shadesLeft uncut; used decoratively

THE FINISHED LOOK

A small detail that warmed up the whole doorway.

I wanted the texture of bamboo Roman shades on our metal French doors, but I really didn't want to drill into expensive doors just for a decorative treatment. Once I realized the shade had a wooden header and the doors were magnetic, I had an idea.

My solution? Attach magnets to the shade itself, then let the door do the holding. The shades are cordless and I'm leaving them raised for looks rather than lowering them every day.

Both finished bamboo shades centered on the French door windows
Both shades in place—without drilling into the doors.

HOW I DID IT

The magnetic mounting method

Here's the actual installation, using the photographs I took along the way.

STEP 01

Check the door and shade header

First, make sure a magnet actually sticks to your door. Not every metal-looking door is magnetic, and magnetic holding strength varies by surface. My French doors are metal, and the bamboo shades have wooden headers where I could attach the magnets.

Before you start, also check that the shade will clear the door frame and hardware when the door opens and closes.

First bamboo shade mounted on one of the metal French doors
The first shade in place for a fit and position check.

STEP 02

Plan where the magnets will go

I attached industrial magnets to the back of the wooden header, spaced along its length. I used five magnets on each shade; the number you need will depend on the weight of your shade and the magnets you choose. The goal was a secure hold with the hardware hidden from view.

If your header is narrow, position the magnets lower on the wood so you can't see them peeking over the top of the shade. Also make sure their placement lets the shade sit level.

Back of the bamboo shade wooden header showing three round magnets attached along its length
Five magnets visible on the back of this wooden header.

STEP 03

Check screw length—before driving a single screw

The magnets I bought came with screws, and thankfully they were short enough to attach securely without poking through the front of the wood. That's a detail worth checking before you start!

Use screws that are appropriate for your specific header's thickness, taking into account the magnet's mounting hole and how much screw will actually enter the wood. I used a drill/driver to secure the magnets to the header—not to the door.

Attaching a magnet to the bamboo shade wooden header with a cordless drill
The screws go into the wooden shade header, never into the metal door.

STEP 04

Keep the screw heads flush

This is the tip I wouldn't skip: the magnets need to make good contact with the door. If a screw head sticks out farther than the magnet's contact face, the screw hits the door first and keeps the magnet from sitting flat.

Make sure the supplied screw head is properly seated in the magnet's recess, with no hardware protruding beyond the contact surface.

Close-up of round magnet screwed into the wooden header with a flush seated screw
That recessed screw head lets the magnet sit against the door.

STEP 05

Set the shade in place and test the hold

With the magnets attached, I placed the shade against the metal door and adjusted its position until it was centered and level. I checked that the magnets made full contact and that the shade stayed put before letting go completely.

Test the hold carefully, including opening and closing the door gently. The weight of your shade, strength of the magnets, and door surface all matter. Don't assume the same magnets will safely support every shade.

Two bamboo shades mounted to the French doors after installation
The finished result: a warm woven texture with no holes in the doors.

THE IVEY HOUSE TIPS

Three little details that matter

  • Check screw length. Screws must be short enough not to come through the front of the wooden header.
  • Keep screw heads flush. Anything protruding can prevent full magnetic contact.
  • Hide the magnets. On a narrow header, move them lower so they don't show from above.

WHAT I CONSIDERED

Liquid Nails? Shorter shades? Maybe someday.

I originally considered using Liquid Nails to attach the magnets. In the end, the supplied screws worked with my wooden header, so that's what I used. I haven't tested an adhesive-only installation; if you choose that route, check that the adhesive is rated for the materials and weight involved and follow its cure instructions.

I also considered shortening these 62-inch cordless shades to reduce weight and create a smaller, more tailored stack. I haven't shortened them, though, and I may not. For now, I like how they look raised at the top of the doors.

And if I change my mind later? Well, apparently even the finished projects around here have a sequel.

THE RESULT

More warmth. No holes in the doors.

Bamboo shades above the French doors seen from the adjoining room
A little bamboo texture goes a long way in a bright room.

I love a project that makes a noticeable difference without becoming a huge undertaking. These shades softened the look of the doors, added texture, and gave me exactly the decorative effect I was after—without permanently changing the doors.

SHOP THIS PROJECT

Simple supplies. Smart details.

You'll need a cordless bamboo shade with a wooden header and appropriately rated, screw-mount magnets. The screws I used came with my magnets.

Screw-mounted magnets on the wooden shade header
WHAT HOLDS IT

LOVIMAG screw-mount magnets

The magnets I used came with screws. I attached five to each wooden header. The advertised 150 lb+ rating is not a guarantee of holding strength on a painted metal door.

View the magnets on Amazon ↗
Cordless bamboo Roman shade folded up beneath its wooden header
THE SHADE

Cordless bamboo Roman shade

These are the shades I purchased. Mine is 62 inches long, still uncut, and used decoratively in its raised position.

View my bamboo shades on Amazon ↗

These are photos of the products I actually used, with the shopping links I shared. Product prices may change. I considered adhesive but did not test it; this tutorial shows the screw-mounted method.

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