One of the most important elements you can have in a room that really ties it together and makes it look absolutely amazing is the curtains. Curtains add so much color, texture, and depth to the room. They have the power to completely transform the home and give it the look and feel you’re going for.
The problem with curtains is that we’re limited by the selection at our local stores. They typically don’t have exactly what we’re looking for, and usually the selections are WAY overpriced. Often times, if it’s close enough, we end up spending the money and making do just to have something to cover our bare windows.
But what if you could have the style, color, texture, and pattern of curtains that would match your home decor and give you the exact look and feel you’re going for? Wouldn’t you choose that over the less-than-stellar, overpriced commercial offerings instead? Um, yes please!
Made from Premier Prints Suzani Slub Yellow/White fabric.
And that’s where the magic of DIY comes into play! We can be thrifty and creative and still have amazing curtains at a fraction of the price by making them ourselves! We don’t need to settle for pre-made curtains that don’t match our style and tastes!
I know you might be thinking that making DIY curtains sounds complicated, and that you just don’t have the time or know-how, but here’s the thing, it doesn’t have to be this big, huge ordeal to make your own curtains. It is definitely manageable, and if the thought of sewing scares you, you can even make your own curtains without a sewing machine or any sewing know-how.
Made from Premier Prints Traditions Slub Aquarius fabric.
Why You Should DIY Your Curtains
- Making your own DIY curtains will allow you to have amazing, one-of-a-kind curtains that are completely customized for your home and your tastes. No more relying on whatever the manufacturers deem the “best” colors and patterns. When you make your curtains, you open up endless fabric and personalization options!
Related: Tips for buying fabric online
- DIYing your own curtains allows you to make curtains that fit your house and windows, so you’re not left trying to make ill-fitting curtains work in your home. The truth of the matter is that the standard curtain sizes of 63 or 84 inches in length just don’t work in every home. And if your windows are slightly wider than the standard curtain width, you have to buy another entire panel just to cover them!
Related: The right way to hang curtains
- Saving money is a huge benefit of making your own curtains. Curtains are expensive! Even the cheap ones at your local Le Mart du Wal add up fast. And if you want nicer and more customized options, the price only goes up from there. DIYing your own curtains means you can spend less money and get even more bang for your buck!
Related: DIY curtains from $5 sheets
- You don’t need to know how to sew. Thanks to the magic of iron on tape, you don’t even need a sewing machine to make your own DIY curtains! Though you certainly can sew your curtains, it’s not a requirement, and you definitely shouldn’t let this stand in the way of creating your own gorgeous curtains.
Related: DIY no-sew curtains from a drop cloth
I sewed all of these curtains for my home, and as I was working on the very last one, as luck would have it, I ran out of thread! I was just beside myself and really wanted nothing more than to hang my beautiful curtains and complete the room that same day.
So I called my husband, as he was about to leave work, and told him I needed him to stop at the store. It was an emergency, after all! Surely he could understand? He was probably expecting me to ask for an ingredient for dinner or something worse like a feminine hygiene product, so I don’t think he was expecting my emergency request to be a spool of white thread. Oh the joys of being married to a crafter!
Made from Waverly Srilanka Indigo fabric.
So what do you think? Are you ready to create your own one-of-a-kind DIY curtains? I highly recommend giving it a try. I think you’ll find it’s easier than it looks, and you’ll be able to completely up your home decor game! You can start out by just doing one or two windows, and see how they turn out, and I guarantee you’ll want to do them for the rest of your home. Then when friends and family ohh and ahh over your curtains and ask where you got them, you can just nonchalantly say “Oh, you can’t buy those. I made them!” like it’s no big deal!
Made from Waverly Do the Twist Aqua fabric.
I’d love to hear if I’ve inspired you to make your own DIY curtains in the comments! Let me know what fabric you’ve got your eye on, and feel free to hit me up with any questions you have about making your own curtains! And don’t forget to sign up for my newsletter so you can receive my weekly DIY and home tips delivered to your inbox!
Celeste you are a girl after my own heart. I’ve been making DIY curtains for as long as I can remember. I was never content to go and buy them from… what did you call it? Le Mart du Wal?? Lol! Pinning and sharing. Your voice comes through loud and clear in this post! I’m hosting a link party tomorrow Friday at 3 pm est. If you have a chance drop by, I’d love fo you to join us.
DIY curtains are definitely the way to go, Mary! They options are endless when you make them yourself. And I’m glad you picked up on my tongue-in-cheek reference to Walmart, lol! Thanks so much for sharing! I’ll be sure to stop by your link party again this week!
I’ve always made curtains, mainly becasue that’s what my mum did, that and they are just so expensive!
I do stitch mine though, they are all straight line so I find the most difficult bit is finding space to lay them out on the floor to cut and then pin them straight. They are awkward to stitch because of the size but not difficult.
The tape idea for those who really don’t want to sew/can’t sew is a great idea though.
My mom made our curtains as well, Julie, so that’s probably where I learned it! Sewing curtains is really not that hard, like you said it’s basically a straight line. The only difficult part is dealing with the bulk of all the fabric, but it’s definitely manageable. No-sew tape is the perfect option for someone who doesn’t know how to sew or doesn’t have a sewing machine!
I agree it is not so difficult to sew curtains the weight of the fabric is what is difficult and then if you line them that make them that much heavier, so I have lined the ones that have the sun coming in all the time and the others I am leaving them unlined. Lining them keeps them newer longer and also keeps the cold out in the winter and cooler in the summer. If you watch for the fabric sales you will save a lot.
Great post! Love the yellow/white curtains! Thanks for the great tips! I just pinned your post.Thanks for partying with us on Thursdays! Hope to see you this coming Thursday again!
Thanks so much, Denise! The yellow and white curtains definitely add a bright pop of color to our home! I’ll be sure to link up with you again this week!
I been making these straight line curtains for years…I’ve also used flat sheets to make curtains, valances and shower curtains. When they’re on sale or clearance, it’s plenty of fabric on the cheap!
http://justsimplesomethings.blogspot.com/2016/04/cheap-diy-artwork.html
Sheets are a good option for cheap curtain fabric, Suzy! It’s such a great amount of fabric for the price. The nice part about using sheets is that part of the sewing is already done for you, too!
Nice post- I love your beautiful, bright curtains! Between my mother in law and myself I have custom DIY curtains in half of the windows in my home. I actually just wrote a post about the curtain I made for my son’s nursery using the side of the crib skirt that was against the wall http://www.upcyclednest.com/repurpose-hidden-side-of-crib-skirt/. But my favorite window covering project that I’ve done is a set of 3 matching roman shades for my bedroom. I found fabric that coordinates perfectly with my bedding and looks beautiful (for gender neutral fabric haha!). I used the tutorial from the sail rite website.
Thanks so much, Jen! DIY curtains are the best kind! The curtains you made for your son’s nursery are super cute, and the fact that you got the fabric from the unused side of a crib skirt is just genius! I would have never even thought of that!
Hi Celeste! How are you? Gosh, I love that fabric you’ve used. I make my own curtains that is, unless I can buy them second hand from the thrift store. The cost to buy brand new is ridiculous. Thanks so much for sharing your post at Thriving on Thursdays last week. I’m featuring this one at tomorrow’s party. It’s always lovely to see you each week.
Anne @ Domesblissity
Anne, thanks so much for the wonderful feature! I always enjoy linking up with you. You are right, curtains from the store are so overpriced! It’s way better to make your own, and then you get to choose fun fabric!
The yellow and white fabric is very pretty! Chuckled at your store emergency!!!
Thanks so much, Lora! The yellow and white curtains really brighten up the room. Haha luckily my husband is pretty understanding when it comes to my emergency store runs and requests for odd things!
Celeste, I DIY my curtains all the time and I agree with you, you can’t beat that price. Love the fabrics you chose for yours!
Thanks for sharing with us at Sweet Inspiration party. Have a wonderful week!
Thanks so much, Pili! I really can’t get enough of those beautiful fabrics! They definitely add a fun bit of color and pattern to our home!
There is such satisfaction making your own curtains. I’ve been doing it for years. My latest was for the kitchen. I’ve even pasted on some I’ve made to family and friends.
I love your yellow beautiful curtain would please help me to find those material For my curtains pls
That fabric is called Premier Prints Suzani Slub Yellow/White. I’m not sure if they still make it, but I got it on fabric.com.