4 Curtain Hanging Tips

Custom drapes are beautiful but come with a hefty price. The options for curtains in the places we shop everyday are endless and affordable! For the DIY decorator and the every-day home owner on a budget these are an easy and inexpensive way to class up a room.

1. Use clips, grommets or rings. Most curtains comes ready-made with a pocket to push the rod through--don't use it. Spend a few extra dollars for the proper hanging hardware. This looks nicer and it is more functional. It is much easier to pull your curtain open and closed when it can easily slide. Plus the top of a bunched up, scrunched up curtain is the perfect place for a bunch of dust to collect.

2. Pinch a Pleat. Take a couple extra minutes when hanging your curtains to pinch a pleat. This gives your curtain some symmetrical movement when they are both pulled closed and opened.

Lay your curtain out flat on the bed, the dining room table, or the floor. Pinch a pleat in the center of the curtain and then on each end. 

Divide the space between the center and the ends by how many rings you are using and pinch a pleat and clip on the ring.

Your curtain will hang with a pretty, symmetrical, fool-proof wave.

3. Flank the sides of the window. You hear it all the time on our favorite HGTV shows, but I just felt it bears repeating. This tip can make an offset window look centered, add luxury, make a window feel bigger and a room appear larger.

4. Hang floor to ceiling. Curtains hanging from floor to ceiling add elegance, sophistication and make the room feel bigger. Can't find the length you need? Check out my article on stretching your curtains and your budget.

Headboard Made From Euro Shams

Do you love the look of a tall plush high-end headboard, but you don’t love the price? I just have to share with you how I made my king-size headboard out of store-bought pillow shams!

Shopping List

Paint

3 Euro Shams

Sheet of Styrofoam insulation such as Poly Shield

Batting

Shipping Tape

Drywall screws

2 1x4 pine board

1 1x6 pine board

Double sticky tape

3 large fabric covered buttons (these come in a kit in the sewing section of your craft store)

Directions

1)    Paint the wall the same dark brown as your pillow shams.

2)    Cut the boards the length you need them. I used 1x4’s on the sides and a 1x6 as the top piece. Paint them with the same brown paint.

3)    Measure the distance between the inner edges of your headboard and divide by three. This will be the measurement that you cut the Poly Shield into 3 squares.

4)    Cover each square with batting.

5)    Cover each square with one Euro sized pillow sham and secure on the back with shipping tape.

6)    Install the first panel in the center by securing with one drywall screw right through the center of the sham. Repeat with the end panels.

7)    Install the brown trim securing with drywall screws.

8)    Make three large fabric buttons and secure in the center of each panel with a needle and thread.

 Before

 Poly Shield is light weight and super affordable

 Cover with batting

 After

Vector Art on Plywood

This set of art hangs in my home office. I made it by having the home-improvement store cut a sheet of plywood into 2’ x 2’ squares. A light sanding followed by primer and a white base coat prepared the boards for the paint.

This vector art was created with a free-hand stencil cut from poster board and then spray painted by my resident artist. It was then sealed with a clear coat of satin polyurethane and hung with simple picture frame hooks.