Kelly, from Here Comes the Sun, is back with ForRent.com to share her project for DIY custom curtains!
Curtains are one of the easiest ways to add color and interest to a room. They provide an easy way to add a bold pattern to a room without the commitment of painting the walls. Custom curtains can get pricey, so I’m going to show you how you can make your very own inexpensively.
I started with plain white curtains from IKEA. The material is similar to heavy dropcloth. In order to make the chevron pattern, you will need a carpenter’s square, a light fabric marker, painter’s tape and interior paint.
Beginning at the top of your curtain, lay the carpenter’s square where you want your first chevron to be. Mark the top peak of your chevron with a fabric marker. Decide how wide you want each chevron and measure down that distance to mark the trough. I measured down 6 inches for my chevron. The horizontal distance between my chevrons is 14 inches. Your measurements may be different, depending on the width of your curtain and how you want your chevrons to look. Continue to measure the distances across and down, marking each dot with a fabric marker. Use the carpenter’s square as a guide to place the painter’s tape onto the curtains to connect the dots. Tape one row of chevrons and then move down to the next.
Press the tape down securely to make sure that paint doesn’t seep underneath. After the entire curtain is taped, move the curtain to someplace like a garage and place a tarp under it. Using a roller, paint the curtain, making sure to roll from the tape toward the inside of the chevron. By doing this, you minimize paint seeping under the tape. Depending on the paint color you choose, you may need a second coat. Peel off the tape while the paint is still slightly wet.
When your first curtain is dry, lay the second curtain next to it so you can make sure to line the chevron pattern up exactly.
After you have the second curtain taped, hang up both curtains to make sure that when they hang, the patterns match up. When you are satisfied, take the curtains down and repeat the painting process with the second curtain.
You now have your very own custom curtains and you didn’t pay a fortune for them!
You can get creative and create any pattern that you can think of. Not sure what color to use? Check out the Fresh Start with a New Color e-guide. It’s free to download and is packed with great information about how to pair colors together and how to use those colors to create different looks throughout your home.
Do you have bold curtains in your home? Leave ForRent.com a comment below to share your favorite pattern.
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