Branch Swag Window Treatment

Use a sturdy branch as a curtain rod.

You may have seen a window framed by branch swag curtains in a rustic or artsy home. This window treatment is the result of a DIY project and isn't available for purchase in most brick and mortar stores, although some Internet shops sell versions, real and fake, of the tree branch curtain rod.

Features

Decorators construct branch swag curtains from only three relatively inexpensive items: rod brackets, a sturdy branch and a long bolt of hemmed fabric. Usually the branch is just slightly longer than the width of the window and is stripped of bark and twigs; some paint the branch in colors such as white or gold.

Construction

To make a branch swag window treatment, purchase a piece of hemmed fabric which is long enough to reach from the floor to the rod, across the window and back down again and two rod brackets which have a curve in which a branch can rest. Find a sturdy branch of appropriate length and trim off most growths, leaving some short growths jutting out for style. Remove bark with a small knife and sand off rough texture, then stain, paint or cover the branch with a varnish. Attach the brackets to the wall above the window, then set the branch on top of the brackets, allowing it to rest in the brackets' curved form. Drape the bolt of fabric across the top, allowing the ends of the fabric to fall on either side of the window, creating a frame effect.

The Branch Trend

Branch swag window treatments are part of a larger home decor trend which favors natural themes such as branches as well as the DIY aesthetic. Branch chandeliers, branch bed frames, branch jewelry organizers, coat and hat racks made from branches and more have enjoyed popularity on professional design blogs and magazines such as Apartment Therapy and Better Homes and Gardens.

Benefits

Branch swag curtains are cheap to make, requiring only access to a nearby wood in which to hike and find a sturdy branch; this DIY window treatment also doesn't require any sewing, unlike many other window treatment projects. You only need to start with a hemmed bolt of fabric or use fusible webbing and an iron to create threadless hems yourself. Using branch swag window treatments in your home also reduces overall consumption, which is crucial to eco-friendly or "green" living, because instead of buying a new rod, you create one out of forest refuse.

Considerations

Try out the draping beforehand to make sure your treatment gives the desired effect. Swag window treatments are purely decorative, so they provide no light control or privacy. Also, branch swag window treatments match best with design styles where natural elements such as branches are frequently used.

References

• Better Homes and Gardens: 7 Creative Curtain Rods You Can Make
• Apartment Therapy: Roundup: Branch Decor
• Apartment Therapy: Repurposed Branches for Hanging Clothes and Curtains