How to Make a Vanity Skirt Out of Curtains

Curtains offer a low-cost option to buying fabric when making a vanity skirt.

Curtains are not just for windows anymore. You can refurbish a vanity table or an old bathroom sink by using or converting curtains into a skirt that disguises unsightly legs, provides a cover up for storage space and adds a bit of charm to an otherwise mundane item. Reuse, recycle, repurpose has become a modern-day mantra for taking articles you already have and putting them to another use. Let your curtains show you the way to save money through redecorating nirvana.

Things You'll Need

• Tape measure
• Curtains
• Scissors
• Sewing machine
• Thread
• Hook-and-loop fastener

Instructions

1. Stretch your tape measure from side to side around the front of your vanity table or sink and note the dimensions. Measure the distance from the top edge to the floor. Add an extra 1 inch to each measurement to accommodate a hem.

2. Cut your curtains to size. One to two times the width will give you a fuller skirt. Divide the measurement in half for two front panels or make one continuous piece. Hem all edges.

3. Baste two rows of stitches 1/2 inch down from the top of the skirt. Leave some thread hanging at the end of the stitches and gently pull on the strings to gather material in soft folds.

4. Cut the appropriate length of hook-and-loop fastener, based on your skirt's measurements. Attach half of the hook-and-loop fastener around the outside edges of your table or sink. Fix the other half of the fastener to the top of your skirt on the fabric's underside.

5. Press both sides of the fastener together. Start at the center of your sink or table and work your way along the sides.

Tips & Warnings

• Consider cafe curtains for a feminine look. They often come with a gathered, finished hem at the top. For a clean, tailored look, hang a panel at the center of your fixture, then stagger two panels over it to create a pleated effect. Keep the bottom hems of each piece open at the sides. You can slip a dowel through the bottom hems to add weight and help the panels hang straight. Add trims, such as ribbon, rickrack, fringe or bias strips, for extra flair. Try hanging the skirt from under the bottom edge of a bathroom sink if the fixture has interesting details. If sewing is not your forte, use fusible tape to make your hems. Attach the tape to the inside of the fabric, fold over your hem, cover with a cloth and iron to fuse the two pieces of fabric together. Use a glue gun, instead of a hook-and-loop fastener, to attach the vanity skirt to your sink or table.

References

• Amazing Home Decorating; How to Make a Bathroom Sink Shirt
• Ballard Designs Style Studio; How to Make a Sink Skirt
• Pearl Street Interiors Little Green Notebook; No-Sew Pedestal Sink Skirt