How to Embellish Curtains

Buttons are easy and fun decorations.

If you find your curtains are a bit drab, don’t fret -- you can embellish them to bring a new look into your room. Whether your home decorating style is casual country or a more formal style, you can decorate curtains to enhance your style as well as make a statement. The knack to decorating curtains is working with the overall style of your decor. When you’re finished, you’ll have distinctive curtains that everyone will love.

Things You'll Need

• Glue
• Trim
• Ribbon
• Buttons
• Paint
• Stencils

Instructions

1. Sew or glue decorative trim to your panels. Depending upon the style of curtains you have, adding trim completely changes the way your curtains look. From gimp to tasseled fringe, choose a style and color that enhances the decor of your room. Tassels suit a more formal style and look elegant along the inside edge of curtain panels. Gimp gives the edges of curtain panels a finished look.

2. Buy lengths of ribbon that match your decor and your curtains, and attach them vertically or horizontally to add color to your room. Sew or glue wide ribbon lengths to the long edges of your curtains to add drama. Another option is to attach a ribbon length a few inches beneath the top edge of the curtain.

3. Add buttons for a simple and whimsical curtain decoration. Buttons are a snap because you can find them to match any fabric and decorating style. Stitch a row of buttons along the top or bottom seam of a simple curtain panel to add charm. If your curtains have tab tops, sew a button just below the tab for a finished look.

4. Sew or glue flat trim, braid or fringe along the top or inside edges of your curtains for a polished look. For a formal look, attach fringe with tassels.

5. Paint stencils on ordinary panels. Stencil designs dress up a room and add personal flair because you can find stencils for almost everything. For a baby’s room, stencil booty and pacifier designs. In the kitchen, go with cherry and pineapple stencil patterns.

6. Sew blocks of fabric to a plain curtain panel for a patchwork look. Alternatively, add fabric circles for a polka dot effect. Vary the sizes of the circles for a fun look in a game room.

References

• House To Home: Patterned Curtain
• Rafter Tales: Curtain and Drapery Accessories
• Southern Living; Curtains 101; Joyce Butterworth