How to Make Unique Curtains for My Home Simply & Cheaply

It's easy to make unique curtains for your home simply and cheaply. All it takes is imagination and a few basic tools. The most expensive part of the project will probably be the curtain rods. Some of these curtain treatments for your home will be easier if you're handy with tools, but most of them take minimal expertise.

Things You'll Need

• Fabric
• Iron-on tape
• Spring rods
• Dowel
• Brackets
• Drapery rings

Instructions

1. Shop at thrift stores. Don't just look for traditional curtains. Sheets, scraps of fabric, table cloths, shower curtains and towels can all be adapted to make attractive and unusual curtains. Look for bold designs that match your decor.

2. Hem the top and bottom of a piece of fabric the size of the inside of your window. Slide spring rods into both hems, and hang the curtain inside the window frame. This treatment can be used under traditional curtains to block the light and prevent your room from losing heat.

3. 

   Build a simple frame that will fit snugly around your entire window. Stretch fabric on the frame, wrap it around the edges and staple. The finished window treatment will look like a stretched canvas. Use these on windows you don't open frequently. They'll also help with your energy efficiency.

4. Use iron-on seam tape if you don't have a sewing machine or if you don't like to sew.

5. 

   For large windows, head to the hardware store and buy an unfinished wooden dowel a little longer than your window and unfinished wood brackets. Buy drapery rings with clips that are large enough to slip onto the dowel. Decorative pieces like balls and scrolls can be added to the ends of the dowel. Paint or stain the wood. Attach a set of unfitted sheets to the drapery rings and slip onto the dowel. This is cheaper than a drapery kit, and can be customized.

6. Think creatively. A sturdy branch resting on wood brackets draped with hand towels makes a unique curtain for your kitchen.