Freshen Up That Room With DIY Window Treatments!
Window treatments in bold and colorful choices are a simple way to add a lovely finished look to any room in your house.
Sure, beautiful, uncovered windows allow tons of light and are very popular, but you do need some privacy in certain rooms.
But buying window treatments can get very expensive! When you consider that your window treatments are merely pieces of fabric, it’s hard to spend a lot of money on new window coverings for your home.
We have put together a long list of helpful ideas to show you how to make a curtain, create DIY valances and DIY curtain tie backs, how to make Roman blinds, hem your curtains, create balloon shades and Austrian blinds, and much more.
There are also a slew of curtain and drapery calculators to choose from!
No-Sew, Low-Sew, and Sew!
You won’t believe the resources we’ve made available to you on our page! We have a variety of sew, low-sew to no-sew ideas for you; there is no need to panic if you don’t care to sew your own window treatments.
Many tutorials use hot glue, hemming tape, fusible fabric tape, velcro, and fusible interfacing. And of course, there are tutorials for those of you who like to sew.
We found many unique and interesting ideas for special window treatments using unexpected items or techniques. We have links to two shades that begin with simple blinds as their foundation.
Hot glue is used in many of the tutorials to make a variety of shades such as Roman Shades, Austrian Blinds and simple valances. Inexpensive tablecloths, sheets, and vintage tea towels are used in some of the most beautiful DIY curtain ideas!
You will also find many window treatment hacks, such as covering a roller blind with fabric, making easy no-sew black-out curtains with velcro, using curtain clips instead of tabs or grommets to add texture, and simple, foolproof ways to hem curtains.
Wide Variety Of Window Treatments
There are links to quite a variety of window treatments, such as balloon valances, Austrian blinds, cafe curtains, cascade blinds, and a London blind.
Cute cafe curtains are very popular and simple to make, and there are several wonderful ideas below showing how to create a variety of these adorable cafe curtains, so understated and chic.
A cascade blind or cascade shade is another simple solution for a small window where curtains would be just too heavy and long, such as a bathroom or kitchen. Austrian Blinds are beautiful, with such fullness, and there are several tutorials to create these light-weight scalloped blinds. Balloon valances, another window treatment with fullness, can be made quickly and easily given the tutorials below.
If your curtains or draperies look sloppy when you push them back to the sides, DIY curtain tiebacks are the perfect way to draw your window treatments aside and bring the light back into your room.
You can find tutorials here showing how to create interesting tie-backs, such as those using a brooch, beads and fabric. Tie-backs are the perfect window treatment accessory, being both useful and decorative.
Curtain and Drapery Calculators
Our many calculators will help you immensely with calculating the fabric yardage you will need to make draperies, differentiating between calculations for sheer curtains vs drapes, and performing calculations based on the use of a single or double track.
Some of the calculators can also help with measurements needed for heading types, such as box pleat, goblet pleat, pencil pleat, pinch pleat, wave or s-fold, rod pocket, and tab top.
DIY Curtain Rods
If you are looking for some great DIY curtain rods to make, we have several links to unique curtain rod materials, helping you to avoid the cost and less stylish metal curtain rods. You’d be surprised at the ideas out there, using conduit, PVC piping, ropes, and copper pipes!
It’s always fun to experiment with a new technique, get creative, and as a bonus, save money!
So read on and see all there is to try out with window treatments.
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Try out this no-sew curtain technique using fusible fabric tape.
A Beautiful Mess
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Austrian Blinds are in reality a curtain and made up in lightweight curtain fabrics. Learn how to make Austrian blinds with these instructions.
Custains Design
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Learn how to sew back tab curtains with a lining. These curtains have hidden tabs used to hold them on the curtain rod.
Needlepointers.com Associate
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You can sew with this tutorial and learn how to make balloon curtains.
French Ethereal
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How to sew a balloon shade.
It All Started With Paint
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This step-by-step tutorial will guide you through making a box pleat curtain.
Jennifer Decorates
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A DIY simple cafe curtain tutorial.
The Grit and Polish
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All that's required to sew these easy DIY cafe curtains are a bit of measuring, some pressing, and some machine hemming. Simple!
The DIY Mommy
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How to make super cute cafe curtains.
Jen Woodhouse
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How to calculate the fabric yardage you will need to make draperies.
Atlanta Fabrics
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A cascade blind, or cascade shade as it is sometimes known, is a simple solution for a small window. On this website are instructions on how to make cascade blinds.
Curtains Design
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How to calculate the curtain fabric quantity. Insert measurements and get the amount needed.
Sew Helpful
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This free-to-use curtain fabric calculator will work out how much fabric you need when you make your own curtains.
We're In Stitches
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How to hem curtains. A foolproof and super simple method for getting your curtains to hang at just the right length, every time, the first time!
The Homes I Have Made
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Panel curtains are the easiest curtains to sew for your home. Learn how to sew simple panel curtains from measuring and cutting the fabric to hemming the sides, top and bottom.
At Home With The Barkers
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This step-by-step tutorial will show how to sew lined curtain panels. Even a novice sewer with basic sewing skills can make these curtains.
Worthing Court
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Add a pop of color to plain curtains by making tie backs. This tutorial shows you step-by-step on how to make tie backs in minutes with simple material and basic sewing skills.
Mix Measure Make
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This is an easy way to sew curtain tie backs.
Happiest Camper
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A yardage calculator for curtains/draperies.
Online Fabric Store
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Here is a tutorial on how to make dip dye and ombre looking curtains.
Rachel Hollis
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By using purchased clip rings, an extendable rod and ready-made towels or linens, your DIY cafe curtains can be up in about an hour!
Lora B
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Check out these easy DIY curtain rods that will dress up your windows. Why settle for those plain old metal curtain rods when you can make one of these stylish alternatives.
Confessions of an Over Worked Mom
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Christina on Cozy DIY Home will show you how to sew your own curtain with pleater tape. It's easy! It's simple! It's a great beginner project!
Cozy DIY Home
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Select the type of drapery and use the calculator to know how much fabric to purchase. This will calculate for different types of drapes including pinch pleat, rod pocket, tab top, flat panel or grommet.
Best Fabric Store
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Insert measurements into the calculator in inches to calculate the yardage needed.
Online Fabric Store
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Curtain tiebacks are a great way to draw curtains aside and bring light into your room. Learn how to make curtain tiebacks.
Wikihow
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Here is a DIY window treatment using a cornice board with fabric over it.
You Make It Simple
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Learn how to make farmhouse-style DIY cafe curtains with this easy tutorial.
Farmhouse On Boone
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These free instructions along with photos will show how to make an interesting version of the Roman Shade.
Stagg Design
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Learn how to sew curtain panels with grommets.
That's What Che Said
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Learn how to make these curtains like a professional.
Sew Helpful
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This easy no sewing machine or needle hack will show how to hem curtains - from measuring, cutting and hemming with hem tape.
Pine and Prospect Home
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This is the quickest and easiest way to hem curtains.
Tip Hero
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This tutorial says she will share her foolproof and simple methods for hemming curtains to the right length, every time, the first time.
The Homes I Have Made
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How much fabric you need to buy when sewing curtains. Here is a step-by-step tutorial.
WikiHow
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This article will show you how to hem your curtains using hem tape and a sewing machine.
WikiHow
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You can shorten curtains yourself. This article explains how to hem curtain with a sewing method and a non-sewing method.
Kwik Hang
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If you purchase curtains and they are too long, here is a tutorial on how to hem them.
The Shabby Creek Cottage
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Don't buy kitchen curtains! If you can sew a straight line you can sew curtains. With this tutorial learn how easy it is to sew kitchen curtains that have a rod pocket and a ruffle at the top.
Needlepointers.com
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With this tutorial, you will learn an easy way to make lined curtains.
Create and Babble
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A pictorial tutorial along with instructions for making lined draperies.
Sew Many Ways
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Learn how to sew extensive-looking lined drapes.
Spruce Crafts
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Learn how to make pencil pleat curtains the way they are done in a professional workroom.
Sew Helpful
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NO pleats or gathers! Add style and color to any room with these easy-to-make curtains, with hanging knobs. Check out the tutorial.
Craft and Fabric Links
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Here you will find 8 steps for measuring a window for curtains.
WCMA NET
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These no-sew curtain panels are a breeze to put together. Learn how with this tutorial.
Artsy Chicks Rule
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Want to make curtains you don't have to sew. Use fabric fusible tape. Learn how here!
House Beautiful
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Instructions for making no sew valance.
AOK Corral
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How to hem curtain without a sewing machine.
The Adore Abode
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This tutorial explains how to make curtains with tabric tape. It's easy! No Sewing Required!
How We Do
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If you are looking for a quick and easy way to dress up a window you will love this no-sew faux Austrian blind alternative. All you need is a glue gun and some fabric!
Home-Dzine
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You can make custom window treatments for any room in your house using this step-by-step tutorial on how to make curtains.
Kaleidoscope Living
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A free tutorial on how to make a simple, fast no-sew scarf valance. You can do it!
Designed Decor
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Add an awesome ombre tie dye effect to curtains with this tutorial.
Oh Yay Studio
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This step-by-step tutorial explains how to sew pinch pleat curtains using pleater tape.
Fletcher Creek Cottage
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This tutorial shows an easy and inexpensive way to turn plain curtain panels into DIY pinch pleat drapes.
Stefana Silber
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Learn how to make curtains at this post.
Aborerie
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Learn how to make a roller blind using this step-by-step guide.
Terrys Fabrics
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Find out how to make a Roman blind for your window. Choose the perfect fabric for your room, then follow our easy step-by-step instructions.
Ideal Home
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Learn how to make a stylish and tailored-looking DIY roman shade with this simple sewing tutorial.
The DIY Mommy
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How to make a roman shade with a curtain panel and mini blinds.
by Courtney Myers at Home Talk
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Learn how to make a Roman shade using these free instructions.
365 Days to Simplicity
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This post will demonstrate how to sew roman shades. It says like a professional and the step-by-step tutorial walks you through determining the size to mounting the shade.
At Charloette's House
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All you need is some scrap fabric, curtain rings and basic sewing skills to make these curtain tie backs.
Apples to Applique
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This easy-to-make window valance covers the top of the blinds. No drilling necessary - perfect for dorms or apartments.
Craft and Fabric Links
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This free tutorial is on how to make tab top curtains.
The Clorth Parcel
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Our Pastimes has information and instructions on how to make tab-top curtains.
Our Pastimes
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This tutorial explains how to create tab top curtains. They open and close easily, drape beautifully.
Online Fabric Store
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How to make fabric curtain tie backs with Velcro and no hardware.
Best Fabric Store
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The tie-backs are very easy and fast to make, and could easily have variations in length and width. Read the instructions and learn how.
Maccabags
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Repurpose items! How to make curtain tie backs by upcycling materials around the house including tee shirt curtain tie backs and jeans tie backs.
Our Daily Craft
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You can easily sew your own valance with some basic sewing materials, a little sewing knowledge and a sewing machine.
WikiHow
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Learn how to sew a simple valance curtain with ruffles with our video and photo tutorial.
Needlepointers.com
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Basic information on making curtains.
Threads Magazine
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Determine the amount of fabric you need to purchase in order to make window coverings. On this webpage select the style of window treatment and then insert measurements to find out the amount of fabric.
Fabric Calculator
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Making easy no-sew and low-sew window treatments.
Wiley
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