Window treatments perform a variety of tasks. They allow natural light to filter into your home or block it completely; they can provide noise barriers and protect your privacy. They can also be cost prohibitive, and making your own usually requires some sewing skills if you're not a full-on seamstress.
The following no sew ideas will help you create fabulous window treatments without the expense or the time and effort.
Tablecloth curtains. Turn a tablecloth into a curtain and add your own creative touches to give it a little more flair. By starting with a hemmed piece of fabric you are saving yourself a lot of time and effort and generally tablecloths are pretty inexpensive.
If you’re going to slide the curtain onto a rod you’ll need to create a pocket which can be done with needle and thread or you can opt for the super easy method and use hemming tape. There are also several options to sliding the curtain rod through a pocket, instead consider clip-on drapery rings which come in a huge variety of shapes, colors and themes.
To give your window treatment a little more visual interest, consider using fabric glue to add notions to your work. Your local fabric or craft store will have a mind boggling array of notions and you can select anything that tickles your fancy. Another way to create visual interest is by using ribbons to create stripes or lines in your window treatments. You can even use the same ribbons to tie the top of the curtain to the curtain rod.
Sheets on the windows. Sheets are another quick and easy way to go when looking for presewn hems. They also feature patterns and colors that easily complement a room. The problem is, they look like sheets. The challenge is to alter the sheet enough so it looks more like a curtain than a sheet.
One trick is in the selection, look for unusual looking sheets or dark and bold patterns. Sheets with large top hems and contrasting thread will look more like sheets than some other selections. And white sheets with little flowers are usually easily recognizable.
The next trick is picking the right touches to give it your window treatment it’s own unique look. This is another place where ribbon and iron-on hem tape can do wonders. Consider using grommets on the top to thread the curtain rod through, this built-in feature automatically removes some of the sheet appearance.
And don’t forget to iron your sheet to remove those tell-tale sheet folds.
Draped Valance. If you already have blinds and want to spruce them up then a valance is the key and the best part of a valance is you don’t need to sew anything. Select your favorite fabric, sheer is easier, and you’re ready to go Iron-on hem tape comes to the rescue again and allows you to create clean, neat edges. Draping the valance can be done in a variety of ways, take your time with the draping and stand back often to make sure it’s hanging the way you want it to and both sides are even.
Use felt or fleece. Felt and fleece are both great fabrics for window treatments because they are dense enough to make clean, neat cuts without fraying; i.e. no sewing! But their tight weave also is great because it blocks sunlight pretty efficiently and gives you some added heat blockage and privacy.
Both of these fabrics can be decorated with ribbon, notions, or more fleece and fabric. In fact, if you’re really good with a scissors, you can cut out pretty elaborate designs and create character curtains for a child’s bedroom.
All of these window treatment ideas can be done with very little cash and time outlay and will give you a remarkable result that is all your own.
