Drapery hacks for custom looking drapes
November 09, 2010
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Remember when I showed you the start of our bedroom redo a couple of months ago? Remember the purple drapes?:
Oh my. They were looking pretty sad.
They were left over from the room before…and before. :) But obviously it was time for them to go. Then one of my lovely readers told me about some drapes online at JCPenney – they were beautiful, they were the rust color I wanted, they had long lengths, they were reversible, aaaand they were only $12.99 each!
Ding! Ding! Ding! SCORE.
I was sold! I love the look of really full drapes, so I got the 95” length and got four panels. I was thrilled when I got them and they were the perfect color!:
I thought the plain rust side was a bit much, but the drapes are reversible – the back side was a beautiful buffalo check print. When I hung the drapes the night we got them, I held up the check side and hubs and I both though they may read a bit too country for our taste.
But the other day I turned them around, just to see…and oh. my. I was in LOVE. I also left the rust side on the other end of the window for a good week, just to make sure my love was real.
It’s slightly shimmery, it’s got the dark rust, a lighter rust, and it’s got the cream I was looking for all this time. AND it was there in front of us all along. I love when it works out for FREE.
When it comes to hanging my drapes, there’s a few things I do that I get asked about a lot -- the first is what I do to make them look pleated. I learned this hack that makes drapes look pleated from a fellow decorator I used to work with…and it right up there with the top three window treatment tips ever. (In my itty bitty opinion.)
Custom made drapes (or any nice treatments) are made with drapery hooks – and the hooks are used to hang them. They give the fabric a full, pleated, custom look when hung and look like this:
I’ve made all of the treatments in our home, (up till now!). I rarely sew them (I’m a hemming tape and iron kind of girl) and when I do sew I can barely do a straight line -- so doing something like the hooks is way over my head. I tried it once and let’s just say it just didn’t go well…at all. :)
The little trick I learned doesn’t need these dodads -- all you need are your rings with hooks. Instead of clipping your drapery rings to the top of the window treatment, or putting the rod through the top of the drapes…pull your fabric up, pinch it in sections and clip the back of the fabric from behind:
Like so:
You’ll notice I used two different types of rings – half of them were $1.99 at the thrift store, but I needed more to get the full look I was going for. They didn’t have to match cause you can’t even see them!
I like to clip each side of the treatment, then the middle, then do the rest in (fairly) equal sections:
The end result really depends on the fabric – this fabric is perfect! It’s just stiff enough to keep the pleats standing up, even though I have them clipped a good five inches down from the top.
Every once and a while I may need to poof them up, but usually only if we're handling them often:
If you have a thinner fabric, you can still do this, but you’ll have to clip much higher on the fabric. Does that make sense? Otherwise you’ll have floppy pleats. And no one likes floppy pleats. :)
The result is a very custom look, without the custom price (or work!):
I do this with ALL of our drapes and absolutely love the look!
My second little trick is my short rods. I get a lot of questions on where to buy the short rods I use.
Well…you can’t. At least I haven’t found them -- that’s why I DIY my own. :)
Most of our drapes aren’t operational – we don’t close them for privacy because we have the roman shades. Because of that, I prefer not to use a long rod across the window. It’s just a personal thing – I don’t mind the look at all, but it can get costly to get a rod long enough to go the width of a double window.
So I just cut them myself – if it’s a wood rod, like in our family room:
I just use my miter box or saw to cut a long rod down to the size I want:
Then use a drill bit to add a new hole at the ends for the finials. That’s it!
I love doing this because it makes your drapes seem fuller than they are, and you can use a cheaper rod (maybe four feet?) and cut that down, instead of a huge six or eight foot one.
For metal rods, I use a tool you can find in the plumbing department:
I think it’s about $8? You just put the pole in, tighten, and turn it so the tool can cut it. It takes a few minutes, but it’s easy!
Of course, you’ll need two sets of finials and brackets, so sometimes that can override the whole saving money on the rod thing. ;)
(Drats.)
Have I mentioned I LOVE my new-but-not-really drapes?:
You’ll notice in the pics above that the window is really close to the wall to the left…it seems the architects don’t consider our window treatments when building our homes! How could they NOT? Helloooo…it’s right up there with support beams and insulation and all the important stuff!
When I have a window that butts up against a wall like that, I just skip the finial. I didn’t use them at all in the Bub’s room:
I promise no one will notice. And if they do, give them a cookie. :)
So here’s one more shot (are you tired of seeing this spot yet?!) with our buffalo check drapes, DIY rods and pleats:
$12! That is CRAZY! I love the simple way you made the pleats! And I LOVE your kitty! So sweet.
ReplyDeleteThat is exactly what you needed!!! I love those curtains now and yes it brings the cream to the other side. Can't wait to see what you are doing with the bed!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful!
ReplyDeleteI love tricky tricky!
i LOVE them!!! and thanks so much for the clip/pleating idea!! i've been playing with fabric over my window, and struggling, and i think i may need to try something like that :)
ReplyDeleteShould we start calling you "The Buffalo Check Queen" or just simply "Your Highness"?
ReplyDeleteI bow down to the master. :)
They look awesome, thanks for the link again. I finally ordered 4 panels for myself since yours look so good. I got the bronze/pearl ones, I hope they are a good color for where I want them:}
ReplyDeleteAlso, I used the coupon code PUMPKIN, saved 10 dollars off a 50 dollar order {fyi in case anyone else wants to order;}. I love getting coupon codes online:}
So are yours the terracotta? They look more burgundy, they are beautiful:}
Don't you love when you can get a new look without buying anything? The drapes look beautiful. I have my bed room drapes hanging the same way.But my windows are narrow so the rod goes all the way across. Oh and...I can be Cammy or Stephanie if you so need me to be ;)
ReplyDeleteJCPenney online is my go to home decor superstore!! Love the deals. I really like those pleats that you created. I'll have to remember that!! :)
ReplyDeletelove the buffalo check - not country at all! I also love the idea of the short rods, I have panels in my kids room I haven't hung yet because it is basically a full wall of windows, I am so doing the short rods vs. one length of 16 feet!
ReplyDeleteLove your curtains! They are almost exactly like my Family room ones, and I just love the sheen and the way the fabric hangs! Also - get out!!! The short rod on each side of the window idea? Gen - i - us!!!!!! That is exactly what I am going to do now in my living room, I wanted to put curtains in the opening from living to family room, but didn't want them to close or take up the whole wall - once again you rock girlfriend - Holla!
ReplyDeleteSarah JCP does have the shorter rods. At least they used too. Oh my goodness gracious I am loving the new checkered side showing. LURVE it! Gorgeous job and the pleats are fabulous. Thank you for showing us the how to.
ReplyDeleteHappy week! ~Melissa :)
You are hilarious! Thanks for all the curtain inspiration, and the song that is now stuck in my head for eternity! Man, they just don't make music like they used to. That may be a good thing! ;)
ReplyDeleteWow, these are great! I went immediately to the site but they didn't have the color I needed. I actually made some like this last year out of buffalo plaid silk but even making them myself cost way more! Thanks so much for the tips!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the tip on the curtains! I just ordered myself 4 panels in the bronze :)
ReplyDeleteYour drapes look awesome, I am going to go check JC Penny out, I am in the need for some draperies I don't have to make myself.
ReplyDeleteI ADORE them them. Way more substantial than just the rust. They are a fabulous statement to your room. BEAUTIFUL!!
ReplyDeleteThey're beautiful! I love the curtains throughout your house. And I can't wait to see what you decided to do behind the bed!!
ReplyDeleteYou always have me laughing... I too love the 90's even though I'm a child of the 80's... I was a clubbin fool in the 90's!!! LOL
ReplyDeleteLOVE the drapes and am SO glad you are happy... I think my DH would kill ya if he were YOUR DH!!!! LOL! He does NOT like change!!
Beautiful!!! How lucky of you to have found the drapes at such a great price!!! Your room is lovely!!
ReplyDeleteSarah, love your drapes and wanted to share a trick I use. Crumple a piece of tissue paper into the shape of your drapery fold and place it inside the fold. It will hold the fold upright and looks very tailored. Liz (ces2147@verizon.net)
ReplyDeleteOk #1 the song is totally stuck in my head. #2 those look FANTASTIC! Just love the way they turned out!!
ReplyDeleteI love them this way and if you ever want a change, you can just turn them around again! I wanted to tell you that JC Penney does carry the short rods. I have purchased them there myself {online anyway} for client jobs.
ReplyDeleteGreat job, they look beautiful. Can't wait to see the rest of the room.
ReplyDeleteSandy
I would like to personally thank you for embedding that song in my head today. ;)
ReplyDeleteLOVE those tricky new drapes!!!
Actually, this is the song playing in my head now.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q671QIDeH-U&feature=related
how funny! i already ordered the exact same panels for my bedroom! (but in a different color) AND i do the same "trick" with the rings. i discovered that "trick" when i thought the rings clipped to the top of the panel looked too sloppy... your bedroom looks great.
ReplyDeletehow funny! i already ordered the exact same panels for my bedroom! (but in a different color) AND i do the same "trick" with the rings. i discovered that "trick" when i thought the rings clipped to the top of the panel looked too sloppy... your bedroom looks great.
ReplyDeleteLove them! I have seen many large buffalo checks and don't think they look country at all. Very classy! good job!
ReplyDeleteLove these panels, I ordered the terra cotta for a client a while back when you first mentioned them. I tried to order the bronze today, but they are out of stock. I did find a coupon for 30% off, which they to honor in store, and it can be combined with any other codes or discounts. My heart was pounding when I entered my order, and it came up UNDER $40, for 4 panels!!!!! I'm bummed they're out of my color choice, but for anyone wanting the terra cotta option, here is the link to the 30% off coupon. Good Luck!
ReplyDeleteSarah, you may have just inspired me to change my color scheme for my next home, at this price, why not?????
Jules
http://www.retailmenot.com/view/jcpenney.com
JCP has the BEST sales on their drapes. And they're great quality, too! I bought drapes when the hubby and I first got married for our first place. Many years, three moves, two cats and a kid (and one on the way) later, they're still holding up exactly like they were the day we bought them.
ReplyDeleteAnd you can return to the store easy peasy if there's ever any issue with them. JCP is the place for drapes! Yours look great!
Beautiful! I love them & free is always good in my book :-) Enjoy it!
ReplyDeleteI read your blog regularly....I've seen you post about these curtains one meeeeeellion times......I've been looking for Terra cotta buffalo check curtains for EVA......you'd think it would have occurred to me to buy these when you first posted.....duh.....Thank you Thank you for reposting these curtains! Sometimes it takes a mac truck to hit me in the side of the head to realize that THESE ARE THE PERFECT CURTAINS!!!!! EEEEEEK! I'M GIDDY :-)
ReplyDeleteHi,
ReplyDeleteDo you know if these curtains are still for sale? I am searching JCP but don't see them. I have the SAME bedding as you. My heart would break if they were not sold anymore. My windows are bare and I love the way they look! Thanks!
Very lovely! I can't even begin to tell you how much I love the light hanging in your room, though. So pretty!
ReplyDeleteCute kitty, too! =)
Those window treatments make the room pop!
ReplyDeleteOk, crisis averted. I found them. My lucky day - they only have that color left in the size I need. Woo hoo!
ReplyDeleteI love the checks! Love them!!! They look great in your room.
ReplyDeleteThey look just gorgeous. When you posted the first time they were already out of that color, but maybe it was for the best because I had already purchased fabric to make drapes for the family room in a similar pattern (although more country, a smaller check in those colors in cotton). But I figure for $50 for 2-42" panels and 5 sets of box pleated valances all lined i'm still doing alright.
ReplyDeleteYou have now inspired me to go sew the darn things and hang them (after 5 months sitting aorund I finally got it all cut last week!)Let's see if the sick kiddoes will let me :)
Hey Sarah, how do you attach the curtain rods to the wall? Do you buy special mounting hardware or something? We can't find a curtain rod we like for previously mentioned living room drapes but I have a nice big long dowel that would be perfect if I could figure out how to get it on the wall!
ReplyDeleteLOVE! Just did the same thing with the drapes in our master bedroom a week or so ago...using the hooks makes ALL the difference!
ReplyDeleteJanell
I LOVe the pleat trick! We have all those rings/clips that I really loved in our old house, but this house is asking for a more pleated curtain style - I thought I was going to have to buy new stuff. Awesome!!! I'm going to try this for sure!
ReplyDeleteLove the plaid. They look fantastic in the room. Great tips also on hanging them. Hugs, Marty
ReplyDeleteThanks for the inspiration! I need to get some curtains up in my bedroom.
ReplyDeleteLove it! Trying to decide if the bronze would work in my living room. You don't want to see my bent rod and sad sheers.
ReplyDeleteI'm having a shower curtain made from some gorgeous fabric I bought, and I'm wondering if it would be too much to use the clip method to hang it instead. Anybody want to add your thoughts to it?
Your bedroom looks stunning! I love the drapes but even more I love that comforter! Did you get that at JC Penny too?
ReplyDeleteI ordered the Bronze/Pearl! Thank you so much for sharing! 2 108" at 12.99 each is unheard of...like you said, can't make them for that! Extra 15% off using the code SUROCT10, and FREE SHIPPING, if you pick up at the store instead of shipping to your house! Grand total? $23.
ReplyDeleteI never understood the Buffalo Plaid trend until NOW. Oh My Goodness I really really love that plaid in that fabric. It makes your room SO cozy. It's perfect. I love it. I'm really liking your master bedroom transformation. Keep us posted!
ReplyDeleteI loved this post and it arrived just in time, because I was in desparate need of new curtains for out study that I am planning to paint chocolate brown. So, I did the "click here" and got the pearl/bronze set of curtains for $23!!! Weren't they regularly over a $100! Oh, my word!
ReplyDeleteWho knew that fabulous buffalo check was hiding on the other side of your drapes? It looks fab. I'm also really LOVING your chandy! Is that new? Have we seen her before?
ReplyDeleteI have looked at this poast about 15 times! You rock!
ReplyDeleteCan you help me out with this: http://therussocorner.blogspot.com/2010/11/shameful-begging.html
These are so pretty, I love that they came from J.C. Penney. We have scored a bunch of great deals on stuff from there for our house too!! And my cats are always trying to hop in the pictures too :)
ReplyDeleteLooks great! J.C. Penney has the best ready-made curtains. I've unfortunately made the mistake of not ordering enough panels and now they are discontinued. Glad to hear you don't have the same problem I do.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for the heads up on the sale! i just ordered some for our living room! Can't beat that price! You never steer us wrong girl! xo
ReplyDeleteWow that is cheaper that is as cheap as Dollar General lol...and the ones I got there were not near a great quality and pretty narrow. I had to get 4 to fill an average window. Nice find!
ReplyDeleteLove that look. I ordered the panels last nite but rec'd a call today that they are sold out. What a great deal!
ReplyDeleteLove,love,love this post! I am so smitten with your curtains that I ordered myself a set! At first I ordered on both the terra cotta and the bronze but the bronze is now sold out (or discontinued) as the woman on the phone told me, and so I went back and ordered another set of terra cotta and am really, really hoping they won't be discontinued too!
ReplyDeleteThe drapes are great. They really don't look country at all. You did good!
ReplyDeleteCAS
I'm wondering if anyone else that ordered the bronze ones got a call or email saying they are out of stock:{ I am so sad, I wanted them so bad. I had ordered 4 panels and the order went through last night {around 11 PST}. They called today and said they don't have them, even though it still shows that I can put them in my cart online:{ So I called customer service and he confirmed that they are gone, so I ordered the terra cotta, but I'm not sure it will work since my walls are burgundy and I think they might clash. . .
ReplyDeleteYour pleat trick made me love my living room curtains again. Thank you so much, I would have never thought of that.
ReplyDeleteAndrea, I had the same thing happen when I placed an order for the bronze panels yesterday. Looked like they were available online, order went through and the CS called to say they were sorry...all out! I almost cried missing out on the deal of the century! The terra cotta unfortunately won't work with my color scheme. If anyone out there wants to part with their 108" bronze or cream panels, let me know! Bummer!
ReplyDeleteI can vouch for JC Penney drapes being good drapes. Used to have a pair over my kitchen sink in another home we had, as well as at the French Doors. The fabric was good!
ReplyDeleteDi
Tricky, maybe, but oh so good! These look great, Sarah!
ReplyDeleteI'll have to say, though, that my favorite tip in this post is to give a cookie to anyone who notices the lack of finials on your rods. A very good plan!
I noticed your new drapes in your "mom cave" post and meant to mention then that I thought they made the biggest difference in the before and after shots. They are like the jewelry on the space. I love them in there.
ReplyDeleteLove, love, LOVE the panels! And thanks for the tip on the rods...I get all excited when I find one I like and then all sad when I see the price tag! :( Now I know just what to do! And do builders not have wives? The hanging light fixture in my breakfast room is so not where it should be! If you center the table under it the room is out of balance and you can't get by. If you put the table where it should go, you hit your head on the light fixture. I need a woman to build my next house! :)
ReplyDeleteThese look SO good! And if you wanted yet another look, you could do one solid and one plaid on each side. I know you were looking for a bed skirt- how would these look for making the bed skirt (either side)? Too much?
ReplyDeleteI would love to know what you do to cover the top part of the "blinds", if you do anything. I know you make some of your own shades, but it looks like in the bedroom pic that you may have done something. We just moved into a house with lots of wonderful windows and the ruffly valances need to go asap! I am going to do the side curtains that you have shown. The windows in the LR have the privacy venetian blinds which have the metal bracket at the top. I'm not a huge fan, but not something we are going to change in the near future. Long, long story short . . . is there a way to make the bracket look better or hide it? - without a valance ;) Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI want, nay, need these drapes in my life and I can't find them on jcp.com. What is the brand?
ReplyDeleteYou have made my life!!! We're getting new living room furniture in the morning, and I'm actually going to be able to afford window treatments!!! :) YAY!!!
ReplyDeleteOkay, so I love the drapes, but I have to say that I love the cat too! She is so pretty... sorry cat lover here, and it just makes me laugh cuz that is exactly what my cats do- always get in the picture! Have a great weekend!
ReplyDeleteYou inspire me sooo much! I have a ridiculously large bank of bow windows in our master bedroom. I've never done a fabric treatment because it would require so much (I have silouettes on the five windows, but not on the transoms above). Today I bought 5 of the 108" panels in the bronze/pearl combo. I also bought two extras to make a dust ruffle and pillows for my bed for a grand total of $79.26 (no shipping). I got them so cheap because I had a promo code for 20% off. I am sooo stoked!
ReplyDeleteI love all of your posts but this one is great. All of my windows i have been using those rings, it makes it easier to open and close my curtains but to me just didn't look as polished as i would have liked. When i read your post i decided to try it, and it looks ten times better. I fixed my curtains in every room. Thanks for the great tips keep them coming.
ReplyDeleteValerie
Brilliant! clips, yes!! i can manage that...
ReplyDeleteI need to get to work on my living room! Great ideas!!
ReplyDeleteWhat brand were these curtains? I want to find some just like these and apparently JCP is not carrying them anymore!
ReplyDeleteI found this post while I was desperately searching for short curtain rods for my living room. I'm glad I'm not the only one who loves this look and wants short rods! Luckily rods go on clearance at Target often enough that I can probably get them for cheap enough. I have a triple window in my living room, and since I'm not going to use the drapes to close (for some reason I just don't like the look of closed drapes) I think it would look really weird to have a curtain rod across the whole top of them. Sorry, I'm sure you don't care about all of my curtain woes, but it's been making me nuts all week and I had to vent a little. Lucky you. ;)
ReplyDeleteOk - I am so glad I have found your blog and that you explain things so well! When I saw how you did these windows I just HAD to try it myself. I have never made a thing in my life, especially curtains (because of the sewing) but I CAN iron!!! And let me just tell you - I am in love with Stitch Witch and just look for stuff I can mend now. Anyway, I am working on my curtain redo as we speak, I am finishing up the panels tonight and getting the hooks and a new rod tomorrow and I can't wait to show the yucky before and after! I have given you props on my blog but you are getting more as soon as I post my new window!!! Yay!!!
ReplyDeleteHere is my before and after blog post I promised, thank you again!
ReplyDeletehttp://jennaandjason.blogspot.com/2011/04/easy-curtain-redo.html
I absolutely love the DIY window treatments. I think any type of window treatment, whether it be inside or outside is important to be exactly how you want it. Window treatments have such a huge impact on the look of any space. Thanks for the great ideas!
ReplyDelete