DIY Window Treatments
Image via: Unsplash (Öffnet in neuem Fenster)
Windows are essentially the eyes of the home. They allow natural light to seep into bedrooms, bathrooms and living rooms. They also afford homeowners the opportunity to look out into the street, gaze into their garden or get lost in the moving water of the backyard pool.
However, these windows will have to be covered at some point during the day. Otherwise, that sun you enjoy so much in the afternoon might wake you up well before your alarm clock. It’s also worth noting that window treatments provide a sense of privacy.
While there are many benefits to window treatments, providing appropriate and stylish coverage can be quite expensive. This often means that homeowners feel they have to compromise on elements of design or style.
By approaching window treatments with a DIY attitude, everyday homeowners can transform window treatments into works of art. Importantly, with so many different DIY options, you can customise treatments to complement your home’s overall style.
10 DIY window treatment ideas
The idea of DIY window treatments might excite some people. For others, the thought of pulling out a sewing machine might induce stress. Luckily, DIY window treatment projects can be relatively easy.
Finding the perfect window treatment for each room of the house is about looking at the surroundings and the personality of the room. From there, you can use common household materials to create something uniquely your own.
1. Transform roller shades
A lot of houses have roller shades simply because they are an effective tool for letting in light and also, closing off the home to the outside world. Additionally, roller shades also prove an effective treatment when looking to cover bifold doors from the inside.
Bifold doors are extremely elegant and practical (Öffnet in neuem Fenster), yet they are a large space for curtains to cover. Rather than dealing with many different curtains, a large roller shade can be installed. However, after years of looking at the same roller shade, you may want a change.
A great DIY project is adding patterns, colour or shading to the existing roller curtain. For example, if the curtain is white, you may want to paint on a black border to infuse the space with an added layer of style and elegance.
2. Install window toppers
Tall windows can often look quite plain when the curtains are drawn back. As this type of window offers great light and the illusion of space, blocking off these windows would be a shame.
To add a sense of style and personality to the window, add window toppers. These toppers can be made out of fabric with a bold pattern or a splash of colour. Attach them to the top of the window to liven up the area without compromising on the sun shining through.
3. Dramatise existing curtains
Rather than throwing out perfectly good curtains and starting again, assess your existing curtains. Could they benefit from additions such as tassels, would a little bit of bedazzling work wonders? If so, hand stitch on decorative items to give them a new lease on life.
4. Embrace hook and ring styles
A lot of people view hook and ring style curtains as something that is exclusive to bathroom shower curtains. However, this look is very vintage and the addition of a hook and ring style curtain can help your home’s decor align with this era.
There is also a lot of choice when opting for hook and ring style window treatments. You can customise everything from the colour to the shape of the rings. You can also get super creative with the curtain or opt for something quite classical.
5. Repurpose vintage shutters
Vintage shutters are enjoying a resurgence. A great DIY project, homeowners can repurpose old shutters and give them new life with a fresh coat of paint and some new hardware such as handles and hinges.
Importantly, vintage shutters will fit seamlessly into many spaces in the home. For example, white shutters with black hardware would look quite elegant in a Hamptons inspired kitchen design.
6. The sliding door treatment
For those who love the look and feel of Hamptons living, consider using sliding doors that double as window treatments (Öffnet in neuem Fenster). The look of white sliding doors with black handles is synonymous with the Hamptons look.
While this is a little out of the ordinary, these sliding doors make for great window treatments. The doors can open up to reveal the windows during the day. At night, they simply close to block out the light.
7. Seeing the world
When performing DIY window treatment projects, the sky's the limit. Different fabrics and colour paints can be used to create something magical. Even map outlines can be used to create window treatments that are unique, playful and speak to your adventurous side.
8. Creating a scarf curtain
A lot of people have closets full of old clothing that never sees the light of day anymore. As these closets of old clothes often hold our most beloved pieces, consider giving them a second life by turning them into a curtain.
Old tops, scarfs or handkerchiefs can be sewn together to create a highly personalised curtain. In a bedroom space, it might add a sense of personality to the room. In the living room, it might add pops of colour to a minimalist space.
9. Utilising old bed sheets
While some people might have a closet full of old clothes, others might have a linen press packed with old bed sheets. Rather than simply throwing them away, these bed sheets can double as window treatments.
One idea might be to combine bedsheets to create an interesting pattern. Another idea might simply be to use the full bed sheet and make the appropriate modifications at the top so that it can hang from a curtain rod.
10. Installing ties
Some DIY window treatment projects can be quite involved while others can be fairly simple. If you are happy with your existing curtains yet feel they are missing something, consider installing some tie backs (Öffnet in neuem Fenster). This way you can properly pull back curtains to enjoy the view.
DIY window treatment projects
Windows are integral to the home. Affording light and even sound to flow freely, the importance of natural light and fresh air cannot be underestimated. However, while windows are great during the day, they must be covered during the night.
This is where it gets tricky. Window treatments must be able to block out light and sound. However, when light needs to flow, window treatments must be able to retreat without acting as an obstacle.
By carefully considering the style of windows you have in your home, you can solve this dilemma. Better still, with complete control over patterns and colour options, you can be sure to install window treatments that will complement your home’s overall look and feel.
