Have you ever ever had an issue you wished to discover a answer for that most individuals would hear about and advise you to only “Ditch it and begin over?” That state of affairs is what I’m coping with proper now in my daughter’s bed room together with her curtains. Let me rewind a couple of decade first, although, to provide you some fast context which may make clear why I’m unwilling to scratch a bit of residence decor that’s giving me a little bit of a headache.
Method again earlier than I used to be a mom, earlier than I left Florida for California (and clearly, WAY earlier than I left California for North Carolina), I might spend my lunch breaks from work cruising the aisles of both the close by ReStore for thrifted gems or the Calico Corners for discounted material. A type of lunch breaks, I stumbled upon a material that was very a lot not my type, however I used to be transfixed by it (and the worth). It was a heavyweight linen with such fairly watercolor flowers all through. I wasn’t a lot for florals again then, not to mention the colour purple, however one thing tugged at my coronary heart that day and whispered, “Get this material. You’ll need it to your daughter in the future.”
There have been, after all, zero ensures I’d have a daughter, or that stated daughter would even look after this material, however I used to be handing over my cost in a haze of future “what ifs” earlier than I might speak myself out of one thing I didn’t want. I purchased the entire deadstock bolt, which ended up being about sufficient material for 2 curtain panels of roughly 96 inches in size, and shortly after, I truly made these curtain panels. They sat in a plastic storage container for almost a decade, ready patiently for his or her flip to cowl a window…any window! In all my strikes, associates serving to me to pack up would ask if I used to be going to donate them, and each time, it felt like a ridiculous proposition. DONATE THEM? MY FUTURE DAUGHTER’S CURTAINS? No approach.
Quick ahead to our final residence, which housed my (ACTUAL!) daughter’s first bed room. She had one giant window in there, and after we first toured the place, I knew these curtains have been able to take heart stage. They have been the proper measurement for the width and top of the window, as if by the work of Calico Corners future. However then we moved to North Carolina, and my daughter’s new bed room now not had that one ultimate window; it had two, as a substitute, separated simply sufficient that two panels didn’t make sense anymore.
As we would have liked to dam the cruel afternoon mild, I made a decision to place them up anyway (with an added blackout lining I had readily available). The ensuing look was wispy and too slender to even totally be stretched throughout a single window or rod.
Working example:
When the window was open, it wasn’t, like, terrible. I imply, I knew the design editor in me would critique how skinny the panels have been flanking the home windows, however the mom in me who hoarded curtain panels for 10 years stored making excuses for them.
“We gained’t be there that lengthy, I hope. Nobody will care and even see these.” or “Does it actually even matter, actually?” However I can’t shrug off the frustration I really feel each time I’m going to shut issues up for the night time, particularly as a result of mild spills a lot out the edges and my daughter cleverly tries to evade bedtime as a result of it’s “nonetheless daytime exterior,” as she claims.
As a reminder, per design guidelines, curtains must be on the very least 1.5x the width of the span you’re making an attempt to cowl, although I want the look of 2x. This was like…0.8x.
I used to be tempted to only minimize my losses, however truthfully, typically, you simply need to determine one thing out, each as a cash and/or useful resource saver, but additionally as a result of it feels actually freaking good.
So, right here’s what I’m contemplating as my choices to take these curtains from womp-womp to woo-hoo! And hold studying, as a result of whereas my concern is perhaps a bit area of interest, I’m exploring different curtain extension concepts for anybody who doesn’t need to change their draperies however desires to make them work, as a substitute.
Curtain Options #1: Add Complementary Panels
The best and doubtless least costly possibility for me right here immediately is to seek out panels in one of many colours from the unique curtain, and add them both to the within or exterior of the curtain rod. My daughter’s favourite colour is purple, so I hunted round for the same gray-lavender pulled from one of many giant flowers on the print:
The colour isn’t proper (too pink, wants extra blue/grey), and naturally, in Photoshop, it stands out a lot as a result of the lighting on the isn’t the identical, however not a horrendous possibility. Not nice, although.
I attempted a impartial that will mix extra into the wall, and preferred that higher, truly:
My graphic abilities go away a lot to be desired right here, however listed here are some a lot better-looking examples of mix-and-match curtains:
This heat impartial area could be very stylish and posh, and for those who flip by means of all of the slides, you’ll see a smattering of various earth-toned stable panels all residing in concord collectively on the identical rod. Maybe the stable on stable is much less in your face than a print + stable, however I do assume the look is attention-grabbing.
I shared this picture in my latest put up in regards to the couch wrap-around bookcase, but it surely applies right here, too. A design by Zoe Feldman, she butted two solids (once more) on this attractive lounge. It’s onerous to inform whether or not one is barely behind the opposite and appearing extra like a light-filtering sheer, however the idea nonetheless applies.
I wished to point out this picture as a result of it feels very “actual” and could possibly be in anybody’s residence, not only a high-end boutique or designed residence. These are two patterns put collectively to cowl a big window, and it’s fairly charming. The inside is extra of a sheer, whereas the outer curtain is a little more room-darkening.
How lovely is that this?!? Whereas most likely not a number of curtains of various colours put collectively, the ombre impact is a cool reminder that we will have some enjoyable with our window coverings, that’s for positive.
Curtain Options #2: Hold the Panels for “Decor,” Add Perform With Romans
Okay, so right here is one other route I’ll go. Whereas I do know that my panels are nonetheless pretty slender, I might prepare them and even add some width with a big tape or trim (hold studying), and simply hold them stationary. On this method, they’d serve much less to cowl the window, and extra simply as a visible aspect. The true work of letting mild in or blocking it might occur with a Roman shade. Right here’s what I labored up:
Admittedly, I LOVE the look of this, particularly with the small examine juxtaposing the massive floral. The one downside right here is that these are custom-made from Pepper Dwelling and fairly expensive for what I’d ever need to put right into a rental property. I might most likely make one thing like this, however as a reader urged to me in a earlier put up about my transferring: NO MORE PROJECTS. She’s proper.
Curtain Options #3: Add Large Trim to Edges
For those who want just a bit extra width, you all the time have the choice of stitching, ironing, or gluing on a large tape/trim to the perimeters of your current panels. That alone might purchase you six inches on every panel, so a foot whole. Not dangerous. Right here’s an instance:
That is possible a 2- or 3-inch trim, and for those who pretend it slightly by including it to the very fringe of your current material, you get extra width, for positive. It’s also possible to do that on the underside, as properly, like this cutie cafe curtain:
The bonus of including in trim is that the curtains really feel very high-end designer! You are able to do this your self pretty simply (best with iron-on fusing tape).
Seeing this made me give you secret possibility #3 for me: Add in a impartial coloured panel PLUS add in trim throughout to assist marry them higher and make them really feel intentional. That, my pal, is all the time the objective when doing one thing slightly out of the field. Make it really feel such as you all the time meant on doing it, not prefer it’s a band-aid to a problem that arose.
I may not even want the underside trim, honestly. Simply including within the facet trim on each the print and stable panels is perhaps sufficient to make them really feel like they belong collectively!
Now, I don’t have any lack in size right here (in actual fact, I must hem the panels right here a bit), however that’s the commonest downside individuals come throughout when both shopping for second-hand drapes or transferring. Bear in mind that you could all the time attempt to set free the hem a bit, and it’s possible you’ll discover just a few extra inches, but when that isn’t sufficient, listed here are two issues I feel look nice and clear up that concern with out having to only purchase all new curtains:
Curtain Options #4: Add Backside Fringe
I had this video bookmarked for about two years, for the reason that curtains I had in my earlier lounge have been too quick for the ceiling top, and I thought of going this route. However I received lazy and did nothing as a substitute (#actual). Isn’t this simply so enjoyable?!?
The lengthy fringe look isn’t for each residence, absolutely, however if you wish to usher in some aptitude or intrigue, it’s a surefire option to accomplish that, even when simply in a single major room.
Curtain Options #5: Add a Block of Coordinating Cloth
This isn’t some massive reveal, but it surely’s reminder that you could actually rework your curtains (whether or not out of necessity or simply need) by including in a block of material. To me, it really works greatest when the road that’s created with the brand new material pertains to one thing within the room, reminiscent of a window sill top, as an illustration. Once more, it’s all about intention!
Yet another word, for those who’re going to DIY one thing like this, make sure to choose a material that’s of comparable weight to the prevailing curtain. You may undoubtedly get inventive if you need, but when the highest half is a light-filtering linen, choose one thing in that very same class. The exemption is for those who’re mixing materials reminiscent of cotton and velvet—go together with the heavier material on the underside.
When you have wildly excessive home windows (or ceilings), you know the way costly extra-tall curtains could be (significantly, it’s mind-blowing). That is a straightforward approach so as to add some much-needed size with out tapping your 401k for cash.
I usually see a smaller stable part below a bigger patterned material, however this flips that concept on its head, and it’s very enjoyable. An ideal thought for anybody afraid of going full-on print. Type of like a print amuse-bouche.
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And that brings me to the tip of my put up immediately. I hope it served both as inspiration for how one can get inventive together with your window coverings, or as some type of “ah-ha” second balm to your material woes for those who had them. Bear in mind, don’t hand over on one thing you like with out making an attempt to make it work first. There isn’t all the time an answer, however for those who stretch your creativeness of what’s “allowed” in our properties, you’re far more vulnerable to discovering one if there’s. 🙂
Till subsequent time, associates…
Opening Picture Credit: Picture by Tessa Neustadt | From: Staging my Dream Parisian Resort Suite with Sothebys
