Looking for custom curtains without the custom price?
Why not embellish a pair of store bought panels or valances instead. It's an easy way to get a designer look for less. Come see how.
They can warm up a space, add drama, frame a beautiful view and, if done right, pull the whole room together, providing a designer look.
Unless you live in a beautiful penthouse or beach home, rooms usually look unfinished without them.
Unfortunately, whether they are off the shelf or custom-made, really good looking curtains are generally very pricey.
While I can sew and do, very often actually, I don't love it.
In fact, if I can find a way to avoid spending extended periods of time with my sewing machine and its temperamental bobbin, I do...but I also love the look of a custom draperies.
So what's a girl to do?
One of my favorite decorating cheats is embellishing store bought curtains.
A designer look can be achieved without the expense of swanky fabrics, labor costs or the commitment involved when making the whole thing from scratch.
Can't sew, you say, no problem, there are ways around that as well.
I start by scouring the clearance bins for a style/ color I like.
Then I visit the discount fabric store for some sort of trim or embellishment that I think would really enhance the style.
Sometimes I add beads, like in my living room, other times it's lace or ribbon, whatever catches my eye.
I do sew my embellishments on, since I want them to stay put for the long haul and through laundering.
However, they can just as easily be attached with a glue gun or no sew iron tape.
I have used both, but I have those items dry cleaned or just gently shake them out.
I don't trust them in the washing machine.
See, super easy, very quick and done in a jiffy.
Check out my Window Treatments board on Pinterest if you are looking for some great inspiration and ideas to jazz up some curtains of your own!
If you are looking for a more custom look, check out my box pleat valance.
Do you cut corners or am I the only lazy one out there?
I would love to know!
I see a recurring theme, red. I like your choice of colors and helpful ideas for a buget decorator like myself.
ReplyDeleteI do like red! ;)
DeleteSounds like a great idea Kim!! I need curtains up but just have not gotten any since they are plain or way to expensive. Thanks for the ideas. I am going to look at the Pinterest Board to see what other neat ideas you have!! Love the beads on your living room curtains!!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you found the post useful Lou Ann and thanks for the kind words! I keep adding inspiration to the Pinterest boards, there are so many neat curtain ideas out there! Good luck!
Deletelove this bling on your curtains!!!! Beautiful Kim! Thanks for sharing and for visiting my blog!
ReplyDeleteThanks Vel! I like the sparkle too! :)
DeleteThis is a great idea and so easy. Well, theoretically it's easy. Not for this girl.
ReplyDeleteAnd I've blamed you for my recent itch to buy new spring decorations for my home. My hubby asked me why I was looking for new stuff and I told him that everyone on the interwebs was changing out their decorating for the changing seasons.
I didn't call you out specifically, but it was you. It was totally you.
Just trying to do my part to help the economic recovery Lisa!
DeleteWhat a beautiful room and those window treatments offer such a tasteful impact to the entire look!
ReplyDeleteThank you Mary Beth! It was nice of you to pop by and check it out! :)
DeleteSuch a clever idea! Thanks for sharing! Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof
ReplyDeleteAw, how pretty! Love this!
ReplyDeleteThanks ladies!
DeleteTerrific budget-minded idea! Love the trim. :-)
ReplyDeleteKim
I like that trim too! It adds a little sparkle to the room! Thanks for coming by to visit!
DeleteAbsolutely Beautiful! I would love for you to share this at http://hickorytrailblog.blogspot.com/2013/05/assets-and-efforts-linky-party-2.html
ReplyDeleteThanks,
Angela
Thanks Angela and thanks for the invite!
DeleteThanks for linking with HickoryTrail
DeleteIt's those little details that make a room extraordinary!!
ReplyDeleteThanks Kim, for sharing at Monday Funday!
Hope your week is amazing!
Those beads really dress up the curtains! Thanks for sharing at Silver Pennies Sundays! x
ReplyDeleteThanks...and thanks again for another great party!
DeleteGreat idea, and what a lovely room overall.
ReplyDeleteThanks Gail and thanks for popping by! :)
DeleteThank you so much for the lovely feedback! I am so pleased that you found the posts enjoyable! :) I hope you visit often!
DeleteWhat a beautiful room. I love the white sofas with the pops of red. I make a lot of my window treatments. But sewing is one my hobbies.
ReplyDeleteSusan, thanks for leaving such a nice comment! I do love red! When my machine behaves, I really do enjoy sewing, but sometimes it misbehaves! I am also a self-taught novice. I think that if I had more training, I could really like it, too! :)
DeleteThe room looks great! I love the red -- have a lot of it in my house, too. I am the queen of cutting corners!
ReplyDeleteThanks Amy! There's something about red that just spices up a room, for sure!
DeleteHi Kim, thanks so much for stopping by my blog! :D I really like embellishing store bought items, too. Why do all the hard work when you can just add the fun fru-fru stuff and make it look awesome? I love your decorating style, and your kitchen is to die for! Hope you have a great weekend. :)
ReplyDeleteAndrea, thanks so much for coming by to visit and leaving such a sweet comment! I do like to decorate and you are right, let someone else do all the hard work...I just want the fun projects! :)
DeleteI'm in love with that room, the cream walls, the white furniture, and especially the pops of red! Saw your link at Amaze Me Monday, thanks for sharing with us.
ReplyDeleteMary
Mary, thank you so much for the nice words! I do love my red! :)
DeleteHi Kim...visiting from Amaze Me Monday...and just to let you know, I am a corner cutter from WAY back!! I love the curtains (and the room) and just adding the beaded trim makes them look so much more interesting, with a touch of Victorian (which I love). Great idea!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Debby Ray! So glad to meet another corner cutter! ;) Thanks for you kind words and for popping over to visit!
DeleteThis is my inspiration picture for my dining/living room... I want to paint the walls from gray 'wood' paneling to a lovely shade like this. And the cream furniture. Definitely. The red is absoultely lovely! The beauty of the furniture color is that when the bug strikes me to change colors (often), it's no big deal. Anyone want to make slipcovers for me??? Because I cut waaay too many corners to do a good job of such a project as slipcovers.
ReplyDeleteWell, that wouldn't be me, Nancy! I tried slipcovers once and it is a huge job and I am a lazy and imperfect seamstress! Thank you for all the lovely words...wow, my room is someone's inspiration? You just made my....week! :)
DeleteLove the red. If you don't like to sew Fabri-tac is awesome glue
ReplyDeleteMyrna
Thank you Myrna! Great tip!! :)
Delete