PAINTED NO-SEW STRIPED CURTAINS

March 17, 2013

Our living room is the land of browns and off-whites. A true confession: I have some color purchase paralysis. If I’m in a store and I have the choice between buying an item in a neutral or a color, I will always pick the white/brown/black. Maybe I’ll chalk this up to frugality? I think I’m figuring if I buy the thing in a neutral, we’ll always be able to use it somewhere and it will have been a versatile, longevous purchase. That’s how we got here, lots of big blocks of neutrals, begging to be broken up with pattern and color.

Now we’ve arrive at our next task – curtains!

Painted No-Sew Curtains from Rachel SchultzPainted No-Sew Curtains from Rachel Schultz

David has a powerful annoyance to those plastic blinds that come in almost every apartment in America. I picked up some extension brackets at Home Depot (about $4) that allow us to hang a curtain up to four and a half inches out from the wall, so curtains can go around them. Our landlord is happy because the blinds are untampered. Dave’s happy he never has to deal with them. And I’m happy because stylistically we’re moving in a much better direction.

With some research, I discovered you can paint (yes! paint!) curtains. With regular latex wall paint. Sounds crazy, but I’m up for it.

This project would have been way easier with any large, non-carpet space, but with the nature of our tiny rented home, that did not exist. So I tried to just go for it on the carpet. Huge fail.

Without a hard surface to tape down on and keep everything in place, the fabric and plastic both become wrinkle-city. Defeated and frustrated, I decided this project just wouldn’t work for me. So I tabled it, and we lived with big blank white curtains in our living room, only further perpetuating our neutral-tastic room.

And then! I finally got the idea to tape the curtains to the wall. It felt like a big genius/duh moment. Here’s how we did it all:

1. Tape a sheet of plastic to a large, blank wall. This is a MUST! The paint will bleed through the fabric.

2. Hang fabric. I used two small nails and for a little extra security – some masking tape. These are plain white twin sheets from wal-mart. (I bought three and cut one in half to keep it symmetrical with two big and two small panels).

3. Tape off stripes (or any pattern). For stripes, tape a measuring tape/yard stick along the side to keep your lines straight. This step will be easier with a friend/husband to help. Also, I recommend frog tape over traditional blue painter’s tape since fabric is a tougher surface to adhere to.

4. Paint! We used Martha Stewart’s Wrought Iron. It’s a great navy blue.

5. Allow to dry for about 2 hours and do a second coat. Remove tape. Let dry overnight.

Here’s the cost breakdown:
Sheets: $15
Paint: $10
Tape: $7
TOTAL: $32

They’re just what I imagined and hoped for. I considered doing a classic, broader stripe, but I’m glad we chose to go narrow (4 inches each). These give the perfect blend of prep with a little bit whimsy. Their high contrast and boldness is just what the room needed.

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Comments

  • Bonnie Martinez

    I stumbled upon your page by mistake and I am in love. I am in the same situation with an apartment and they have some wide blinds. I would love some curtains. I read through your how-to and noticed you said you used sheets. My question, how did you use sheets to attach to a curtain rod? Did it require some additional sewing? Any help would be so greatly appreciated.
    I will continue to follow your posts. You are adorable. (I recently married in September ’13).

    :0) Bonnie

    • Rachel Schultz

      There are clips you can buy that have rings attached to slid on to the rod. They’re great!

  • Dena

    Rachel you’re a Rock Star! I’m loving this gorgeous curtain DIY!
    And prepping your project on the wall… GENIUS! I’m looking
    fwd to following your fabulousness ;)

    Dena

  • Dena

    Rachel you’re a Rock Star! I’m loving this gorgeous curtain DIY!
    And prepping your project on the wall… GENIUS

  • Debbie Schultz

    Rachael, I commend you, at such a young age, you have something spectacular. I am sure you have a lot of followers, and the things you and your husband do are beautiful. I so appreciate young people who just go for it, and get it done. So many young people give up or lose their interest in things, I speak quite well of you to the people I know, and how much you have accomplished. I just think this is awesome, Congrats on your wedding, you guys look very happy and content, many more years to you. Just had to send this because we need more of our young people to do what you are doing. You are an inspiration to me, and I thank you . Your curtains are great and I intend to make them soon. God Bless

    • Rachel Schultz

      Thanks so much, Debbie! What a sweet message. Also, I like your last name :)

  • Sarah M.

    Rachel,

    I love your curtains! I was just wondering, however, did you have to sew the sheets after you cut them?

    Thanks,

    Sarah

    • Rachel Schultz

      Yep, I did a simple hem.

  • Meredith

    What kind of rings did you use that you don’t need to sew?

    • Rachel Schultz

      They sell them at home depot; they’re clip ons!

  • Ashleigh

    They are beautiful!

    • Rachel Schultz

      Thanks!

  • Alison

    I really love the way the curtains look in the room. I think it was a good choice! I’m even more impressed with the technique you used to make them. Thank you for the great tip!

    • Rachel Schultz

      You’re welcome! Thanks for writing :)

  • Nik

    You watch Dexter?

    • Rachel Schultz

      Yep. I started watching it back in the day. Probably wouldn’t have started watching it if I could do it all over again based on some of the graphic content.

  • Nik

    They look fabulous! I’m seriously tempted to try this out. . .

    • Rachel Schultz

      We’re really pleased with them!

  • These look seriously great. Must remember this when I get new curtains. Great job!

    • Rachel Schultz

      Thanks!

  • These look so great! Our bedroom is just screaming for new curtains, so maybe I’ll give something like this a try.

    • Rachel Schultz

      Thanks! Let me know if you do :)

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