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  • Hi, I’m Emily

    Emily Fazio

    I'm a home improvement enthusiast, living a very merry DIY lifestyle.

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No-Sew Success + A Finished Headboard

September 26, 2011

I set out with a mission to finish the bedroom curtain project pronto because taping the curtains in place wasn’t working. I couldn’t have the blue painters tape releasing, dropping heavy canvas on me in the middle of the night.

Again.

I left the taped up curtain in place just long enough to make sure I really liked it against the brown shiplap wall in the bedroom. And I’m happy to report that I still likey what I see.

Oh phew, the curtain doesn't look totally bazurk.

The curtain panels that flank the window directly behind my bed consisted of matching 3’x9′ canvas that I cut after dying the fabric last week (a dramatic experience that you can read about over here if you missed it). The fabric dying was the hard part; I wanted to keep the installation and finishing touches easy as could be.

I’ve traditionally machine or hand-sewn the hems and edges of curtains (that being previous apartment window treatments – these are the first curtains I’m actually hanging in my house, unless you count the simple sunroom door curtain). But on these curtains, the tall edges of the cut canvas were fraying, so something sleek and easy needed to be done.

Fraying curtain edge. Problem. It struck me to use a no-sew-iron-on hem tape to solve this; I wouldn’t necessary say that it’s easier than zipping the curtain through the sewing machine, but I wanted a nice, clean finish that isn’t always achievable with the sewing machine. Not to mention, it was a 9′ length that I had to hem, and I imagined any err in the straightness of my stitching would have been visible.

I’ve never used Stitch Witchery (fusible bonding web, which sounds like something Spiderman also approves of), and for this job I selected the 5/8″ “super weight” model with a 40% off coupon from JoAnns. At less than $2 for 13 yards of no-sew tape, I’d have a little extra in case I messed up.

A no-sew virgin, yes. I may have been the last one on the planet. The best recommendation I received was to iron the crease in the hem first, and then follow back through with the tape in position. Perfect the first time, without a doubt.

Curtain tape, lined into the pre-ironed seam. The freshly ironed panels were ready to be hung; before I had gotten busy with the no-sew tape, I spray painted a curtain rod that I already had on hand (the previous owners left me with at least 12 when I moved in). I removed the finials completely for a clean, straight-bar look and doused it with Espresso Brown, a Rust-Oleum Universal paint-and-primer-in-ine product that had a nice satin finish, and was also dark enough to disappear against the stained wall.

A quick spray job turned this originally black curtain rod, espresso brown.

The curtain clips that I’ve long-favored are available in a dark bronze (from Wal-Mart, bargain-priced at $3 for a package of 14).

Walmart curtain clips. In an oil-rubbed bronze to blend right into the new brown curtain rod.

They’re pinchy strong as can be, even on this canvas. And they hang so subtly that you can barely tell they’re there. Hands down my favorite.

Curtains clipped up. I love the subtlety of the hooks I use. And the price can't be beat.

The curtains balance out the bed, make the window seem subtly larger than it really is, and really help to anchor the layout.

Curtains, hung.

Little do you know that there’s about 1.5′ of extra fabric resting on the floor. I decided to leave it put in case I ever have a reason to move the curtains into a room with a taller ceiling.

Hold up, let’s get all decisive with that art while we’re at it. The whole room is even more anchored with those RIBBA frames with Pixies/Frank Black posters hung above the side tables. Hung intentionally low because the box spring and mattress sit low-rise style on the ground, they help to make the room feel tall, even if it’s not.

Curtains AND art, up.

I’m not much for the heavy opening and closing of the drapes, but as accent pieces (which could be fully functional) they’re serving the room well. Yay? Yay.

Bedroom, improved, thanks to some simple DIY'ed curtains and inexpensive art.

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Bedrooms  / Decor  / DIY  / Windows

Emily
I'm a home improvement enthusiast, living a very merry DIY lifestyle. I've been a freelancer writer for 10+ years and you can find my work on popular home and garden sites, like HGTV.com. Follow me on facebook and instagram, or drop me a note.

13 Comments


Cait @ Hernando House
September 26, 2011 at 11:57 am
Reply

Those look great!



    Emily
    September 26, 2011 at 12:17 pm

    Thanks Cait – I have to update the before + after section next. The room is so dramatically different from how it was last month, let alone when I moved in.

    Cait @ Hernando House
    September 27, 2011 at 10:01 am

    Oh yeah! That’s going to be a fun side-by-side!

Colleen @ Mommy Panda
September 26, 2011 at 1:04 pm
Reply

That looks so awesome!



    Emily
    September 26, 2011 at 1:45 pm

    Thanks Colleen :)

Heather
September 26, 2011 at 3:20 pm
Reply

They look fantastic!



Taylor
September 26, 2011 at 7:20 pm
Reply

What an awesome transformation! It’s amazing how those few last elements really add the finishing touches to the room! Kudos.



    Emily
    September 26, 2011 at 8:06 pm

    Thanks for the nice comment, Taylor! Glad you like the room.

Kitchen Storage Cabinets
September 26, 2011 at 11:04 pm
Reply

Looking awesome and so easy to do too!



Ashley@DesignBuildLove.co
September 28, 2011 at 3:55 pm
Reply

the entire room is shaping up soooooo amazingly! I LOVE the wood wall treatment, the no sew curtains, the new side table/nightstands, and the post art!!! Way to go!!!!!!! :)



    Emily
    September 28, 2011 at 4:29 pm

    Thanks Ashley!

Maureen Mueller
February 5, 2012 at 8:05 pm
Reply

Really like the bedroom curtains. I’m a bit of a curtain-holic (and ..weirdly.. a major lamp-holic). I’ve never dyed anything unless highlights in my hair count, but I’m completely won over by the very, very nice gray you achieved. I’m totally going to dye something very soon… Incidentally, I love love love to use burlap for drapes — the first time I did it it was sort of a whim — I was at Joann’s browsing, my eye caught on cream colored burlap and I wondered hmmm… They couldn’t have been easier! I made them in two days. The simple but critical trick is to line them with heavy black-out lining … sew drapery weights into the bottom hem — they hang beautifully — I have been asked if they’re raw silk (!) and I get tons of comments. So now I’m like on fire to dye me some burlap!!!!!!! Wow!



    Emily
    February 5, 2012 at 9:30 pm

    Great tip about the burlap with black trim! I’ve never tried to dye it, but would be interested to know how the color takes to that material!

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  • HI, I’m Emily

    Emily Fazio

    I'm a home improvement enthusiast, living a very merry DIY lifestyle. Follow me on facebook and instagram, or drop me a note if you'd like. I love notes.

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