Window covering ideas

Window coverings can offer a finishing touch to any room through the use of curtains, blinds or valances. Many of these products are either very expensive or the cheaper options are nothing more than bland. Read the guide below to discover some DIY ideas for creating your very own window treatments.

Be creative

Window dressings
Use curtain rings and cloth napkins to create a unique decorative valance.
By sewing the napkins together at the corners you can create a diagonal chain or diamond pattern to your valance.
Alternatively, placemats could be used giving a choice of textures such as linen, lace, velvet or even bamboo.
Shower curtains
Fabric shower curtains have many interesting designs and are long enough to be used as window covers instead of traditional curtains.
All you need to hang these is a curtain rod and some rings.
In rooms where light is important but so is a little privacy, then light coloured plastic shower curtains can provide the light you seek as well as shielding you from the outside.
Ribbon and fabric fusing
Even plain or bland looking curtains can be given a new lease of life with a little creativity.
Using lengths of ribbon and some fabric fusing your plain looking curtains can be transformed into whatever design you wish.
Simply run a hot iron across the ribbon and fuse the two together.
The ribbon could be plain, patterned or of unequal widths to give your curtains an interesting new look. Tasselled cording could even be attached in this way to transform inexpensive curtains into looking like an impressive window dressing.

Fabric store creations

Burlap
This product can be bought very cheaply from most fabric stores.
Sew or glue along one edge to create a large hem and thread a curtain rod through this space and you have created a very cheap curtain.
Use colourful ribbons or cord to create tie backs to give this simple design idea a look of some sophistication. Window shades
One of the simpler window dressing ideas is to create shades by using rice paper.
This can be purchased from craft or art supply stores.
Fold the top down and glue to create a hem, simply thread a lightweight rod along the hem and hang inside the casing of your window to create an inexpensive shade.