Easy Homemade Window Treatments
Updated on May 3, 2019
In our house, we’re fortunate enough to be situated such that we got lots of stunning natural sunlight flooding into each of our key rooms, no matter the weather. Of course, that’s a wonderful thing because it keeps our living spaces nice and bright but sometimes there’s a point in the day where we just need a little break from the sun’s glare flooding through the panes. Whether it’s a glare on the TV while we’re watching or an increase in temperature in the summer, a window treatment of some kind is never a bad thing to have, especially since they can be really cute and add character to the room. Of course, being the crafty DIY enthusiasts we are, we’re always hoping to make something ourselves rather than but it in stores, which is why we’ve had our eyes peeled for awesome DIY window treatment projects so much lately!
Just in case you love the idea of making your very own window treatments just as much as we do, if not more, here are 15 of the very best ideas, designs, and tutorials that we’ve come across so far in our search for inspiration and guidance.
1. Easy Roman shade
Are you convinced that you’d much prefer just a half coverage on a certain window than a full length set of curtains or a shorter strip across the top, since that’s the spot that the sun hits the most in that room? Well, particularly if you’re a fan of mid-century style home decor that has survived through various trends and is often still included in modern schemes, we think you’ll really appreciate the way Bower Power outlines the steps for making this very easy Roman shade.
2. Simple but pretty back tab curtains
Curtains might sound like the kind of thing that are only made in a very limited number of ways, but we think you might actually be surprised when it really comes down to it! We’ve been kind of obsessed with back tab curtains lately because the curtain rod is entirely concealed on the backside of the curtain in this style, rather than going through the front and interrupting the pattern or colour. That’s why we were so pleased to come across this DIY backtab curtains tutorial laid out in full detail on Lia Griffith!
3. Pretty lace fly screen
Perhaps it’s not actually the sun that’s got you looking for unique window treatments but rather the fact that the place you live in gets lots of bugs in the spring and summer, but you just find the look of regular window screens so blah? Then we have a feeling you’ll really get a kick out of the way Guidecentral replace theirs with stunning floral patterned lace instead! It works the same, only now your windows look gorgeous when the sun shines through them.
4. Window screen from reclaimed wood, coat hooks, and a shower curtain
Are you the kind of home owner who has put a lot of work into building a thoroughly stunning rustic aesthetic throughout your whole home but now you’re looking at your metal curtain rods and thinking about how they just look way too modern for the space? Then perhaps you’d get along better with something like this DIY curtain screen project from Olive & Love that is hung up
5. One yard, no-sew window treatment
Were you actually very interested in the idea of making the tiered looking Roman shades idea but you’re also very new to the world of DIY and you know that your sewing skills aren’t quite ready for something like that yet? In that case, we have a feeling you’ll get along much better with something like this no-sew layered window treatment from In My Own Style that only takes a yard of fabric to make!
6. Whimsical, pom pom trimmed balloon shades
Just in case you’re still loving the look of the tiered shades that have lots of body but you’d prefer something a little more whimsical looking and suitable for a kids’ room, here’s a slightly different tutorial for your consideration! Erin Loves Earl walks you step by step through the process of making “balloon shades”, named for their voluminous look, that are trimmed with fuzzy little pom poms all along the bottom edge.
7. DIY painted roller shades
Perhaps you actually already have a set of shade that you like the function of but you can’t help thinking they could really use a little more detail? Maybe you’d actually prefer a project that only requires you to embellish something pre-made because you’re new to the DIY interior decor game. Either way, we’d definitely suggest taking a look at how Do It Yo’ Dang Self added some simple colour and linear appeal to their roller shades using careful painting techniques.
8. Repurposed coffee bean sack curtains
Maybe you’re still thinking about how much you loved the idea of adding some kind of rustic chic aesthetic to your windows in the form of a small, homemade treatment, but you’re looking for something a little smaller and clearly upcycled, rather than just something that looks slightly farmhouse chic? In that case, we’d absolutely encourage you to take a look at the way Funky Junk Interiors created their window toppers from repurposed stamped burlap coffee bean sacks.
9. Pretty, sheer fabric DIY privacy screen
Perhaps there’s a window in your house that you’d never dream of blocking entirely with curtains since it’s so lovely and bright but you know it’s also a little bit poorly place in terms of privacy? Then we think you just might be the perfect person to give this pretty DIY half height window screen project from Thrift Diving a try! They show you how to mount sheer fabric onto a wooden frame to make the screen happen.
10. DIY linen and lace window valance
Perhaps you’re certainly feeling your attention piqued by the concept of making old fashioned looking or rustic window treatments but you can’t help feeling like something that’s a little more along the lines of being vintage and delicate looking might suit your space a little bit better? In that case, we have a feeling this absolutely stunning linen and lace window valance outlined in careful steps on Junk Chic Cottage might be right up your alley! They show you how to make it happen using an old lace scarf as a base.
11. No-sew ribbon and bow tie up shades
Perhaps you’re looking for something with a little bit of whimsy and feminine character to it but you’re not sure that the little pom pom tutorial we showed you earlier on our list will quite suit something like your living room? In that case, maybe you’d be better to consider something like this lovely belted window treatment with ribbons and bows keeping it in place. See how it’s made in full detail on Hometalk!
12. Belted and rolled window valance
Perhaps we’ve actually caught your attention quite well with the idea of making a belted valance or window treatment because you’ve always found those quite easy to work, but you’d rather made something that you can raise a little higher than the ideas we’ve shown you so far? Then we’d definitely suggest taking a look at how The Painted Hive made one that rolls for a neat, clean look and a simple function.
13. Barn door style blackout shade
Just in case your room gets so incredibly bright that it actually wakes you up in the morning, here’s an idea that will give you a black out effect so you can sleep, but that’s also incredibly decorative and has lots of character! We’re in love with the way Elle Claire built an actual sliding barn door system that lets you close off your windows simply and thoroughly but looks wonderfully rustic during the day once you’ve slid them open to let the sunshine in.
14. Repurposed indoor vintage shutters
Now that we’ve started talking about window treatments that aren’t made using softer materials or fabrics, have we finally got your full attention? Well, the barn door isn’t the only kind of hard window covering you can make! We’re also in love with the nice vintage quality of these hard wooden shutters, which Vintage News Junkie shows you how to make from scratch right down to the hinges.
15. Quaint, country inspired fabric square valance
Rather than building the kind of farmhouse or rustic aesthetic that concentrates on barn themed things and lots of repurposed wood, would you rather build a look that’s simply a little bit country inspired in the smaller details? In that case, we’d definitely suggest taking a look at how Debbie Doo’s used clip rings and fabric squares to create this lovely valance that full of pattern and colour.
Have you made another kind of fantastic homemade or DIY window treatment that you were very happy with indeed but that you don’t see here on our list? Tell us all about it or link us to photos of your finished work in the comments section!