curtains for long big windows

27 May 2015

Hello! Today we’re talking curtains for the family room for our big tall windows.  The window gives gorgeous views of the mountians and right now the sun is directly overhead during the day so it doesn't glare in the windows. But in the fall, winter and early spring the sun is at just the right angle where sun comes pouring in and it can get hot and bright. Sooo, I started looking at tall curtains and let me tell you they are EXPENSIVE. Anything over the standard ikea 108” length will cost you dearly. But I didn’t want to spend dearly, especially if I wasn’t IN LOVE with them. And I found nothing in a 12ft tall size that I was in love with. So, I turned to drop cloths! I bought this 9X12 one for $20. You can also get them at Home Depot and Lowes, but these are the least expensive.  A warning:  some reviews said theirs had 2 seams(?)  but mine was right down the middle so it was perfect.




I took it apart at the seam, washed them and ironed them and clipped them up.


Maybe it will be a temporary solution. Maybe permanent, I don’t know but it sure is nice to slide them over when the sun is glaring in mid-afternoon. The rod is 2 big fat silver ones I got at bed, bath, and beyond (when I was pricing long curtains!) for $2 each!






I just spray painted them black and my husband helped me put them up with some white wood brackets.


 I may put something on them for an added oomph, I love the look of these ones from Pottery Barn:






I also picked up these matching brass lamp bases at a yard sale in April for $2 each. I put them with my Target shades I scored back in Virginia for $5.98.

lamp chair shade

It’s coming -- slowly but surely!




5 comments

  1. Bonnie Stafford5/27/15, 3:32 PM

    You say "you can also buy them at Home Depot or Lowe's," but the link goes to HD....and substantially more than $20.

    And you said "just washed and ironed and hung them up" as if it were nothing. I bought the IKEA curtains and thought I'd never get through ironing. (And honestly I'm not sure they look ironed.) And mine shrunk so much I had to hang from the tab tops which I hadn't intended on doing. I have some HUGE drop cloths. I may have to try again. I never thought about being able to just separate them at the seam and truly not having to sew at all.

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  2. melissa*320 sycamore5/27/15, 3:39 PM

    I fixed the link, thanks! I ironed them on my kitchen island, it took probably about 1/2 an hour. They do shrink, but that was good for me since I didn't need all of the length.

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  3. Bonnie Stafford5/27/15, 3:45 PM

    You must be way better with an iron than I am (but then, I'm sure most people are!). Yours look great. And it is so frustrating not to be able to find long curtains. My ceilings aren't high but I tried to follow the "hang 'em high and wide" mantra and had it not been for IKEA I would not have had any store-bought options. It really seems like a need someone should fill.

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  4. Totally agree, Bonnie! I live in a 100-year old house and all the ceilings are super high. I have used IKEA Vivan curtains and made all the rest of my window treatments myself.

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  5. Way to go girl! These look great, and that's an amazing price for drop cloths--well done! Isn't it fun to see how far you've come? :)

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