How To Get The Look Of Luxury Curtains With A Budget-Friendly Hack

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Updating window treatments can often feel more stressful than it has to be. Considering the price tags on curtains from high-end brands, it's easy to forget that, at the end of the day, drapes are just fabric. Even if you're on a tight budget, you still have the chance to bring the beautiful patterns and textures found on luxury curtains into your home if you keep an open mind about what a curtain could be. To get a sophisticated look without the premium price, you can even consider repurposing an unused tablecloth into a curtain.

This curtain hack is popular among seasoned DIYers, but it's also approachable for those new to the scene, as several methods don't require any sewing equipment or experience. While you could string up an old tablecloth you already have, there are many budget-friendly — and beautiful — tablecloths available at vintage or secondhand stores. If you've thrifted the perfect tablecloth but find it's a little dirty, try a few easy ways to get out tough laundry stains and make it ready for this DIY drape project. Then, you just need your sewing kit or, if you want to go the easy route, an inexpensive adhesive product and an iron.

Before you get started, you'll need a few things, starting with the tablecloth. Since tablecloths vary in size, measure your windows to determine how many you'll need. If you are covering a narrow window, the tablecloth can be cut in half. This hack involves no sewing, so you'll need fabric fuse tape, like HeatnBond Iron On Hemming Tape, to adjust the length or width of the cloth. Throughout the process, you'll also need a clean, reliable iron to secure the fabric to the tape for a long-lasting hold.

Hanging your tablecloth curtains involves the same basic principles as hanging any store-bought curtain. You'll need a rod and something to attach the curtain to it, such as curtain rings with clips, which will grab onto the curtain's top edge and provide a draping effect. Use a grommet kit to punch large grommets into the cloth for a modern hanging style. For a more classic and refined look, grab some pleater tape, such as GYOSUGANG Curtain Pleat Tape, to create French pleats that elegantly gather the top of your curtain in tidy folds. Sew the pleater tape onto the top end of your curtain, or use your fuse tape to secure it in a no-sew approach. Tablecloths are typically not made of heavy, thick fabric, so do not expect a single DIY curtain to fully darken a room. But if you have several tablecloths to work with, you can successfully layer your curtains with contrasting textures and complementary colors to enhance the look while increasing their opacity.

The size of your tablecloth curtain will depend on your window and whether you'd like the curtain to reach the floor. Once you find the perfect curtain length for your window, iron out any wrinkles and cut the fabric down to size. Cut the tablecloth a few inches longer than the final curtain length so you can hem the ends to clean up the look. Make sure each panel is also at least twice the width of your window to give the curtain some body when it's open or closed. The unhemmed edges left after cutting can be folded in and pressed to the curtain with fuse tape and an iron. There should always be fabric between your iron and the tape, as the tape will stick to the hot iron if they touch.

If you're using clips, attach them to the curtain rings to the top edge of your curtains, spacing them about 6 inches apart. For grommets and pleater tape, follow the instructions on your product to achieve the best result. Once you've affixed your choice of rod attachment, hang them as you would curtains from the store. While it's not always easy to select the perfect curtains for your aesthetic, using tablecloths and other large fabric products like bedsheets and blankets can give you more options at a lower cost.