The IKEA DIY That Creates Luxurious Floor To Ceiling Curtains For Sliding Glass Doors

The right curtains work wonders for the look of a room, but that's not all: They insulate, give privacy, and block the sun when needed. Just because you open and close them frequently throughout the day, sliding glass doors don't need to go curtainless, as sliding fabric along with a massive pane is often, well, a pain. Aside from the need for easy-to-use window treatments on a large glass door frame, the standard size of a sliding glass door is 60 to 72 inches wide and 80 inches high, which is a lot of area to cover. The larger the space, the more material you need, and that adds up to a pretty penny.

IKEA is here to save the day — if not the whole day, then at least some of the money you earned during your nine-to-five. The Swedish megastore is the queen of pared-down, inexpensive home goods that still look streamlined and elegant. Its sheer, off-white STOCKHOLM curtains are budget-friendly window treatments that belie their price tag. For around $80 per panel, you may only need one to provide the right amounts of pleats, privacy, and sunlight. The STOCKHOLM curtain is oversized enough to work for wide windows at 98 inches long and 118 inches wide. However, it's also great for a thickly pleated look on smaller windows. Grouping a few panels together on a large window brings luxe pleats even to the most outsized glass door.

While you're shopping, pick up one or more rigs for easy and tidy hanging. You can mount many of IKEA's curtain rods and rails either on the wall above the window, or you can attach them directly to the ceiling for floor-to-ceiling drama. With IKEA's emphasis on quality on a budget, the FRAMFUSIG and the DIGNITET are inexpensive and adjustable hanging options for under $20 each.

The FRAMFUSIG comes with gliding hooks already attached and is telescoping, making it workable for windows between 39 and 71 inches wide. The stainless steel, cuttable DIGNITET can reach as long as 197 inches. It does need up to three additional supports, sold separately, if you hang the entire length of wire.. The DIGNITET doesn't come with hooks, but you can hang curtains directly on the wire by weaving it through the sewn-on fabric loops. You can also go with one or more of the crowd-pleasing VIDGA that comes with both a 55-inch white single-track rail and two sets of gliders for $35 a piece.

If keeping costs low is more your speed, try a DIY curtain rod to take your STOCKHOLM vertical. A cheap and chic wood and leather curtain rod is a simple project involving only leather drawer handles and a dowel. (Save on new leather handles by upcycling parts of an old or thrifted belt.) Really go for the savings by crafting a solution from a long, thin branch. Granted, this rustic alternative to a traditional curtain rod will give your curtains a more natural look than a luxurious one, but the price will be hard to beat.