Give Boring Curtains An Upgrade With An '80s-Inspired, Budget-Friendly DIY

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There are some interesting trends that have come back in style over the last few years, including geometric patterns — a '70s design trend that's popping up in homes again — and patterned tiles — the '60s tile trend that's making a bold comeback in modern homes. Seashell decor isn't limited to the 1980s. Shells are an integral part of most nautical or coastal interiors. These oceanic accessories were, however, quite popular in the Decade of Decadence. If you're a fan of the '80s and want to incorporate seashells into your decor, why upgrade your window treatments with a statement-making shell garland? Making your own garland from seashell discs and cord is surprisingly easy. Once you've made it, you can layer it atop your existing curtains, use it as a tieback, or even replace the curtains altogether.

To start, you're going to need a pack of flat, round seashells — think of them as small discs with two or more pre-drilled holes. They're often cut from mother of pearl bivalves and sold in bulk packs, like this 100-pack M Meterxity Round Natural Shell Pieces for about $22. Look for ones with a hole in the bottom on opposite sides of the disc for this DIY project. You'll also need some ½-inch round HDSupplies 16-Gauge Silver Tone Jump Rings — or any size of jump rings you prefer that are thin enough to fit through the holes in the seashell discs. Finally, get a roll of cord that can fit through the jump rings and is sturdy enough to handle the weight of the shells once the garland is hung up. For example, this 100-foot roll of SteadMax Natural Cotton Rope for about $6 is designed for outdoor use.

If you're looking for an affordable alternative that makes curtains beautiful (and that's not tassels), this simple DIY seashell garland with a minimal supply list is almost certainly it. To get started, you'll need to tap into your creativity. Tip the seashell discs out of the bag they came in and onto a large, flat work surface — even your (clean) wooden floor will do. Play around with arrangements for the garland until you find the design you like best. You could, for example, haphazardly alternate the length of each strand of seashell discs for a rustic vibe. If you like order, go with a graduated design, with a long central strand and ever-shorter strands on either side, or simply make them all one length.

Take a photo or sketch your final design, then count the shell discs in each strand to make sure you have enough. Now, you're ready to start connecting the discs together. Add a jump ring to the hole at the top and the bottom of each disc. The bottom hole in the last shell in each row doesn't need a ring. Once you've created all the seashell strands you need, cut a long length of cord and thread it through the unused jump ring at the top of the first disc. To keep the strands in place on the string, knot the cord between each jump ring and either side of the first and last strand of shells. Make sure you leave some empty cord at both ends of the garland knotted for hanging your creation. That's it! Now you have your very own seashell garland to dress your windows!

Customizing a seashell garland really isn't hard. For one, these seashell discs come in a wide variety of colors. Go for blue, green, purple, or red discs — or mix and match the hues as you wish. To make things easy, pick a color from your existing home decor palette. Alternate hues on a single strand or hang strands of a single color side by side. You could also alternate the sizes of the discs or switch out discs for crystals, charms, or tiny seashells with holes drilled in them. This Yaokan Natural Seashells and Starfish Set costs just $10. Alternatively, hang these accents from just the ends of each strand. If you're replacing your curtains entirely in favor of a seashell garland, you could switch out the cord for a long, thin piece of driftwood or a bamboo pole.

No matter what your seashell garland looks like, using it as a window treatment will add texture and contrast to plain curtains. If the strands are on the shorter side, mount your garland like a valance at the top of the curtains. You can also go for a more whimsical, draped effect, leaving some length in the center of the garland to create a droop. Why not hang the garland from the bottom of a shortened shade? Or, as mentioned, simply remove your curtains altogether and hang your seashell garland in their place. This idea works best for windows facing your backyard rather than street-facing windows. Did we mention that these seashell garlands also work great as doorway dividers? Don't be afraid to get creative with placement.