DIY: Sheer curtains

So we're sloooowly getting through the list of things to do. Still waiting on KRESTA to make good on the two blinds that fell off days after they installed them (grrrr....) but anyway, decided to finish off the two remaining windows left uncovered.

The only reason why these windows weren't done months ago was that we weren't sure what to cover them with. Blinds? Romans? Curtains? Sheers? Anyway, this is what most new homeowners end up doing for the first few days....weeks...months... years it takes to decide what window coverings to use!

Yep, old bedsheets. Not that there's a nice view anyway of our neighbour's horrible ugly old bricks. So anyway, finally Tina decided sheers would be the way to go. On our regular excursions to Ikea, picked up a Vagen curtain rail and Wilmaaaaaaaaa! sheer drapes (too many Saturday morning cartoons as a kid obviously)


Didn't take many pics of the installation as it's pretty easy - but in hindsight, maybe I should've taken more pics for this DIY. Anyway

1) Decide how high to hang your curtain rail. You can stick it on the architrave, but I decided to mount on the wall, but into studs as I don't have much faith in plaster fix screws. Use a studfinder or knuckles to locate studs. Plus we had lots of photos during the build, so I knew where the studs would be. Typically on either side of a window you'll have a double or triple stud support which is ideal to fix into. Predrill holes with a power drill, then fix rail mounts to wall. Take into account the curtain length when fixing your rail, I fixed it so there's an inch gap at the bottom of the 250cm curtain when hung. This curtain also comes with a hemming kit, so you can shorten to any length easily.

2) Safety first - eye protection is a must, and don't climb up on a wobbly chair to drill up high.

3) Iron the curtains to get out creases before hanging them. Duh.

4) Tell your wife it was a very hard, painstaking job to get right, and hope she doesn't notice the one crooked curtain mount *facepalm*. Will cover that later with.. erm.. something.

Anyway, here's a pic of the small (180cm wide) dining window covered. The 280cm family room window was done identically, but with a third support bracket midway along the curtain rail. Ikea sell a long and short version of Vagen ideal for varying width windows.



So, for $8 - $15 for rails and fittings, and $20 for curtains, 20 minutes per window to fit, the sheers are up, and look quite elegant. Easy to DIY, and cheap to change curtains in future if we decided to go for a different look. Cheap enough that you don't really have to put up with temporary window coverings too long, providing you know what you want. Of course, if you were doing these in bedrooms you'd want blockout curtains or other window covering, but since no-one sleeps in the dining room, sheers work well and allow daylight through.

T&T