How to make easy DIY curtain rods with black pipe from the home improvement store, for any window in your home.
There’s been a lot of changes in the living room the past few months. Some projects are complete, like the basement door, the mantel and the fireplace, but there’s still some work to be done. The last project I recently completed was new curtains, which included some cheap DIY curtain rods made from black steel pipe.
If you’ve followed me for awhile then you may have noticed that I’m not really a curtain kind of girl. I love to look at them in other people’s homes, I’m just not a fan of them in my own. Part of the reason is that I like to keep things pretty simple, including the windows. Another reason I don’t like them, if I’m being totally honest, is because they get dusty and it ends up being something else I have to clean.
Nope..curtains are just not my thing.
This isn’t only about the curtains though, it’s about making your own custom DIY curtain rods.
The picture above is the living room right before we moved in. The previous owners had blinds in the window that didn’t fit properly and blocked a lot of light. So, down they came and up went a lined, woven shade in their place.
Here’s the living room after the new shade was hung. It’s certainly simple but a little too simple for me. The window, and room, needed something soft, like curtains. I tried to live with the simple look for months but I just couldn’t deny it any longer…this space needed curtains.
I still wanted to keep it simple, and not block any precious sunlight, so I decided to try sheer linen panels. Once I found panels, I had to decide on a type of curtain rod.
This room is tiny, but the window is pretty large, so I knew that I didn’t want the distraction of big, long rod. We would never close the curtains anyway, so there was no reason to put up a full rod. These DIY, cheap curtain rods (half curtain rods) were the solution.
I knew what I wanted, and I knew that I could easily make them, so I went for it.
Supplies to make easy DIY short curtain rods
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- 1/2″ floor flanges x2
- 1/2″ elbows x2
- 4 wood screws
- 1/2″ x 12″ black pipe x2
- 1/2″ iron caps x2
- 2 packages curtain clips ($7.47 each)
- 1/2″ x 2″ nipple x2
Putting together your black pipe curtain rods
Once I got all of my supplies home, hanging them was pretty easy. Just remember…when you work with this kind of pipe, you need to wipe it all down really well. It’s pretty greasy and will turn anything it touches black, including your walls and your curtains.
When I hung the rod I made sure I hit a beam with both of my screws to keep everything sturdy and secure.
I’m still not finished painting the room but I’m sharing a sneak peak of the color and the new and unique curtain rods.
It literally took me less than 15 minutes to hang the rods and curtain brackets on each end of the window, as well as the curtain panels.
Simple.
It took me a while to get used to the look but I like it so much better. It softens this area without blocking the sunlight. And I love that they’re shorter and there isn’t a black rod going across the whole window.
I’m still having one issue in this room (besides the fact that it’s too small and has an awkward layout). The sofa isn’t centered on the window. We’ve tried removing the hubs’ favorite chair and moving the couch down but we really need the extra seating.
Remember, this is a small room and the window wall is the only space for furniture.
It’s not perfect design-wise but it is comfortable for the two of us. Comfort is more important than design aesthetic.
So, in the end, I’m loving the new curtains and my cheap curtain rods. Will I hang curtains in more windows around the house?
Probably not.
But I guess I should say…”never say never”.
Are you a curtain person, or do you like to keep your windows simple?
Sources
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- Linen sheers – Crate and Barrel
- Coffee Table – West Elm
- Wooden stool with dipped legs – Serena and Lily
- Blue Washed Velvet Pillow Cover – Pottery Barn
- Floor lamp – Pottery Barn
- Striped Pillows – Etsy
- Round woven tray – Target
- Woven Shade – Blinds.com
- Sunburst mirror – Target (from a few years ago)
Some of my other living room projects…
DIY Fireplace Mantel
Quick and Easy Fireplace Makeover