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 simple 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.
What can I use instead of a curtain rod?
I knew that I didn't want to go the traditional curtain rod route so I had to figure out a different way to hang my curtains.
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 traditional curtain rod.
After a little brainstorming I settled on a cheap curtain rod idea that can be found at right in your local hardware store.
Supplies to make simple curtain rods
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- ½" floor flanges x2
- ½" elbows x2
- 4 wood screws
- ½" x 12" black pipe x2
- ½" iron caps x2
- 2 packages curtain clips ($7.47 each)
- ½" x 2" nipple x2
Putting together a DIY curtain rod
~Check out the How-To card for full instructions at the end of the post.
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 custom 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?
Some of my other living room projects...
DIY Fireplace Mantel
Quick and Easy Fireplace Makeover
Sources
(Affiliate links used. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, I will receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you. Please see my Privacy Policy for more info.)
- 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)
DIY Curtain Rods
How to make simple and cheap DIY curtain rods for your windows in 15 minutes using supplies from the home improvement store.
Materials
- ½" floor flanges x2
- ½" elbows x2
- 4 wood screws
- ½" x 12" black pipe x2
- ½" iron caps x2
- ½" x 2" nipple x2
- 2 packages curtain clips ($7.47 each)
Tools
- drill
Instructions
- Use a clean rag to wipe down pipe materials before you install
- Assemble rods
- Screw iron cap on one end of ½ x 12" black pipe
- Screw 12" black pipe into ½" elbow
- Screw ½" x 2" nipple into the other end of the ½" elbow
- Screw nipple into ½" floor flange
- Your curtain rod is ready to hang
- Find a beam where you are hanging your curtain rod and use wood screw to hang curtain rod
- Repeat process for second curtain rod
Maria says
Fantastic idea! I’ve used them for shelving
Kristi says
Thanks Maria! I have used them for shelving, too. So many great ways to repurpose them. 🙂
Doorly says
I love this and am actually trying it. But I do have a problem maybe you can help me with: it seems to be dropping down with the weight. It's greatly secured, but the rod droops down. Any suggestions? Thanks girl!
Kristi says
Hi there! Glad you are giving this a go! My question is, are you doing a rod all the way across your window? If so, you may need a center support. I only did 18" rods because I didn't want to do a center support with my plaster walls. Hope it works out! Let me know if you still have trouble. 🙂
Ivory says
I love this idea, and plan to do this in my home. Beautiful result.
Kristi says
Thanks Ivory! I'm thrilled with the result. Hope you're able to do it. 🙂
Linda says
Love your curtain rod idea. It's one I would never have thought of! Also, I LOVE LOVE LOVE your couch. I'd love to know what brand & where you got it. If you don't mind sharing that is.
Kristi says
Hi Linda. Thanks for the curtain rod and the sofa love. I actually got it from Goode's Furniture Store at the Hickory Furniture Mart in Hickory, NC. It is made by Taylor King and is called the Holmes sofa. Hope that helps! 🙂
Jeanie says
Love it, love it, love it! I am going to borrow your idea..... Great look!
Kristi says
Awww, thanks so much Jeanie! Glad you love it. You can absolutely borrow this idea. I'd love to hear about it if you do. 😉
Debbie Halcomb says
I am not much of a curtain person either. I like the bamboo blinds as well as sheers as you have done in your living room. My new home has mini blinds everywhere. UGH!! It is not in my budget right now to replace them all so I am living with them in the bedrooms until I pay off my schooling, hopefully this Fall. I had never seen your hubs chair in all your pictures. They are comfy but a designers nightmare, right? LOL
Kristi says
I hear you Debbie. We had those ugly blinds in every room. I still have them in the guest bedrooms but, when budget allows, they will be replaced. Can't wait!
Ah yes...the hubs' chair. There's a reason why I never show it...it's big and ugly. He let's me do whatever I want so I try not o give him a hard time about his favorite chair (why do men like them so much?). I'm waiting patiently for the day it breaks so that we can finally replace it. Well, maybe not patiently but I am waiting and hoping. 😉 I'll let you know when that day comes.
How's the house coming along?
Cindy in Oklahoma says
Great idea!..... If your window did not have a center post there is a way to trick the eye by adjusting the amount of drapery material on each side of the opening to make it appear as though the sofa is in the middle, but your window poses a special problem.... You have done exactly what the professionals would tell you to do and that is to offset the hangover with something on the wall above the hangover. Honestly, I didn't notice until you mentioned it!
The other thing you could try is something my mover did when we moved here years ago. He angled the sofa off center on the corner side of the wall and placed a chair to the left. It's not a true middle of the corner angled look, but a more casual off center placement. I would never have come up with that option but it works so well in our awkward room we've left it that way.
Kristi says
Thanks Cindy! Great suggestion but unfortunately we can't angle our sofa like that. There is a doorway on the wall that is by the hubs' chair. The window wall is literally the only wall. Not ideal but I guess I should be happy I can get a sofa and chair in there. 😉 Small spaces are tough.
Thanks for stopping by!
Pat M says
I will admit that I'm a curtain person. I love the softness they bring to what sometimes can be harsh edges of window frames and sometimes can mask either not so perfect window trim or lack thereof. I live in a house with no trim around the windows. It's cheaper to add draperies than to have all my windows trimmed out. I think too that it's an old fashioned thing - I'm in my 70s and when growing up, everyone always had draperies/curtains. I love that we all can do whatever is right for each of us.
Kristi says
I do love the idea of curtains and when I see a pretty room with gorgeous fabric, I want to have it too. Problem is, it's just not me.
I think it's great that you love curtains. If that's what makes you happy, then you should do it. Our homes should reflect our own personal choices and it sounds like you have done just that. 🙂
Marjorie Dineen says
You did a great job on your project. The curtains lend a soft touch to the room. Kudos to you for another great project.
Marjorie Dineen says
You did a great job on this project. The curtains lend a soft touch to the room. Kudos to you for what you did!
Kristi says
Thanks so much Marjorie! I do love how they turned out.