So do you remember back a few weeks ago when I shared my “vision” for my office/craft room space? Well I have some posts to share this week about how I’ve been making my vision happen..and there’s a lot of DIY in the mix!!
First on the agenda was the curtains. My inspiration was this West Elm Striped Shower Curtain.
While I probably could have swallowed the $39 price for each curtain…the 72″ length wasn’t going to work fo rme-I’m a huge fan of the “puddled” look for my curtains!
So what’s a blogger to do?
Paint my own!
I ordered a pair of IKEA Vivan curtains on eBay… they are normally $9.99 for TWO panels at IKEA but I paid $20 including shipping due to getting them from a reseller. {Incidentally I’m doing an IKEA roadtrip this week in conjunction with a family vacation-eek!-so excited!}
I then picked up about 4 Grey Valspar paint samples from the local hardware store. (To be completely honest I picked up one paint sample can at first and quickly realized that fabric absorbs paint like crazy and had to quickly run back to the store and get more samples!)
I measured my curtains and divided by seven to determine the stripe thickeness I wanted…it ended up being 14″ for each stripe with my extra long curtains. Being careful to tape OUTSIDE of the lines of the painted portions I used painters tape to mark off my stripes. I was also extra careful to really press and seal the tape to the cloth as I put it down.
Then came the moment of commitment…I won’t lie, I was nervous. Did I just waste $35 in supplies?
What do you think?
I am absolutely 100% in love with them!!! I couldn’t be happier. Yes, before you ask, they are more stiff than normal curtains (I didn’t use fabric medium) but I don’t ever plan on using mine for actual window covering, just for decor so I think it was $35 well spent!
Would you ever paint curtains? Have you tried it before?
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These look really cute! I used paint + fabric medium to paint an IKEA rug earlier this year and love the results…would totally do it again – but you are right about how much paint fabric absorbs! Have a great IKEA trip…
Heather S. recently posted..DIY Play Tent
These are soooooo amazing! Kennedy has plain white curtains like that in her room.. hmmm… I wonder….
Courtenay recently posted..How to Paint a Lampshade
They look fabulous!!
Looks great!!
lucy recently posted..Smoking Glue Guns January Edition
Beautiful an incredible knock off!!!!
Jacque recently posted..Everyday I Love You Word Art : An Affordable Knock-Off
Love it! Pinned it!!! XO, Aimee
Aimee – It’s Overflowing recently posted..Organization – DIY Projects – Valentines Day Inspiration
Love your curtains girl! These are on my to-do list too! Thanks for passing on that the paint soaks up into the fabric!
Heather recently posted..It’s Party Time 2-3-2013 Features and Announcements
They look great!!
Love the crisp, clean lines. Such a great aesthetic!! Always loved stripes
This are fab girl!!
Love love love!! They look phenomenal. I want to stencil some white curtains we’ve got in our dining room – hopefully it will be a project we’ll tackle soon!
Rachel recently posted..Free Valentine’s Day Chalkboard Printables
Can’t wait to see them Rachel!
Wowzas…what a huge impact! I am going to try to stencil some curtains in a couple of weeks, so this makes me a little less nervous. Just gorgeous, Melissa!
Jessica @ Mom 4 Real recently posted..Puppy Love Pillow (Freezer Paper Stencil & Open Ended Pillow Tutorials)
BEAUTIFUL! I think I have those same IKEA curtains with plans to stencil soon!
Laura Beth recently posted..Heart Shaped Double Doozies
They turned out great! I can’t wait to hear about your IKEA trip. The closest IKEA is four hours away and many a times I’ve contemplated the drive…can’t wait to see what you get!
jenny@birdsandsoap recently posted..Diamond Tufted Dining Bench Part Deux
Ours is two hours away Jenny and I’ve driven over twice. This time I brought the whole family and I don’t recommend that! I felt a little rushed and its so awesome you really could spend half a day in there.
What a great collection of curtain you have here! I love the West Elm Striped Shower Curtain.
Emma Briggs recently posted..How to give your living room sofas with a simple makeover?
Looks wonderful! I’m a huge fan of all the DIY curtain ideas. I’m contemplating a similar project.
ngnrdgrl recently posted..Third Times the Charm: Homemade Pizza
Stopping by from Practically Functional. Those look gorgeous. I was just thinking about making something new for our windows but I didn’t want to have to go buy new fabric. I think I might try painting some of the solid colored fabric I have.
Alli recently posted..I Love Lists!
Thanks Alli! I was nervous to try it but love the end look, they are stiff but mine are for decor not functional so it doesn’t bother me!
They came out just lovely! I did something similar to my living room curtains, but in a more subtle way. But I love the boldness of yours!
Selene from restorationbeauty.com
Thanks so much Selene!
LOVE those! What a great idea…I think I may have to do those in our toddler’s room do-over
Shannon recently posted..New Year New Me…and I’m sick
Thanks Shannon-just be aware they are stiff from the paint so I wouldn’t use them in an area you want functional curtains to open and close.
Nice work! They look great! I just painted some fabric with a polycrylic to make a rug (floorcloth). Who knew you could just paint fabric like this?
Heather recently posted..Pinterest – Tried, Tested and True #10 – DIY Floorcloths
What a cool idea Heather!
I don’t know which i love more stripes or IKEA:) Your curtains are fantastic! Pinning onto 2 boards!!!!
I love this! The nearest IKEA is about 1.5-2 hours from us and I have been mentally planning a trip for weeks. You’ve inspired me to get down there! I’m so glad to have found your lovely blog.
Sarah recently posted..Getting in touch with my wild side
Thanks so much for stopping by! Definitely make the trip to IKEA-there is just so much there!
Your curtains are fabulous.
Ruth
Ruth recently posted..Burlap Votives
L. O. V. E.
Aw, thanks so much Lucy!!
i painted mine and i don’t like how they turned out at all! i don’t like the splotchy look–now i’m back to the drawing board. did you notice that same problem with yours?
Carissa recently posted..February Sponsors Valentine’s Edition
Mine weren’t splotchy on the front but they were on the back. It worked for me though because they are just hanging there got decor and no one would see the back.
Your curtains turned out really nice. For thirty five bucks you did good. I love painting on fabric. I always use a medium though and then iron over it the next day to set it and soften it a bit.
Joanie Holder recently posted..I Needed A Super Model
You know I couldn’t find fabric medium at my craft store and I was too impatient to wait to order it! I’ll have to try it next time though to see the difference.
Melissa, you are just rocking the projects! Don’t you ever sleep?!
Marty Walden recently posted..Dried Beef Cheese Ball
Totally pinning these. I’ve been dying to try striped curtains! I’d love for you to come link this up at my Tuesday Time Out!
Melanie Reasons To Skip The Housework
These are awesome! What a cool idea! Can’t wait to try it!
These curtains are fabulous! Thanks for sharing!!
I would like to invite you to link up to my linky party, Thrifty Thursday!
You would fit right in and we would love to have you!
appleofmamaseye.blogspot.com
Hope to see you there!
-Lindsey
Lindsey recently posted..Thrifty Thursday~ Homemade Finger Paint
Thanks Lindsey, I’m making a note in my planner to hop over tomorrow to link up!
I love the curtains! How long does it take to dry and do you hang them to dry? It seems they would stick to whatever you were laying them.
Hi Bonita, I painted mine laid out on a disposable plastic drop cloth in my garage. I let them dry a full 24 hours and had no problem with them sticking. Hope that helps!
These look GREAT. I’m redoing our living room into a beach themed room & need to do something with the bay window, these might just do the trick. Except the pooling at the bottom. I have dogs & I could just see the Jack Russell napping on them and all the Border Collie’s fur caught up in them!
Ah yes, I’m a huge fan of puddling curtains and I was a little excessive with these since they were in my office which is a pet and kid free zone!!
This is awesome! I’ve been wanting curtains, but haven’t wanted to pay the steep price for cute ones. Thanks!
You’re so welcome Brittany! I love them-they make me happy every time I walk in the room!