18 DIY Curtain Ideas That Will Instantly Give Your Room a Style Boost

When it comes to making a space feel homey, walls are usually at the top of the list for upgrades, whether it’s via paint, art displays, rental hack, invested in tons of Command hooks, but overlooked a simple detail that in hindsight, would have made a world of difference: We left all our windows with the cheap, plastic blinds. Learn from our mistakes! Adding curtains is a great way to bring soft texture to your walls (and there are lots of ways to hang them without damaging your walls!), tie different design elements of a room together, and make your windows look more finished and—dare I say it?—grown up. Don’t feel limited by off-the-shelf options—DIY curtains are a great afternoon or weekend project that’s affordable to boot. Say no to naked windows and get inspired by these DIY curtain ideas.

Mandi of A Beautiful Mess took a free-form approach to polka dots with her hand painted pattern. This slight twist on a classic makes these DIY curtains feel fresh and unique.

This DIY burlap sack curtain—from Carissa of Bless this Nest—proves just how much curtains can bring that extra oomph and tie a room’s style together.

While this macrame curtain is beautiful on its own, it would also look lovely layered over basic white curtain panels to give windows a bit more privacy, too. Emma of A Beautiful Mess shows how this curtain can be used in front of a closet as a breezy alternative to a door, too.

Besides the gorgeous ticking stripe fabric Stephanie of Celebrated Nest chose for her curtains, look at the handmade tassels sewn into the pleats! That extra detail can be both hard to find and expensive on store-bought curtains, making the DIY version worth the effort.

Katie of A Beautiful Mess is blessed with extra tall windows in her 1800s home. While they’re great for enviable lighting, it can be a hassle finding ready made curtains. Steal a page from her DIY book and add a long, lace trim to stylishly gain those extra inches.

You’re not limited to lace when it comes to customizing pre-made curtains. Instead of using lace trim, Sarah of She Holds Dearly upcycled a vintage crocheted table runner to add character to her bedroom.

Decluttering your closet? Don’t throw out those scarves! Upcycle your favorite pieces into a patchwork curtain for a new, functional way to display your collection.

DIY trim is a curtain’s best friend. Annie of DIY Decor Mom had her heart set on Greek key curtains, but couldn’t justify their high price tag. So she DIYed her own for half the price! Try to imagine her stunning living room without that detail. It just doesn’t feel the same.

Linen curtains have a beautiful softness & drape with a not-so-beautiful price tag. At least usually. Sarah of She Holds Dearly found an affordable set at IKEA and added a small tassel trim for a subtle and sophisticated look. Check out her full tutorial for a bonus hack for getting IKEA curtains pure white.

The light coming through these sheer curtains dotted with faux flowers creates a welcoming, soft glow. If you’re curious about upkeep, Natalie of Design Love Fest recommends giving them a hand wash with cool water for the occasional cleaning.

Tasha of Kaleidoscope Living pulled together all the colors of her daughter’s room by adding a strip of statement paneling to plain, white curtains. And she did it without having to sew! This is also a great way to use your favorite pricey fabric without breaking the bank.

Scroll too fast and you might miss this clever IKEA hack from Cathy of The Grit and Polish. She started with basic blush curtains and created her own pinch pleats for a classic take that looks completely custom.

Most blackout curtains are either ugly with a thick plastic look or shockingly expensive. Carmen of Living Letter Home didn’t settle for either, and shares how to turn your favorite curtains into blackout curtains.

Can you believe these curtains started out as plain, cheap drop cloths? Lisa of Shine Your Light worked her magic with some paint, stencils, and creativity to put the finishing touch on her dining room.

You can make similar custom curtains using plain white panels, too. Zoe of Crafted by the Hunts went with a modern stencil and cleverly coordinated her choice of navy paint with her other navy accents.

If your DIY comfort level is somewhere between free-form painting and following a stencil, try DIY stamped curtains. You can create your own shapes and play with different layouts like Katrin of Northern Feeling to get a handmade, artisan feel.

Erin of Francois et Moi has several tutorials to walk you through the sumptuous world of indigo dyeing. You can use the dye with classic tie-dye folds or try your hand with a mudcloth-inspired technique.

Mandi of A Beautiful Mess used trim in a different way and upgraded a basic panel set with contrasting pom-pom stripes. It’s fun and bold without being complicated to make.