We have a large arched window in our front room. It’s great for natural light (half of our house doesn’t get the best natural light), but finding window treatments for arched windows is TOUGH.
The length of the window is large, and from the top of the arch to the floor is about 128 inches. It’s really hard to find cute curtains that are longer than 108 or 120 inches. For a few years, I got by with a look that wasn’t the greatest but worked for light filtering and privacy. We hung a tension rod across the inside of the frame, and I hung some curtains I found from West Elm that I loved (and repurposed here). It kind of looked weird but served its purpose.
I love a good before and after, so here’s the before-before of when we moved in:
And another after:
This year, as I’ve been brightening things up, I wanted to do something about this window situation. We just finished painting this area Benjamin Moore Pale Oak lighted by 25%. It brightened the walls up and I knew this window was calling for some light-colored drapes. I ordered swatches from Restoration Hardware, Pottery Barn and the Shade Store, thinking I could order custom sizes from one of these retail options. I didn’t love the plain linen curtain look, which were options from Restoration Hardware and Pottery Barn. I thought I would do ring attachments to a bar I bought on Amazon. I decided on a swatch from the Shade Store. They offer free measurements, so I did a Facetime consult (thanks Covid!) for track curtains.
The Shade Store educated me! I learned I could do a cute track bar for curtains, and that the curtains at that length would slide much better on a track affixed to curtains rather than on rings on a rod, where the rings could get hung up.
With my happy education on a great design option, I got a quote from Shade Store. My window drape and track rod quote was over $3,000. That was WAY more than I wanted to spend on this window. So I got creative.
To make no sew curtains, you will need:
- A rod. I used this track rod to make sure the high hooks slid smoothly. Rod.
- Curtain clips, amount depending on width of your curtains. Clips.
- Fabric. I found some on Etsy I love. Here is what I used and something similar. Fabric and Fabric.
- Sewing tape. I used this. Sewing tape.
- An iron. I just bought this one and love it. Iron.
- Optionally, you may want a fabric tape measure, fabric pencil and needle and thread for reinforcement. Tape and pencil.
First, find a fabric you love
I searched high and low for a fabric I liked. I found a few on Etsy and ordered a some swatches. I decided on a light ivory plaid window pane fabric and ordered 9 yards. It was such a great find – I love the fabric and it only cost me $120 with shipping. Here is the link; it comes in and out of stock: Fabric. Here is another similar fabric: Fabric.
Next, find a curtain rod and hardware style you love
After I selected my fabric, I needed to decide on hardware. I found a track mount bar I liked. I looked at Home Depot, Amazon and a few other online shops that sell track bars. I needed a long one that was at least 108 inches to give me coverage on each side. I found this one on Amazon – perfectly 108 inches and a nice black color to go with my black door and other accents I’ve been working on. Here is another option: Curtain rod.
This took a few weeks to arrive with shipping, so I got to be lazy and not make the curtains right away.
After a few weeks, the rod arrived! I had gone without a window treatment and here in the Pacific Northwest, it is cloudy most of the winter months, but sun coming through can fade my carpet and rug, and I needed to get into action.
We hung the rod. It was something. But it looks great and I could tell would hide some of the arch on the window I’m not loving.
Note the pitch black early evening skies of the Pacific Northwest in January. Can’t wait for summer to come back!
Then, Make the Curtains in Under 3 Hours
The next night, I got to work on the curtains. I measured out enough to create two panels from my 9 yards of fabric. So much fabric to work with!
I was planning on sewing the sides and hemming the edges. I didn’t feel like sewing so decided to try fabric tape for this project. I am in love! This stuff saved me so much time and irons on. I did not have to wrangle these huge piece of fabric through a sewing machine and there are no stitch marks. I laid my hugely long panels across my carpeted living room, and to protect the carpet from singing, I used towels between the fabric and carpet.
After I was done adhering the fabric tape, I reinforced the top hem line with stitches but other than that am relying on the tape to hold. You don’t have to do this but a lot of heat hits this window and I didn’t want to deal with climbing 11 feet to fix it if something happens.
After getting all of my hemlines prepared, I worked on a pinch-pleat. There is tape and curtain hooks to purchase for pinch-pleats, which was my backup if this hack didn’t work. But I wanted to try a no sew solution first.
These curtain hooks fit perfectly into my track rod. And placed together in a pinch create a pinch pleat look for these curtains.
With the hooks attached, Ryan hung the drapes. The hooks needed to be adjusted so I don’t see the parts of the track in the rod. It looks so much better and slides wonderfully. I’m so happy with these. And for a total of under $250! Definitely beats $3000 custom curtains, with only 3 hours of our time.
I hope you find this useful for making your own custom large scale drapes on a budget!
