Curtains are often made from high-quality fabrics, and that’s one of the top reasons why we love them. Well, when it comes to redecoration time, you might be a bit reluctant to get rid of your old drapes and curtains. When I personally decided to fit the blinds in my living room, I couldn’t throw away my old curtains.
However, what could I do with second-hand curtains? The real question is, in fact, this: what can’t I do with second-hand curtains? Old drapes can be used for all kinds of purposes, whether it is for sofa covers, new cushions, wallpapers, shopper bags, bedspreads, headboards, and many other things.
From scratch, we should start by saying that curtains offer you a large section of fabric to use however you prefer, with the bonus that there could be some great fabric trim involved. With this section, you can make and design a wide number of amazing ideas for your home.
Old curtains as a tablecloth
If you have a great curtain that you once adored so much that you can’t quite comprehend the idea of simply throwing it away, you can simply make a durable and beautiful tablecloth out of it. Moreover, with a bit of luck, you might not even need to sew anything.
You can simply use a small pair of scissors and snip through the stitching holding the curtain tape in place, then let the curtain loose. Wash and iron it, but make sure that in the end, it’s clean and flat. Then, carefully lay the curtain out on your chosen table. If your table is too small for it, you can simply hem it, or use drawstring ribbons to make a little play for the little ones.
Old curtains as placemats and napkins
When you already have a series of skills when it comes to the sewing machine, you should consider upcycling your old drapes into fashionable placements and napkins. Just cut the desired size for the napkin in question, as well as the placemats from your old curtains, then carefully fold the edges over into a half-inch seam and stick them in place with some sewing glue.
Faux wallpaper
If you rent and can’t afford to repaint the walls, or you simply want to try a quick fix and hide how ugly it is before actually considering other actions, you can simply install a curtain rod at ceiling height, then hang your old drapes as some form of wallpaper with a one and a quarter times gather.
This way, the patterns will be fully revealed. If you have short curtains and they don’t reach from floor to ceiling, you can always consider adding a few more layers to create this ruffled look at the bottom.
Demarcate spaces
Open-plan living is really trending right now. However, some delineation between living spaces in an open plan is still to be introduced, so to speak. You can add an extra ceiling to floor-length drape to effectively edge the openings between spaces, which would create the illusion of two different rooms.
Replace doors
Well, moving into a room where its dressing space has no door won’t be an issue anymore. You can simply edge the doorway with a single curtain that beautifully ties to the side, or just use two panels for a more symmetrical look.
Bed canopy
If you want to recycle some old lace or even voile curtains, you might as well turn them into a bed canopy. Just add a curtain rail against the ceiling, and let the curtains hang on this “frame” to effectively complete the bed canopy.
Dutch lace and valance to apron
You can use Dutch lace and valance to make a cheque apron or waste paper basket fringe. At the same time, you can tie a section of Dutch lace with a ribbon to make a beautiful window angel. Just add a few pipe cleaners to finish with wings.
Garlands for the festive season
If you have some bright-colored curtains sitting in a cupboard, you can simply cut the strips of fabric and tie them to a string. It will make this super festive garland to use during the holiday season.
Wrap up your bed nook
Students generally have a bed nook or some kind of bunker curtain to make sure their roommate doesn’t intrude and respect their privacy. Alternatively, you can use those old drapes to achieve the same goal. The only thing you have to do is to open the curtain taping at both ends, then carefully run a curtain wire through, and secure it in place on both sides of the bed on the ceiling with a series of strong cup hooks.
Save on door space
When your room is short on space, finding the space for doors to effectively open can be quite a challenge. You only have to clean the space and make more room for movement. Remove the cupboard doors, then replace them with an old curtain as some sort of panel. This way, it will keep the cupboard private while not having doors swinging wide open.
No-sew shopping bag
If the curtaining is strong, then this means that it’s suited for carrying weight, right? Well, why wouldn’t you cut two squares that are large enough to work as a DIY shopping bag? It would be a nice weekend project and you would end up with your own personalized collection of fashionable shopping bags.
Cut two strips of 2 inches by 21 inches and you’re good to go. Then, glue the top edges of the bag panels over with some fabric glue. Then, you can glue the two squares together with the right sides facing inward.
You only have to apply the glue to three sides, which would leave the folded side as the bag top. Ultimately, you can glue the strips as handles. If you have to, you can also double the strips, then carefully fold them in half down the length, to have an even stronger handle.
Cut fabric yarn
Fabric yarn can be easily cut by using an elasticated fabric to make a long strip of fabric similar to a thread. Fabric types that are perfect for this task are polyester, cotton, linens, and velvets. You only have to measure out along the length of the curtain’s drop and you are good to go.
Then, cut the strips that aren’t wider than half an inch in width. You can tie the different strips together or even stick with fabric glue. Roll for more storage, and you will always have a colorful yarn to knit or decorate with!
DIY bulletin board
Your old curtain can be easily transformed into this amazing bulletin board. How? It’s simple! You only need a panel of pressboard or a sheet of polystyrene, an old curtain, some sturdy tape, hot glue, and nimble fingers.
Then, just cut a square of curtaining that’s an inch bigger on all sides than the sheet. Carefully fold the fabric over, and make sure you secure it to the board or sheet with some glue or pins. Then add two loops of fabric on the top to hang the board. You can use the board tacks or sewing pins to add your favorite images, notes, and any other important snippets to the fabric board.
If you found this article useful, we also recommend checking: 5 Landscaping Ideas to Make Your Home Look More Expensive
