The poet, Keats, called windows: “Charmed magic casements,” and with the right window covering ideas they can be. I first learned to apply interior decorating ideas to windows back in college. Living on a first-floor cramped dorm room, I wanted not only to decorate my window but to add a little privacy to it. I came up with a unique window covering idea that I have played around with ever since. I turned garments (and later, cheap fabrics) into window covers. Here are five ways that you can do it in your home.
#1. Embroidered Shawl Window Covering
Of all my unique window covering ideas, this is my favorite and the one I use in my home office. I found a large, see-through shawl that was embroidered with Indian patterns. Since the shawl was as wide as my window, I simply draped it over the valance of the blind. I recommend searching the internet for embroidered shawls. Stores that import clothing from India will be cheapest. You can also find such shawls at flea markets. Or you can buy a see-through embroidered fabric at a fabric store, cut it into the dimensions of your window and hem its edges.
#2. Sari Window Covering
This window covering idea is more private. Indian Saris are made of stunning silk that comes in endless colors. Some are more see-through than others, so you can choose the degree of privacy you want for your window covering. Search the internet for an Indian Sari. Though very long, high-quality ones are pricey, the shorter, simpler ones can be very cheap. And since this Indian garment is simply made of a long piece of hemmed cloth, you won’t have to do any sewing for this window covering idea. You can drape the sari over the valance of your blinds, or first attach curtain tie-backs on top of your window, on either side, and then festoon the sari from them.
This window covering idea can be pricey unless you get lucky (as I did) and find a Spanish shawl at a garage sale or flea market. You can also search eBay and see if you can find an affordable Spanish shawl. Of course, if you happen to be traveling to Spain, you’ll find the best shawls overseas. Spanish shawls are most famous for their long fringes, which will fall over your window like a waterfall. As with the embroidered shawl, you can drape the Spanish shawl from the valance of your blind or simply hammer it over the window. You can also create the effect of a Spanish shawl by adding a long fringe to a square of silk fabric. In fact, by making your own window covering from scratch you can match the dimensions of your window exactly.
#4. Clothing-Lining Window Covering
This window covering idea is the cheapest in this collection. Walking in a fabric store one day, it occurred to me that cheap clothing-lining fabric would make stunning window coverings. Such fabrics are a little see-through and light can penetrate through them, even while the window is covered. I use a piece of clothing-lining that’s twice as tall as my window from floor to window-top. I fold the fabric in half and attach it with a nail over the window. Then I drape the fabric to the right and left using ornate curtain tie-backs that attaches the window covering to the sides of the window. I really festoon the fabric in wide, draping arches to make a dramatic effect.
This is my latest window covering idea which I created over my basement window. I bought a see-through, net-like fabric to go from floor to window-top twice. On the ceiling, just above the window, I attached a swag hook (which you can find in the garden center of your home improvement store). I then folded the fabric in half and draped it from the ceiling swag hook. Then I added three swag hooks at a diagonal line on either side of the window. I then draped the net fabric over the hooks. Because of the diagonal line of the swag hooks, the fabric is carried away from the window by degrees. It’s very pretty.
Here are more of the window covering ideas I used in my own home. And if you need more privacy, here are privacy window covering ideas that look beautiful.
