“Do it yourself” window treatments are unique because they add a personal touch to home decorating. “Do it yourself” window treatments are generally lower in price than ready-made window treatments, and “do it yourself” window treatments are often higher in quality than window treatments purchased in stores.
You can easily design beautiful “do it yourself” window treatments such as valances and curtains to match bedding or particular room themes. You don’t have to be a professional seamstress to create “do it yourself” window treatments that are comparable to expensive window treatments found in high-end department stores. All you need are basic sewing supplies, a standard sewing machine, and a desire to create beautiful window treatments.
Those who prefer the “do it yourself” approach to decorating may also decorate and embellish existing window treatments with ribbon, beads, decorative buttons, and other ornamentations. Even those without artistic ability can make beautifully unique “do it yourself” window treatments.
Valances
Valances dress up windows and add a finished look to curtains and drapery, but valances are often used instead of curtains or drapery. Decorative valances are generally used along with mini blinds, vertical blinds, or shades, and valances are a cheap alternative to expensive window treatments.
You can easily create “do it yourself” swag valances that match bedding by using a matching bed sheet for material. One sheet will provide more than enough material to make beautiful matching window valances for several windows.
Measure the top and sides of the first window you want to embellish, and decide how far down you want the valance to hang on either side of the window. Mark the sheet with fabric chalk, and cut it according to size. Fold over raw edges, pin them every few inches, and sew them. Sewing the raw edges will create a neat appearance and will keep the material from fraying. Iron the sewn edges to flatten them.
Buy decorative hold backs for the corners of the window and for the center. Center the valance and arrange the material in a decorative fashion over the hold backs. “Do it yourself” swag-style valances are easy to wash, easy to put back in place, and inexpensive. They can make an otherwise plain window look like a million bucks.
Blinds
Vertical and horizontal blinds can be uniquely embellished with cutouts from wallpaper or wallpaper borders. This is a great way to spruce up window treatments in a child’s room, a rec. room, or a toy room.
Cut out characters or shapes from your favorite wallpaper. Prearrange the shapes on the blinds in an effort to properly place them and get an idea of how they will look. Close the blinds, and glue the pieces to them with wall paper paste. Let the wallpaper paste dry completely, and carefully use a sharp utility knife to cut the wallpaper pieces along the slats so the blinds will open and close. When the blinds are closed, the slats will form a complete picture.
Drapery and Curtains
Try embellishing existing draperies and curtains with ribbons, decorative buttons, or beautiful beads. Decorative embellishments will give old window treatments a whole new appearance. Just use your imagination and creativity to turn old window treatments into beautiful new window treatments.
If your curtains are lacy and made from fabric with holes, consider weaving narrow silk ribbon through the holes and tying on small decorative bows. Further embellish the bows by sewing on iridescent beads to the centers. This “do it yourself” window treatment is especially pretty in a little girl’s bedroom.
Kitchen or bedroom curtains can be embellished by sewing on colorful decorative buttons. Theme buttons add interest and value to curtains of all kinds. Choose buttons to match the theme and color of your existing window treatments. For example, if the theme of your existing window treatment is the apple, further decorate your window treatments with apple-shaped buttons. Decorate flowered curtains with beautiful flower-shaped buttons. The options for decorating curtains and window treatments with buttons are endless.
Stained Glass Vinyl Window Appliques
Do you love the look of stained-glass but you don’t want the added expense or permanence of stained glass? Vinyl appliques are available that look just like stained glass, but this vinyl impostor is much cheaper and can be easily removed any time. There are vinyl window appliques that look like traditional stained glass with various geometric shapes, and there are vinyl window appliques with flowers or other pictures.
These faux stained-glass window appliques are great to use in bathrooms or on other windows that you want to completely conceal from view. They are UV resistant and adhere to the glass without the use of glue or any type of adhesive. These inexpensive “do it yourself” window treatments are easy to remove, and they won’t damage glass or window frames.
