Your bathroom is one place in your home where privacy is a must so having curtains or shades on your windows is a necessity. While you can buy curtains premade for your bathroom, often times it is less expensive and more fun to make your own bathroom curtains. Not only that, but by making your own bathroom curtains you can match them exactly to the rest of the decor in your bathroom and tie every thing together beautifully. Here are some tips on how to make curtains for your bathroom window.
First, you’ll need to start by measuring your bathroom window to determine how much fabric you will need for your curtains. Measure a little ways out from the edge of the window on each side to allow room for the curtain rod brackets to be installed. also measure a little bit longer than your window to ensure that your curtain is long enough and doesn’t allow anyone to peep in underneath. It is better to have your bathroom curtains a little too long than a little too short.
Now that you have your measurements you can go shopping for your fabric. When shopping for fabric you can choose anything that suits your fancy, however you should consider how sheer the fabric is. If your bathroom is tucked away and it is difficult to see in the window you can probably get away with using a fairly sheer fabric that still allows light through. If, on the other hand, your bathroom window is right at ground level and easy to see in you’ll probably want to choose something a bit more opaque. Buy enough fabric to cover your measurements plus some extra fabric to compensate for seam allowances. You’ll also need thread to match your fabric.
You should also pick up a curtain rod and brackets that is the right length for your measurements. Many curtain rods can be adjusted so they are the exact right length, so be sure to read the measurements on the package and see if it is long enough.
To get started, you will need to cut your fabric to the right size for the bathroom window. Cut a rectangle of fabric 4″ wider than your window measurements and 5″ longer than your measurements, and then cut the fabric directly down the middle to create two separate curtain panels.
Start by hemming the side edges of the curtain panels (not the top or bottom). On each edge, fold the fabric over 1/2″ and press a crease, then fold it over another 1/2″ and press another crease. Stitch the edge with your sewing machine or with a needle and thread to complete the hem. Be sure to hem all four sides of the curtains as evenly as possible so they match.
Next, you’ll need to create the pocket for the curtain rod to slide through. Start by folding the top of each curtain panel down 1.5″ and pressing a crease, then folding them another 1.5″ and pressing another crease. Stitch along the bottom edge of the folded material leaving a pocket where the curtain rod can slide through.
Finally, you need to finish the bottom of the curtains. To do this, first fold the fabric on the bottom of the curtain panels up 1/2″ and press it, then fold it another 1.5″ and press it again. Stitch along the top edge of the fold to hold the fabric in place and create the bottom hem. Now all you need to do is put your bathroom curtains on the rod and hang them in your window.
