How To Turn Your Bed Sheets Into Gorgeous Curtains

Even short curtains contain a lot of fabric, making them costly to buy and install. If you're buying custom curtains of the perfect length and made of luxury fabrics, expect a bit of sticker shock. There is an alternative: making them yourself from bed sheets. This option is cheap and surprisingly easy — simply cut the sheets to size, hem the edges, and hang them in place. 

Bed sheets make attractive curtains because they come in relatively standardized sizes, so you know what to expect, length and width-wise, and there's an endless selection of colors and patterns. Assuming you already have a sewing machine, there are a few things to do before you thread that needle. First, you need to decide how you want to hang your curtains. For this method, a wood or metal curtain rod is the most practical option. Next, you'll need to measure your window vertically and horizontally. Depending on preference, your curtains can cover or reveal the window frame, so keep that in mind when measuring.

Curtains are undeniably practical — that's why they've been used in homes for centuries. We close them to dim a room at night, they help keep the house warm during the cold winter months, and they provide privacy during the day. Window dressings can also make or break a room decor-wise. Color, pattern, fabric choice, length, price... getting each aspect just right matters. 

Consider decor trends and window dressing best practices when selecting bed sheets for curtains. Generally, heavier fabrics hang better, block more light, and provide more privacy. Colors should complement or dramatically contrast your existing decor — there's no in-between since, often, curtains are the focus of your decor. If you're undecided whether you want a pattern, go plain or choose stripes. "Every designer I know swears that stripes are the most 'neutral' of patterns," says Rachel Barrett, Country Living's editor-in-chief, via Good Morning America.

If you don't have any spare bed sheets at home, it's time to go shopping. Check the packaging to see what size the bed sheets are and match them to your window measurements with a little to spare. If you're on a budget, shop at local thrift stores and yard sales or peruse buy nothing groups on Facebook. Once you've settled on a bed sheet, match your sewing thread color and curtain accessories to it.

Before you start sewing, iron the creases out of your bed sheets and lay them flat. Mark out the measurements you took earlier on the back of the fabric with sewing chalk. Use fabric scissors to cut out the curtain body. Serge the raw edges or run a zig-zag stitch around them. Hem all sides of the curtains to between 3 and 4 inches, then find the top of your curtains and sew a wide double-fold hem that's open at both ends. You want to create a rod pocket with enough space to thread your curtain rod through.

You can also make bed sheet curtains without a sewing machine, you only need a pair of fabric scissors. Choose a set of bed sheets in a size that fits your window. Find the wide hems at the top of each sheet and cut them open on each end. Thread the curtain rod through the holes, and voila! Your new curtains are ready to hang.