Repurpose A Pillowcase Into A Stylish Curtain To Add Privacy To Your Space

Custom-made curtains don't come cheap. The thought of dropping oh so much on what is essentially just some bolts of pretty fabric makes you really want to listen to that thrifty (and, let's admit it, somewhat lazy) inner voice that insists the best type of curtains for your living room — or anywhere else in your home, for that matter, are ones of the DIY or up-cycled variety. Honestly, that inner you is speaking some truth. Here's how to make what you're imagining happen in real life. Find a pillowcase with a pattern that resonates with your aesthetic tastes, thread some curtain rings with clips over a tension rod that fits your window's width, and attach the curtain to the rings. You've hung a new curtain in literal minutes — not counting the time spent sourcing the materials.

Who does this method work best for? Anyone who needs to add some temporary privacy to their living space without having to use permanent fixtures. Think a college dorm, rented condo, long-term vacation stay, or, for all those #vanlifers out there, a van conversion or RV. Bonus: The double layer of fabric a pillowcase has makes for better light blocking than simply hanging a swatch of material in front of your window. On very tall windows, pillowcase curtains make attractive valances on a budget. Hang them halfway up the window to create much-needed privacy without blocking all the light or at the top to add dimension to net curtains.

Pillowcases range in size from 20 x 26 inches for a standard bed to 20 to 36 inches for a king-sized bed. Measure the width of your window and compare that to the size of the pillowcases you have on hand or want to use. Remember, too, that you can hang more than one pillowcase, and you can also flip the pillowcases vertically to fit a window that's longer than it is wide. If you're not worried about gaps between the curtain and the window frame, you have even more flexibility regarding dimensions.

We love the idea of up-cycling a vintage pillowcase for this DIY. We're talking a case covered in yellow and burnt orange daisies dramatically outlined in black or something Victorian inspired — all dainty lace and pastel embroidery details. Basically, whatever you have in your current collection, discover while thrifting, or dig up at your grandmother's house. Of course, if secondhand finds give you the ick, new pillowcases work just as well. Home Collection polyester pillowcases from Dollar Tree come in four cute and contemporary patterns and are machine washable. And you can't beat that price ($1.25 each)! If you're willing to pay a bit more, Wayfair has a two-set of undeniably bohemian geometric pattern pillowcases in rust orange and black for under $15 on sale. Why not make curtains the focus of your decor?

Lowe's sells Project Source 28 to 48 inch white steel rods with finials for under $10. Need something shorter? A five-pack of EEEkit 11.8 to 19.7 inch white metal closet rods goes for under $12 at Walmart. If you're willing to pay a bit more, you can upgrade to a higher quality tension rod with fancy details, like a black Kenney Twist & Fit 48 to 84 inch decorative rod (just over $25 from Menards) or even an extendable curtain rail (you'll need to screw that in, though). IKEA SYRLIG curtain clips can't be beat for quality, good looks, and price. A pack of 10 costs $9.

Iron the pillowcases, then clip the curtain rings to the shorter side (the side that's stitched closed), and thread the entire thing over the rod or rail. Securly fit the rod and curtain set into your window. You're done! Alternatively, turn the pillowcase inside out, cut off two corners on the same side, turn the pillowcase right way out again, and thread the rod through. Another no-sew option is to use a seam ripper on the two stitched sides of the pillowcase, opening the entire thing up so it's not a single-layer piece of fabric. Make your budget curtains look expensive by gluing some ribbon or lace to the raw edge with sewing glue. Use the curtain ring clips to hang it from the tension rod.