DIY Cafe Curtains Add A Quaint Charm To Any Kitchen

Kitchens are meant to be light and airy. Covering all the windows with dark drapery blocks out the sun, ruining the happy vibe of this culinary-focused room. Cafe curtains are the perfect solution to providing a little privacy without closing the space off. Originating in Vienna, Austria in the 1800s, these half-sheers were designed to guard cafe diners from prying eyes outside without losing sunlight. While you can buy them in many linen stores, styles and sizes are limited compared to traditional draperies. Fortunately, there's a DIY hack to customize the look to your tastes.

Instagram user, pattirobertsdesignco discovered there are plenty of places besides the kitchen to use cafe curtains–like the bathroom she was renovating. Rather than look for short curtains in the measurements she needed, she made her own. To master the project, Patti used iron-on hem tape to create seams on her chosen material, attached clip-on rings, and slid them onto a rod. The outcome was a perfectly fitting bespoke window cover. Check out how to make your own DIY cafe curtain for your kitchen (or bathroom) with no sewing involved.

Before you start forming your cafe curtains, you need a few supplies. Gather together scissors, a package of drape clip rings, like the black hangers from Amazon for 9.99, and iron-on hem like HeatnBond, also available through Amazon for $2.17. Make your budget curtains look expensive with the addition of a fancy rod. You'll also need enough fabric to cover the bottom portion of the window. There's no wrong material for windows, but synthetic ones like polyester are sometimes preferred for durability and ease of cleaning. Once you've got your assorted tools, it's time to handcraft some drapes.

Start by cutting the fabric to fit your windows, leaving 2 inches on each side for the hems. Lay the iron-on tape along this 2 inch section, folding the material over the tape and ironing it. This forms the seam. Next, fold and iron the material where you want pleats to form. Clip your drapery rings to the top and slide your new window cover onto the curtain rod. With a strip covered for privacy and natural light flooding overhead, this is one window decor tip that will make your kitchen brighter. Customize the look by going with printed material, adding tassels, or ditching the hanging rings and leaving an opening in the top hem for the rod to slide directly in. However you tailor the design, you're in for a quaint kitchen view with your new DIY cafe curtains.