The Simple Paint Tip That'll Add Some Extra Flair To Your Curtains

Imagine you've finally chosen the perfect curtains for your space. You've waded through mountains of fabric and found the ones you know will fit seamlessly with your home decor. You get home, hang them up, and ... something feels off. If your drapes need a little pop to help them accent your room's style, grab your go-to fabric paint to spruce them up with everyone's favorite pattern: polka dots.

Polka dots are one of the most popular choices for bringing personality and pizzazz into a room. And thanks to fabric paint's range of colors, durability, and flexibility, you can customize this loved design to make it match your decor. There are a few crucial tips to know before you start painting fabric — like testing the paint on a scrap first to see how it looks — but this trick is a beginner-friendly way to elevate your home's curtains and textiles. 

h, and this simple redesign tip won't break the bank. If you already have curtains, you'll just need to pick up the fabric paint (like this Jacquard Textile Color mix) and applicators (like this NAKLEO 5 Pcs Sponge Stencil Brushes Set). Depending on the materials you choose, this project will cost around $20. If you're DIYing your curtains, expect to pay around $8 a yard for insulated drapery fabric to make blackout curtains to $15 a yard for light linen if you want a sheer design.

Check your paint label to see if the curtains need to be washed beforehand. If you're updating previously-installed fabrics, wash them to make sure they're clean. Then decide your polka dot style. Big polka dots in a color matching your curtains brings a sense of effortless elegance and a touch of personality. Meanwhile, small designs have a more minimalist feel and, depending on size, can blend into the fabric, helping to emphasize its texture. To bring more fun into the room — like a kid's bedroom or playroom — polka dots in rainbow colors are a great choice. Don't forget to decide how you'd like to space out the dots. Spacing them evenly along the fabric will bring in a relaxed, uniform feel, while stacking them closer together feels a little more fun. There are so many different ways to mix and match polka dots to style your curtains, so take a cue from the room.

Then, grab your fabric paint and paintbrushes or applicators, clean curtains, and a piece of cardboard. Lay the cardboard on your work surface below the curtains and start painting. Make sure to allow the fabric paint to fully dry. If your product's label has instructions on how to heat set, follow those. If not, heat your iron to the temperature your fabric can handle. Lay a thin cloth on top of your design, then iron without steam for 3 to 5 minutes. Repeat on the underside of the curtain to set the paint, then hang your curtains and enjoy your beautiful new look.

Polka dots aren't the only pattern that help bring style to your curtains. Swap them out for little triangles, squares, or any other shape. If you're drawing shapes or freehand, it may be worth using a piece of fabric chalk — like Lohas Select Professional Tailors Chalk — first. This way, you can draw your shapes first to make sure they look the way you want before painting.

Want a little glam? Apply thin strips of gold fabric paint to your curtains's edges or even create vertical or horizontal lines to bring a little shimmery texture into your space. If you're looking for an inexpensive change to make your kitchen look more cottagecore, use a flower stencil like 7-by-10-inch Floral Border Paper Stencil by Top Notch from Joann on the curtain's edges to add subtle botanical decor. If you pick a stencil, it may be best to use a small foam roller to get equal paint distribution and clean lines. To really show off a room's color theme, paint the lower third of your curtains a statement color to create your own color block curtains.