Unique Window Treatment Ideas

Unique Fabrics

Whether you are working on a tight budget or just want a distinctive look, think about some unconventional fabrics when planning your window design. Two economical sources of beautiful textiles include fabric shower curtains and bed linens. Shower curtains give you a lot of fabric for the price, but they are typically too short for use as panels. Add a contrasting fabric at the top or bottom to make up the difference and dress up the design. Bed linens are another terrific source of affordable fabric, so think about sheets, pillow cases, bed skirts, and shams as potential material for window treatments. For a cozy look in a bathroom or kitchen window, make use of hand towels in terry cloth or cotton for a tasteful topper.

Dining room linens are also prime candidates for unique window treatment ideas. Turn cloth napkins into a multi-point valance for a fresh, casual feeling. Top treatments can even be made from doilies or placemats for a fanciful touch. Lace or embroidered doilies are especially appropriate for a Victorian style room or cottage design. Placemats made with grasscloth or woven materials have rich texture that will add visual interest. A valance or soft cornice an also be made from table runners which often feature ornamental fabrics with a reasonable price tag. For a big piece of inexpensive fabric, look for table cloths in a variety of sizes to be used as window scarves or panels.

Using Common Household Goodies

Unique window treatment ideas can be easily inspired by clothing items from your closet or local thrift store. Use cut-up denim jeans or jackets as the basis for a whimsical window treatment in an informal family room or child’s bedroom. Buy genuine leather coats at yard sales, cut into random shapes, and then staple the expensive looking leather pieces to a cornice board. This masculine design is right at home in a den, home study, library, or game room.

When decorating a baby room, consider hanging dresses or jumpsuits across the window as an adorable topper idea. Use decorative clothing hangers and interesting knobs to make the most of the tiny outfits.

For an alternative to fabric, try something simple and imaginative. Leave a kitchen window bare and line the sill with colorful glass bottles or an herb garden. Use a folding screen in a living room or bedroom to provide privacy while adding a lot of design punch. For a quirky window design that lets sunlight shine through, mount a beaded curtain inside the window casing or make panels out of colorful, silky ribbons.

Unique Hardware

The hardware used for unique window treatment ideas can come from some unexpected sources. For a sports themed room, hang tab-top to tie-top panels from a baseball bat, golf club, hockey stick, or pool cue. For a back to nature design, use a twig or branch from the yard as a curtain rod. A leafy or flowering branch from a magnolia or evergreen tree will look interesting without any fabric. Grapevines and pine cones can also turn a drab window into a rustically beautiful focal point.

For a classy touch, use antique door knobs or attractive cabinet hardware as pegs for hanging a valance or sheer panels. Robe or towel hooks are another innovative way to hang up fabric across a window pane without breaking the bank. To complement an industrial room design, look to your local hardware store for endless ideas. Make a cornice board out of corrugated steel or craft curtain rods out of copper tubing. You can even spray paint or upholster PVC pipes and fittings for a custom shaped window treatment.