Ways to Use Curtains on Much More Than Windows

Who says curtains are only for windows? After all, what are curtains but beautiful fabrics we hang to adorn our casements. And just imagine what you could do with matching curtains somewhere else in the room, or maybe contrasting and yet harmonious curtains that will make the ones by the windows look all the more beautiful. To me, using curtains to decorate my windows is nothing but a shortcut to decorating my rooms . Here's a collection of my decorating ideas for using curtains, and I hope you find them as fun as I did.

Curtains in your living room

I like to hang a curtain at my living room window then to sew decorative pillows from an identical curtain. I then place the pillows in parallel pairs on my furniture to achieve a kind of connect-the-dots harmony in my decor. Pillows are easy to sew; simply cut the curtain into squares and hem three sides together. Stuff each pillowcase with an old pillow, then close the forth side by sewing silk ribbons that can be tied in knots.

Curtains in your bedroom

It occurred to me that repeating the same pattern throughout the decorative fabrics of my bedroom would make a stunning statement. So when I looked for window curtains, I looked for identical ones in another color as well'"to use as a bed runner. The result was stunning. The runner (once known as a curtain) covered the bottom one-third of my bed when it was made. And since the curtains were sold in pairs, I was left with extra fabric for sewing matching decorative pillowcases to cover my old pillows.

Curtains in your bathroom

If you have a valance over your bathroom window, you can use an identical valance to create a magazine holder; or if you have a shower curtain, you can use an identical shower curtain for the same idea. Here's how. Start with a wood plaque (found at craft stores). Drill four holes, one in each corner of the plaque. Insert and glue one foot tall wood dowels (1/2 diameter) in each hole. Cut a strip of curtain to a size that can wrap around the dowels and enclose them. Hem the fabric all around, then wrap around the dowels and finish by sewing Velcro to the fabric end to keep it stuck in place. You can always take the fabric off if it gets dirty, wash it, then wrap it around the magazine holder frame again.

Curtains in your dining room

For my dining room I chose a rich caramel curtain with embroidered dogwood flowers. The fabric was so beautiful, it made a strong dramatic statement. I wanted to create a matching tablecloth for my dining room table, but the same fabric would have been overwhelming. Instead, I searched for a curtain that would look like a distant relative. I stuck to the same thickness of fabric and the same decorative style of embroidered flowers, but I chose an iris purple-blue curtain with a pattern of embroidered blue-bells. I set the curtain at an angle across the table, leaving two opposite table corners bare.

Curtains in your entryway

My entryway has a small window'"a perfect candidate for a sheer purple curtain. I tied the curtain with a knot at the center, which looks very chic. Then I bought a stainless steel tube container to turn into an umbrella stand. I cut a second sheer curtain in half and glued the strips head to head in a vertical line on the container. Then I wrapped each around the container and had them meet in a knot on the other side. To hide the glue side, I just stuck a silk purple ribbon all down the side of the container.

More from this contributor:

Furniture Placement Ideas for a No Cost Living Room Remodel

15 Unique Home Decorating Crafts

10 Dramatic Dining Room Decorating Ideas