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Easiest dining room curtains ever

How I Hid My Stained Glass Windows – Without Damaging Them!

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These stained glass windows in our dining room were some that I never really loved from the start…

ugly before - wallpaper and stained glass windows

(Please pardon the poor photo – again – this was taken long before a blog was ever on my mind)

…not to mention that wallpaper – but that’s another post altogether. At first I tried to tell myself that the stained glass windows would “grow” on me over time. But they didn’t, and after nine months of looking at them, and especially after the busy wallpaper came down (hallelujah), I knew I had to get rid of them somehow. But not *really* get rid of them, of course. So I decided to try just covering them up using a layer of heavy white card stock and then sewing some heavier-weight flour sack dish towels into makeshift curtains. While far from “perfect” they provided just what I needed, and they provided it on a dime…

Supplies I used to cover my stained glass windows:

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  • Β flour sack towels (2 for each window)
  • Β Removable double sided tape
  • Scissors (to remove the leftover strings from hemming)
  • Straight pins
  • Card stock paper
  • Small tension rods (not shown)

Creating simple curtains from flour sack towels is one of the easiest, cheapest ways to dress your windows!

 

and using Scotch removable double sided tape (Made sure it’s the removable kind!)

Creating simple curtains from flour sack towels is one of the easiest, cheapest ways to dress your windows!

I simply taped them (double thickness) to the frames of the windows.

Here’s one layer on – second layer was added later.

Creating simple curtains from flour sack towels is one of the easiest, cheapest ways to dress your windows!

Yes, I know…definitely NOT a designer trick, it was just an inexpensive solution to the need I had. πŸ˜‰

After taping the pages to the window frames, I pinned and sewed a simple rod pocket – I didn’t even bother to roll the edge over twice since it was already hemmed. Just one roll did the trick (plus I needed the length).

Creating simple curtains from flour sack towels is one of the easiest, cheapest ways to dress your windows!

then I ran tension rods through them, using two towels per window, to provide a little more fullness to the look.

 

Creating simple curtains from flour sack towels is one of the easiest, cheapest ways to dress your windows!

The end result isn’t perfect (who knew that flour sack dish towels weren’t hemmed into *perfectly* straight squares?) ;)but it gives me the white space I wanted, covering up the four season stained glass windows – all while doing no damage to them.

As you can see, again, this isn’t a “perfect” solution because when the light hits just right, you can faintly see the hint of what’s underneath the curtains. However, this doesn’t bother me so I’m leaving it as is for now. πŸ™‚

Creating simple curtains from flour sack towels is one of the easiest, cheapest ways to dress your windows!

Mission accomplished – and now I don’t cringe when I walk into our dining room. Do you have any oddly-shaped smaller windows that just bug you? Maybe some tension rods and flour sack dish towels are just the answer….

Be sure to Pin for later!

Creating simple curtains from flour sack towels is one of the easiest, cheapest ways to dress your windows!

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1915 House, DIY, Home Decor, Simple Sewing

Comments

  1. maria says

    February 21, 2016 at 4:54 pm

    Great idea, love that it is inexpensive and so simple, even i can do it, lol. What about covering the stain glass with white poster board, it is thick enough and bright for a clean finish πŸ™‚
    Loved your blog!

    • 1915house says

      March 1, 2016 at 11:05 pm

      Thank you for stopping by, Maria – happy to have you here. πŸ™‚

  2. Rita says

    February 21, 2016 at 4:54 pm

    Like others said, these are not “real” stained glass. One of the previous owners was a crafter and painted them using “Gallery Glass”. This is not permanent and can be removed and then you will just have plain windows…Plus you’ll have your curtains that you can then open during the day to let the sunshine in. See this link for removal information. http://www.ehow.com/how_5762730_remove-gallery-glass-frost.html

    • 1915house says

      February 21, 2016 at 5:38 pm

      Hi Rita! Thanks for the comment! I would love if my windows were gallery glass! πŸ˜€ The tutorial link you sent seems easy enough, too. Is there a way for me to tell if my windows are gallery glass? They have the raised “lead” on both sides, but maybe gallery glass has that? I would love if I could have clear glass there….

  3. Joanne says

    February 21, 2016 at 12:01 pm

    I am in love with this idea, and so impressed at both the simplicity of the solution, but also the creativity it took to develop this idea. I am the least creative or crafty person alive, but coming to this website, and subscribing to many blogs, I have been given a bit of confidence to try my hand at a few things. Now if only I had the kind of artistic mind that you do, I could get somewhere! Really well done, 1915house!

    • 1915house says

      February 21, 2016 at 3:30 pm

      Joanne, Thank you for stopping by and for taking the time to comment. It means a lot to me. I really and truly believe everyone is creative in their own way. πŸ™‚ Give yourself time to learn about the things you’d like to do and start with small projects that aren’t too overwhelming. Before long, you just may find your new passion! πŸ˜€ Excited to have you with me on this journey of learning and growing. Welcome to my little community here! I hope that 1915 House will be a place where you can come and be inspired. Warmest wishes…

  4. Beth Baker says

    February 21, 2016 at 11:23 am

    I run an all volunteer nonprofit that supplies furniture essentials and soft goods (bedding, towels, curtains, etc.) to women and children leaving homeless and domestic violence shelters and moving into rental apartments. We run on a shoestring budget and are always looking for inexpensive ways to provide these items and your idea is perfect. Thank you for sharing!

    • 1915house says

      February 21, 2016 at 3:33 pm

      Beth, what a wonderful place you run to help support and provide for those who need it the most. I am impressed and thankful for people like you who have a vision to better the world. I’m so glad this post was helpful – hope you’ll visit again soon. Thanks for stopping by and taking the time to comment. I appreciate it.

  5. Bev says

    February 21, 2016 at 9:33 am

    I really like what you did! That was a wonderful idea to use dish towels. They gave the room a nice, comfortable, homey look. Provided privacy, too. I just read some of the unkind responses that people left on Home Talk and was shocked! Please don’t let those unthinking comments hurt your feelings. After all, they don’t live with you, and didn’t have to look at the stained glass windows. Everyone has different tastes, and we do get tired of looking at the same old thing and need a change. Change is a good thing. Otherwise, we’d still be in the Stone Age! (Smile!) Oh, I like the white walls, too. So fresh and clean. Keep sending your ideas to Home Talk. Enjoyed it, Bev

    • 1915house says

      February 21, 2016 at 3:39 pm

      Thank you Bev, for your kind words. I get that everyone has different tastes and I’ll try to just roll with the punches. πŸ˜‰ That’s what happens when you put yourself out there, right? πŸ™‚ I’m sure I’ll submit more ideas to Hometalk. Your kindness makes it a little easier to consider submitting again. πŸ™‚ Blessings to you…

  6. Andrea says

    February 21, 2016 at 7:30 am

    I took out a similar window in my house and turns out it was painted on, not real stained glass. Not my taste and the window was in poor shape anyway, so we had to replace it. But you might be able to scrape those flowers off ( and keep those nice curtains!)

    • 1915house says

      February 21, 2016 at 3:52 pm

      Thanks for the idea, Andrea! Unfortunately (or maybe fortunately, depending on a person’s point of view) πŸ˜‰ the windows have the raised lead on both sides, indicating that they are real and can’t be scraped off. But I didn’t know this until yesterday – lol! So I’ve learned something new. But thank you for letting me know about the possibility of scraping off fake stained glass….I had never heard of such a thing before. And thank you for the kind comment about the curtains. I’m glad you stopped by and took the time to comment. It means a lot to me to have the interaction. Hope to see you here again soon.

  7. Caris says

    February 20, 2016 at 8:47 am

    This turned out great Sarah! I kind of liked the stained glass. But, It would be better suited for a room that is made for flowers. The change you made looks very ‘warm’ and ‘white’ for your home.

    • 1915house says

      February 20, 2016 at 1:55 pm

      Thank you, Caris. πŸ™‚

  8. molly says

    February 19, 2016 at 7:53 pm

    I read this and looked up at my dining room window. πŸ™‚ You have inspired me. I have a small window in my DR that “bugs” me! I might hand-paint (Or maybe batik!) myself a flour sack dishtowel and make a custom curtain!

    • 1915house says

      February 20, 2016 at 1:57 pm

      I bet that would be so cute in your home, Molly! πŸ™‚ I’d love to see your curtains if you decide to make them! πŸ™‚

  9. Denise Bryant says

    February 16, 2016 at 10:58 pm

    Looking forward to the complete tour. Nice job!

    • 1915house says

      February 16, 2016 at 11:23 pm

      Thank you Denise – πŸ™‚

  10. Amy Pancher says

    February 16, 2016 at 1:07 pm

    Very clever, Sarah!!!

    • 1915house says

      February 16, 2016 at 1:18 pm

      Thank you, Amy! Your Mom helped me come up with the idea! πŸ˜€

  11. Ann says

    February 16, 2016 at 9:57 am

    Beautiful!

    • 1915house says

      February 16, 2016 at 11:47 am

      Thank you, Ann! ?

  12. Belinda says

    February 16, 2016 at 8:12 am

    That is so neat and looks great . I see you are crafty as your sweet mother . Can’t wait to your next project. ?

    • 1915house says

      February 16, 2016 at 8:15 am

      Thank you, Aunt Belinda. I think Mom would be proud. And thanks for commenting – fun to have the interaction! πŸ™‚ Love ya!

  13. Heather says

    February 16, 2016 at 7:08 am

    Love the way you solved this design problem, Sarah! The crisp white textiles are a breath of fresh air, and the use of cardstock is very practical…

    • 1915house says

      February 16, 2016 at 7:15 am

      Thank you Heather -now I’ll need to do an updated post on the dining room – the wallpaper is gone and a lot has changed! πŸ™‚ Thanks for visiting and taking the time to comment. <3

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Welcome to 1915 House - where you'll find inspiration and ideas to create a home you love - on a shoestring budget. So come on in! Grab a hot cuppa, find a cozy spot and stay a while. Let's chat all things "home"... Read More…

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