• Blog
  • Home
  • How to Start a Blog
  • Privacy Policy
    • Facebook
    • Google+
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter

The Shabby Creek Cottage

Hundreds of ideas for creative ways to eat, make & decorate!

  • Chalk Couture SHOP
  • eat
    • Dessert
    • Drink
    • Dinner
    • Side Dishes
  • make
    • crafts…
    • diy projects
    • cleaning and organizing
    • holiday
      • Christmas
      • Easter
      • Halloween
      • 4th of July
      • Valentine’s Day
    • freebies
  • decorate
  • subscribe

how to make your own DIY curtain rods

Curtain rods are so expensive, especially when you think about the fact that it’s just a stick that holds up fabric. Although I’ve paid well over $50 for a set of long rods, honestly I’d much rather make them on my own. For under $20, I made an 11 ft long rod that’s perfect for my living room. And it only took about 10 minutes of hands on time. Saving money and time? Yes, that’s a DIY project I can get behind.

DIY curtain rods

DIY curtain rods

For this project you’ll need a piece of closet rod from the hardware store cut to the length you need the rod (mine was about $10 for 11 ft. – because it’s sold by the foot, they’ll cut it for you – YAY!), plus a pair of wooden finials (I found mine at Hobby Lobby for $3 for the pair.)

 

DIY curtain rods

You’ll also need 2 or 3 of this style hook ($1.99 each at Hobby Lobby.) If your rod is over 6 ft, you’ll need 3 of them to support the extra weight.

As for tools, you’ll also need a drill and a paint sprayer.
curtain rod

To start, use a drill and make a hole in the center of the rod, so your finial can screw into it.

curtain rods

Next, put the finial on part of the way, but not all of the way, so you can paint it easily.

curtain rods tutorial

Next spray it all down with a paint sprayer. You could brush it, but trust me on this – it takes a LONG time. With my HomeRight Finish Max Β <affiliate link alert>Β it took about 45 seconds to paint the first side, then I let it dry and painted the second side in another 45 seconds. Seriously 2 minutes of painting and about 2 minutes of cleaning up the sprayer is WAY better than spending an hour painting a ding dang rod.

Let is thoroughly dry before putting it up.

easy DIY curtain rodsInstall the hooks at the ends and in the middle, with the larger hook on top, slide your rings onto the rod, secure the finials and you’re ready to hang your curtains.

Speaking of curtains, check out my new aqua stripe ones! I’m going to share how to do those soon – so stay on the look out for that one.

Β *Thanks to my friends at HomeRight for partnering with me on this post. All ideas, words & opinions are 100% my own, yo!*

 

ARE YOU A FARMHOUSE FAN?
Get instant access to this free guide to The Best Sources for a Farmhouse Style Home on a Budget!
YOUR NAME:
YOUR EMAIL:
_____________

Filed Under: DIY

About Gina Luker

Gina Luker is a writer, photographer and lover of all things quirky. She's usually found with a drill in one hand and a cocktail in the other while blogging along the way. She's addicted to coffee, polka dots, rock stars, Instagram, and everything aqua.

« easy lamp makeover {aka how to gold leaf anything}
cocktail hour: The Shelby {a Steel Magnolias inspired cocktail} »
become a blogger banner

Comments

  1. andrea says

    May 22, 2014 at 5:12 am

    This is fabulous!!!! You can customize it the exact color…use all kinds of different finials and WHAT SAVINGS…you rock my friend! HUGS!

    Reply
  2. Ann says

    May 22, 2014 at 5:27 am

    This is a great idea. Love the savings and the fact that you can customize the rod. However, although a paint sprayer is great, if you’re on a budget, a $4 can of spray paint would work fine. It comes in many colors and you’d have lots left over for other projects.

    Reply
  3. Dawn says

    May 22, 2014 at 6:44 am

    Looks fabulous and certainly a better price.

    Reply
  4. Cheryl at Snaps of Ginger says

    May 22, 2014 at 8:19 am

    So simple!! I love the curtain you used too. I’m getting ready to change my living room curtains out and I think I have found my new project!

    ~Cheryl
    http://snaps-of-ginger.blogspot.com/

    Reply
  5. Diane says

    May 22, 2014 at 9:09 am

    Thanks for the tutorial….looks great!

    Reply
  6. Marilyn says

    May 22, 2014 at 9:59 am

    Has anyone told you lately that you’re brilliant? If not, consider it done. πŸ™‚

    Reply
  7. Barbara @DIY Home Staging Tips says

    May 22, 2014 at 12:02 pm

    Love the savings. Love the look. I’m posting this to my Facebook Group page to share with my readers. Thank you for a simple, sweet tute.

    Reply
  8. jan says

    May 24, 2014 at 9:29 am

    oh how i love this!!!! i cringe when having to buy curtain rods…..never again πŸ™‚

    Reply
  9. At Rivercrest Cottage says

    May 24, 2014 at 10:07 am

    Great idea. so much sturdier too. never thought of using the hooks to hold the rod, but love the look.

    Reply
  10. Thrift My House says

    May 25, 2014 at 2:45 pm

    I agree! So many better things to spend money on than curtain rods.. Great job!

    Reply
  11. heidi @ a week from thursday says

    June 2, 2014 at 7:11 am

    It looks fantastic! And it’s so much cheaper than a regular curtain rod. I’ll have to put this on my list of home projects.

    Reply
  12. Jan says

    December 11, 2014 at 7:24 pm

    I love this idea, but if if takes an hour to paint by hand versus 2 minutes with the paint sprayer plus 45 minutes to clean it up. I’d rather stick to hand painting.

    Reply
    • Gina Luker says

      December 12, 2014 at 11:03 am

      It cleans up super fast – in under 5 minutes – which is why I love it so much. I was worried too about clean up when I first started using it, but it goes so fast that now I use it all the time.

      Reply
  13. Ashley says

    February 9, 2015 at 9:34 pm

    I love these! What paint finish did you use to spray the curtain rod? It matches the wrought iron hooks perfectly and doesn’t look like wood.

    Reply
    • Gina Luker says

      February 10, 2015 at 9:06 am

      I used eggshell finish and used flat spray paint for the hooks. Thanks for reading!

      Reply
  14. Karen says

    April 15, 2015 at 1:59 pm

    What section of hobby lobby did you find the hooks in?

    Reply
    • Gina Luker says

      June 24, 2015 at 9:38 am

      I find them where the knobs are πŸ™‚

      Reply
  15. Sandy says

    January 8, 2016 at 6:21 pm

    Your website is so great and so helpful. I am just in my first mobile home. It has the wood paneling with the wood looking vinyl I am assuming. When you put up the curtain rods, you have the bead board. Might you know who to secure the brackets for the rods on the paneling. I can find a stud on one side of the window, but on the other side it is at least 10 inches away. Have searched the web and can’t figure it out. My idea might be to put a thin piece of wood right under the bracket, painted same color as wall. Do you think that would work? Thanks so much. Sandy

    Reply
  16. Theresa says

    February 11, 2016 at 7:43 pm

    Love these & perfect timing for me to stumble upon your site. After 3 years without drapes, I have to invest in hardware for 6 Windows. How has the rod paint held up over time with clips sliding across?

    Reply
    • Gina Luker says

      February 17, 2016 at 12:57 pm

      It holds up great! I’ve used them for years now and wouldn’t do it any other way πŸ™‚

      Reply
  17. Maya says

    February 13, 2016 at 8:25 pm

    This might be a stupid question but did you have any trouble fitting the rod in your car after you bought it from the hardware store? I’ve got quite big window to cover and I’m wondering how it’ll be getting the rod home.

    Reply
    • Gina Luker says

      February 17, 2016 at 12:56 pm

      Well I have a truck, but yeah I could see where that might be an issue πŸ™

      Reply
  18. Cathy says

    March 13, 2016 at 8:49 am

    Most hardware stores will cut the poles for you so that it will fit in your car. Otherwise about 8 ft diagonally will fit in the car and have the rest stick out your window.
    Great idea! Where did you get the curtains?

    Reply
    • Eileen Salyards says

      September 5, 2016 at 9:44 am

      Depending on the car, if the back seat has a drop-down cup holder in the center that opens to the trunk, you can slide the rod, or 2×4, etc., through the trunk, through the opening in the back seat, between the front seats and onto the dash. Hang a flag on the end hanging out the trunk. Ask for a free flag at the store.
      If your car can’t do this, see if you can borrow one. Good luck!

      Reply
  19. Kay Buxton says

    February 1, 2018 at 3:07 pm

    Love this, thank you. Plus I’m on a real srick budget to do this. I am going to redo my Mom’s curtains and rod. My concern is the curtains she has a heavy and lined, what kind of hooks would work best? Any idea?

    Thank you!!!!!
    K~

    Reply
  20. Megan says

    February 2, 2018 at 12:33 pm

    Thanks for the tutorial! I see that you have the rod on the top part of those hooks. Do you think I could hang two rods by putting one through the bottom hook also? In order to hang a sheer curtain and a blackout curtain.

    Reply
    • Gina Luker says

      February 5, 2018 at 4:32 pm

      I’ve never tried that Megan but it sounds like it should work. Good luck and let me know how it turns out πŸ™‚

      Reply
  21. Gail says

    February 12, 2019 at 12:41 pm

    Hello,
    After searching on Pinterest for what I was hoping to do, I found your info and bingo…perfect. One quick question….if you are moving drapes back and forth across a painted wooden rod, doesn’t the paint wear off in spots?

    Thanks for taking the time to post this info!

    Reply
    • Gina Luker says

      February 13, 2019 at 9:17 am

      Thanks Gail, glad you found me πŸ™‚ I have not had any problems but worse case you just touch it up from time to time πŸ™‚

      Reply
  22. Rachel says

    July 1, 2019 at 2:52 pm

    I bet you could use drawer pulls on the ends… hmmmm…..

    Reply
    • Gina Luker says

      July 2, 2019 at 11:16 am

      Sure, why not πŸ™‚

      Reply
  23. Linda says

    November 11, 2020 at 9:29 pm

    I looked on Pinterest to find a DIY budget curtain rod. Heavy Duty PVC pipes work as well and come in various widths and 10 foot lengths cheap. They also can be painted. Insert cork and finial and those hooks you recommended. What a bargain. $4.00 for 10 feet by 1 inch!

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Gina Luker

Privacy Policy & Disclosure Statement

Searching For Something?

The Shabby Creek Cottage is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com

[instagram-feed]

Copyright © 2023 · Divine theme by Restored 316

Copyright © 2023 The Shabby Creek Cottage Log in

ARE YOU A FARMHOUSE FAN?
Get instant access to this free guide to The Best Sources for a Farmhouse Style Home on a Budget!
YOUR NAME:
YOUR EMAIL:
_____________