I moved into our house 2.5 years ago and there has been one thing hanging over my head since day 1: our living room curtains.
Our home was the model home for our neighborhood. From what I can gather that meant that it was professionally decorated and that it got some extra features (most of which I wish hadn’t been added). Anyone that’s been around here for a while will remember that our living room has paneled walls. When the home was decorated circa 1979 professional drapery was installed. Truth be told I don’t hate the actual panels. In fact I’m pretty sure that when I replace them it will be with something similar. The problem mainly lies with the hardware.
As you can see in the above photo when we closed on the house the drapery had a very thick valance. Every time I look at photos all I can think of is a big, bushy mustache over the top of our windows. The previous owners had already folded down the top 2-3 inches of the valance, so in their day these valances were the boss for sure.
The panels are on slider rods (can’t think of the technical term right this minute) and are controlled by string/pulleys on one end that you pull to open and close them. We actually love how easy it is to open the windows. After living here for a month or so I decided the valances had to go. The only reason they had lasted that long was because when I first examined them I got totally overwhelmed by the amount of drapery hardware. There were 3 rods on each window with all kinds of corner hardware and supports and I don’t even know what. It was a lot.
The first day I began removing the valances I did get them all off but I was left with a torn apart living room. The panels and their rods were still in tact, but instead of a bushy, white valance there was now a bright white sliding rod. It wasn’t an improvement at all. That was over 2 years ago.
In the past two years I have thought and over thought about what type of rods to put in this room. I have debated finished and rod diameter and single vs double rods. Oddly the curtains themselves seem to be a much smaller issue for myself. The rods tho, I just can’t seem to figure them out.
We do know that we need 3 curtain rods and that we probably want them to all be double rods. We live in a neighborhood and enjoy being able to close the sheers for privacy in the evenings without feeling like we’re totally shutting off from the world. The problem that I continue to run into is that rods are so expensive!
Last year I got so sick of the curtain rod situation I went to hobby lobby and grabbed 3 double rods in a silver tone finish for $25 each. It wasn’t my favorite at all but I figured it HAD to be an improvement. I got the first one up (kind of, totally messed up the middle of it). I didn’t love it but I was trying to JUST GET IT DONE. When Chris came home that evening he, very nicely, told me that the rod looked cheap. Ouch. Well that stunk…because he was right. The room has vaulted ceilings with wood paneled walls and the rods are 3/4 inches of the most basic finish out there.
So that’s where I have been with my living room curtain rods for the past year. I still hate them. They are still mismatched (1 hobby lobby rod installed wrong with 2 half torn down bright white slider rods on either side) and yet I can’t figure out what to do. I know that most normal people would just pick something and move on with their life. I really wish I was one of those people. I have found rods that I like but something is always wrong (I can’t find double rods in the finish/length that I like within my budget).
I’m considering DIY’ing the rods. Has anyone done this? If so what are your best tips? I feel like it shouldn’t be that hard but a lot of the DIY’s I’ve seen online look cheap or unfinished. Thoughts?
Leave a Reply