How To Hack Ready Made Ikea Curtains To Look Like Expensive Custom Drapes

Looking for how to hack ready made Ikea curtains to look like expensive custom drapes? Check out this tutorial for everything you need to know!

How To Hack Ready Made Ikea Curtains

Are you looking to change out your current window treatments but don’t want to spend a fortune?

I have another DIY project for you!

This project was from the One Room Challenge I did last year.

The cost of custom window treatments can be very high so making your own will definitely save you money.

For the Airbnb project, we did not want to invest a ton of money in the room so we had to get creative.

It was much more about the look and feel and the images on the Airbnb site than it was about being high-end.

The plan was to go neutral and simple!

Here is what the panels from Ikea looked like once complete.

The top treatment is hidden back tabs with a contrast border trim down the side of the panels.

Now for the instructions for this DIY project!

How To Hack Ready Made Ikea Curtains Materials

We are going to be making two sets of drapery panels for this project. The base panels are the LENDA curtains shown below which have exposed tabs. My walls in this room are 9’ so I needed the longer panel length. Two unlined 55×118” panels cost only $34.99! Amazing!!

MATERIALS

• Thread to match the fabric
• Straight pins
• Scissors
• Wonder Under heat and bond material
• Seam Ripper
• Solid Grosgrain Ribbon
• Sewing Machine
• Rotary Cutter 
• OLFA 24″ x 36″ Double-Sided, Self-Healing Rotary Mat
• Olfa Frosted Advantage 6″ x 24″ Quilting Ruler

Click the image below for product details

How To Hack Ready Made Ikea Curtains Instructions:

To create an elevated look I changed the top treatment to hidden tabs instead of exposed tabs.

Exposed tabs are shown here.

Step 1

1. To begin first press the tabs back and then iron them at the fold line pushing them slightly towards the backside.

Pro Tip: Using tape I placed a guideline on my sewing machine the distance from the top edge of the panels down to where I’d be sewing. This helped keep the stitch line even as I sewed across.

Step 2

2. Hang the panels on the drapery rod. I placed the rod high about an inch down from the ceiling to carry the eye up and show off the 9’ ceiling height.

I personally hem drapes the same way I hem a dress. I’m sure the professionals have a better method which is why for client projects I will leave the window treatments to the workroom! Once the panels were up on the rod I pinned across the bottom the length so the hem just grazed the floor. I turned it back, pressed a 1/2 clean finished edge, and hemmed the panels up 3 1/2” up from the bottom edge.

Side Note: Keep in mind that natural linen drapes make grow after being hung for some time. What this means is you may hem the length perfectly as I did and then a few months later they make be puddling at the floor. I have chosen to accept this fact but you may want to break out the seam ripper and rehem the drapes. To each his own here!

Step 3

3. Next, add the grosgrain ribbon border at the sides of the panels.

To attach the ribbon I used Wonder Under heat and bond material instead of sewing the ribbon to the panels. This is much easier to control especially for the average sewer.

Step 4

4. Cut the width of the heat and bond to about 30” and then cut strips just under 1 1/4” wide which is the width of the ribbon.

Step 5

5. Iron the strips of heat and bond onto the ribbon and then peel the backing off.

Next press the ribbon to the panels using the side stitch lines as a guide. Place the ribbon just over the edge of the stitch line.

Step 6

6. Cut the ribbon and burn the ends with a lighter to seal the polyester edge. Press down at the backside of the panels as shown.

This is how the drapes with the ribbon attached will look once complete.

This is an easy project that will really elevate the look of your space for super cheap.

Custom window treatments are typically lined and interlined but for panels that are for show, these definitely will do the trick!

Here is a last look at the completed room!

Product Link Details:

Let me know if you tackle this project and how it turns out in the blog comments. I would LOVE to hear about your experience!!

I hope you had a Happy Monday full of Unicorns and Rainbows!

Stay healthy and well.

xo Nicole

Blog posts of the ORC Airbnb can be found here:

Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 | Week 5 | Week 6

For more shoppable designs check these out from my Like To Know It page.

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