Home & Lifestyle

Easy DIY Curtain Rods: How to Make a DIY Curtain Rod at Home

Written by MasterClass

Last updated: Aug 12, 2021 • 4 min read

Whether you’re doing a makeover of your living room, dining room, or kitchen, making DIY curtain rods is an inexpensive and quick way to customize your home decor. This guide will teach you how to make your own inexpensive curtain rods at home.

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What Are Curtain Rods?

A curtain rod is the rod or bar above a window that is used to hang, open, and close window treatments. They typically have two finials at either end of the rod to prevent the curtains from sliding off. Making a DIY curtain rod can save you money and allow you to customize the accents to suit your decor. If you have an extra-long window, you may need to make your own curtain rod. DIY curtain rods can be made from a number of materials, including wooden dowels, electrical conduit, PVC pipe, and copper pipe.

What Materials Do You Need to Make a DIY Curtain Rod?

You can make a DIY curtain rod with a few inexpensive materials from the hardware store and some common tools you likely have around your house.

  • Piping: To make your curtain rod, you will need a piece of piping which can be PVC, copper pipe, electrical conduit, wooden dowels, or any other lightweight pipe.
  • Pipe cutter: You will need a pipe cutter to cut your pipe if you do not get it pre-cut at the hardware store.
  • Spray paint: You will need spray paint to paint your piping the color you want.
  • Finials: You will need hardware to use as finials, which are decorative pieces of hardware to attach to the end of your curtain rod. You can even make your own DIY finials from old drawer or door knobs.
  • Rod brackets and screws: You will need rod brackets and screws to fasten your rod hardware into the wall.
  • Curtain hooks: You will also need curtain hooks or rings, grommets, or hangers to attach your curtain to the rod.
  • Household tools: You will need a tape measure to measure the dimensions of your window, and a drill or screwdriver to fasten your brackets into the wall. f you are making a wooden curtain rod, consider using sandpaper.

How to Make a DIY Curtain Rod

If you just purchased new curtains or made your own DIY curtains at home, you’ll need the right curtain rod to hang them from. Here is a quick step-by-step tutorial that you can follow to make your own DIY curtain rods.

  1. 1. Measure your window. Use your tape measure to find out the width of your window, from one side to the other. This will determine how long you want your pipe to be. Consider adding a few inches to either side of your measurement to give yourself some extra room to gather your curtains at the sides of your window.
  2. 2. Cut your pipe. Choose a material for your curtain rod that best suits your needs. Cut your pipe to length using a pipe cutter or saw, depending on your chosen material. If you’re using wood to make your curtain rods, sand the ends down.
  3. 3. Paint the rod. Paint your rod your desired color with the proper spray paint for your material. Consider priming your rod with a pre-paint spray paint to help set your final layer of spray paint. Prop your rod up diagonally against a wall to allow it to dry without the paint rubbing off.
  4. 4. Paint your hardware. If your curtain rod brackets do not match the color of your curtain rod, spray paint them. Allow them to dry.
  5. 5. Attach your brackets to the wall. Mark where you want to attach your curtain brackets to the wall, making sure that it will be level. Lay a drop cloth to keep the floor beneath your window clean. Screw your brackets to the wall with a drill.
  6. 6. Attach your curtain rings to the rod. Slide your curtain rings or hangers onto your curtain rod once it is dry. Check to make sure the number of rings you have matches the ring slots or hooks in your curtain.
  7. 7. Attach your finials to the rod. Now that your curtain rings are in place, attach the curtain rod finials to the end of the curtain rod. You may need to use some electrical tape around the ends of the curtain rod to ensure that the finials fit.
  8. 8. Attach your curtain and place your rod on the wall. Fasten your curtain to the rod, and set your rod into the brackets.

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