Are you looking for a simple solution for the summer sun beating down on your patio? These DIY Patio Curtains from drop cloths may be exactly what you need to add a bit of shade to your outdoor space. Bonus- you can make these curtains with no sewing!
Our back patio faces west and even though it’s covered, the relentless Texas sun bakes our patio between the hours of 2 and 7 pm. The heat makes it impossible to enjoy our patio until the sun dips below the treeline.
We’ve looked into a few shade options, but everything has been out of our budget. We finally decided to give some simple patio curtains made from drop cloths a try.
The curtains have been up for over a month now. I wanted to fix up the porch a bit before trying to get photos and posting about the curtains, but it’s already well into July and before you know it, summer will be over. (Plus my hubby brought home that monster of a baby pool you see in the photo, so I figured it really doesn’t matter now anyway…)
What makes these curtains so great is we bought enough of the drop cloths, so when you pull the curtains open, they are wide enough to reach all the way across the open space between the cedar posts. Blocks every bit of the sun!
DIY Patio Curtains from Drop Cloths
Disclaimer: As I am sure you know, any cotton fabric left bunched up after being rained on, will mold/mildew. Drop cloths are made from cotton. To ensure your curtains will last, be sure to open them so they can air dry after it rains. If you live in a perpetually wet/humid climate, you might want to spring for the special outdoor fabric.
For the curtains I used:
- Six 9 x 12 Canvas Drop Cloths. ( This brand also comes in a 4 x12 and a 12 x 15)
- Metal conduit from for the curtain rod
- Clip Rings to hang the curtains
(Someday, I hope to get real Sunbrella outdoor curtain fabric. At $15.00 per yard with a 12 ft tall and 60 foot wide opening, I don’t even want to calculate how many yards I would need… OK, I calculated it, I would need almost 60 yards, ouch.)
To make the curtains, I didn’t want to spend too much time sewing these in case they were a bust, so we simply folded the top over and used metal clip rings to hang them.
I considered using some inexpensive curtain hanging accessories from Ikea, but we were afraid with only one support in the middle, the curtains would sag. So instead, hubby put together a few metal conduit and brackets from Lowes and spray painted them oil rubbed bronze. They blend right in!
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[email protected] says
My patio cover is not made of wood. It is actually vinyl like. It is a lifetime patio cover, so sturdy, and never needs to be painted. Problem; I can not drill into it to hang a rod
Do you have suggestions for hanging?
Thank you.
Carla
Cindie Webb says
Jamie, do I need to wash or iron the drop cloth before I hang it? Did yours have fold marks on the panels straight out of the package? Please advise. Thank you, Cindie from Denton, TX
Jamie says
I did not, the folds didn’t bother me. If you wash the drop cloth, take into consideration, it will shrink and wrinkle like crazy. I imagine the wrinkles can be ironed out with a lot of pressure and a high heat iron.
Rod says
My wife and I love your idea. We are changing our carport into a outdoor space. Concerning the rings and clips: Have you found that over time, the weight of the drop cloths have caused the rings to bend/warp, and/or the hooks (the ones that connect the rings to the clips) to stretch out/warp? If so, any suggestions on finding similar products that might handle the weight better? My wife suggested that doubling the number of rings/clips would distribute the weight better, and lessen the strain on them.
Your thoughts
Jamie says
Yes, definitely don’t skimp on the # of rings. We’ve since sold this house, but while we lived there, we replaced the curtains once, and the rings we bought held up at least 4 to 5 years.
janet says
I would like to know if they blow a lot in the wind. I had hung sheets last year and they blew in the wind and was coming out of the tie backs, so this year I was going to try something else. Was thinking of a drop cloth. I did not know if you can find the type of material that is on the pergolas that are all framed together that you can buy ready made.
Like your ideas.
Jamie says
they do sway in the wind, (but, we didn’t get much wind, so it was never really an issue.) However they are definitely heavier than a curtain, so they definitely don’t move as much as something lighter weight. On the other hand, since they are so heavy, it is important to spread them out to dry after a heavy rainstorm.
Mary says
I live in Central Texas. Did this on our deck. Works beautifully, looks great but…….we had several days of rain and I did not open them to dry. BIG mistake. They are now covered with mildew. I have tried washing with bleach and borax to no avail. Any ideas ?
Jamie says
I think once they are black from mildew, they cant be restored.
Danny says
Just made a sun curtain for my from porch. Super easy and so happy with the end results. Have Coolarado sunshade on the same porch and the drop cloth is cheaper and better in so many ways
Deborah says
YOU have saved me a fortune!! Our screened porch has hot in the afternoon’s coming thru on the right and nosy neighbors on the left. That is not bearable. We were about to spend almost a $1000 on blinds. I didn’t like the look and sure didn’t like the price. I do, however love this look and the price is Amazing! Thank you so much!! YOU HAVE MADE MY YEAR!
Virginia Storm says
I did something similar for my pool deck/arbor. I took some small chains from Lowes, threaded large silver key rings through the end of the chains, then threaded small diameter PVC pipe through the rings and hung the chains from the cross-tie of the arbor on small hooks. Then I hung heavy curtains I had picked at the local Salvation Army store and viola! Instant privacy/sun protection! I kept the south side closed most of the time for privacy, but the west side was only closed when we were out there, and of course after the rain to make sure they didn’t mold. Worked very well and lasted all season. Next year, got new curtains from Salvation Army and had a whole new look.
Kristy says
I think I’ve just found the solution to my patio problem. Like you, I’d love Sunbrella curtains, but holy moly, they are EXPENSIVE! I have two questions. Are the curtain clips you have sufficient to keep them clipped in high wind? (I live in MT where the wind just howls at times…) And second, did you attach the metal pipe from the top as well as the sides? Is it permanent or can you take the metal pipe down. (I’m considering putting grommets in mine…if it were permanent it would be hard to take the curtains down in the winter). Thanks!!!
Jamie says
The clips have held up very well. We’ve replace the curtains with new drop cloths last year, but are still using the same clips. (We added these curtains in 2012.) I would recommend tying the curtains back in heavy winds as they will whip around. The pipe is permanently attached.
Jocool says
Do you have any cool ideas for weighing them down when it’s windy? I live in Oklahoma, where the wind comes sweeping down the plains, and I wouldn’t want them blowing around while I’m avoiding the volcano sun in July and August. I do love this idea.
Jamie says
I’ve seen people sew in weights, but if I were going to do something to keep them in place, I would add grommets to the bottom and figure out a way to anchor/attach them from the bottom.
Maria says
I’ve tried different outdoor curtains on the deck for years and once put heavy washers in the bottom hems. When the wind blew the curtains (and washers) knocked everything off the patio table, lol! I just tried Jamie’s dropcloth idea and so far so good.
Elna says
Hi, pardon my ignorance, but what is drop cloth?
And has it any seams at the top and bottom?
I live in Pretoria, South Africa
Jamie says
Hi, a drop cloth is a large piece of inexpensive and low quality canvas fabric that painters use to catch paint spills. Here is a link to a drop cloth in the Amazon store: http://amzn.to/1WbBesU
Joani says
I tried this but found that after a rain that they grew mold. What say you?
Jamie says
Yes, definitely- the fabric is a cotton/canvas, so if you don't open them up to dry after getting wet, they will mold.
Jennifer Suggs says
Great post. Thanks for the idea.
Pattilou says
I found this picture while doing a search and thank you! This will work for me and I'm going to Lowes asap! I had a hard time thinking about paying for grommets that I couldn't use because the rod in our cabana doesn't come out. This should be just perfect and the price is right!
Jane Rogers says
This looks great! What kind of clips did you use?
Jamie says
These may or may not be the exact ones, but they are very similar:http://mobile.walmart.com/ip/Mainstays-Clip-Rings-Oil-Rubbed-Bronze/21081337?type=search
Zeromom says
Hi! Wonderful post. I live in Texas too and needed something to help block the Texas sun. I am so going to do this. Thanks so much
twinkietotmom says
Your home is gorgeous! I'm going to have to stalk, er scour, your site now for more pictures! We have some outdoor curtains that I made a few years ago on our back pergola. I had gotten the fabric on sale for a great deal. While it's been great out there, they are starting to show their wear & tear, the FL sun can be pretty brutal. I think I'll have to do just drop cloth curtains soon. I do love the added ties you did with braiding drop cloth strips!
Ctstrands says
Looks nice but doesn't the paint scratch off when you open and shut the curtains?
Jamie says
It has not scratched off 2 years later, though the curtains do not get daily usage. And if it did, I would repaint them.
~Jamie
Jeremy Wonell says
I love this! What are the clips you used? Thanks for sharing. 🙂
Chad Ferguson says
just accomplished this very easy task; they sell the clips in the curtain isle lowes, walmart…i bought 3/4" conduit!
Renee Puzynski says
We did the same thing on are screened in front porch in Florida, but instead of using drop clothes I used shower curtains (green to match my shutters) so I didn't have to worry about fabric being ruined/mold and also used conduit. P.S. I have yet to have to replace any shower curtain in the past 5 yrs.
Jamie says
Shower curtains are smart! I wish they made a 10 ft shower curtain!
Wendy says
Jamie,
I know its been several years now of use…have you had any problems with them? Any mold? I live in Arkansas where if you don't like the weather now just wait a minute! I have a porch on the front of my home that I would love to put these on but I wonder how they will hold up over time. Also any ideas on how to hang them on a metal roof over?
Christy Gutt says
I just moved to Austin and have a nice westward facing back patio. I have spent all morning researching fabrics and curtains – so expensive! I now have drop cloths coming my way via Amazon! So excited! Thanks for sharing this fabulous idea!
redkiss says
How many curtain rings per panel did you use to hang these? Thanks!!!! I love it!!!
Jamie says
We used 9 per panel.
~jamie
srpprcrftr says
Your curtains are so nice, great privacy and getting out of the sun. Hope you don't have excess wind.
We lived in KY where the humidity is 100% in summer. We always had mold on north side of our house, had to spray it down all the time. Every thing mildewed. This was hard for me to learn to live with after coming from dry climate (MT).
Our back deck/door is directly facing west in western CO so it gets super toasty in summer. No cover on deck yet but hopefully we'll get it up this summer. It gets so hot I can't touch the door knob. We also get high winds out here that just about blow us away.
Great project, glad you shared.
nancy says
You are a GENIUS … THANK YOU for sharing this