DIY Patio Curtains from Drop Cloths (with no sewing)
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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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I REALLY love your patio curtains (and your whole patio actually)! Like how you did the ties! Have a great weekend!
What a great idea…just found you now following
Wow…I think they look great. I love the idea of using dropcloths because of the price and the durability being outdoors. They look great on your porch.
I would love to do something like that on a lower patio deck we have but I don't have any braces or posts. It's just a lower deck leading down from our upper deck. It's so hot there though and curtains would be wonderful.
Nice to meet you from a Tennessean to a Texan. (Tn people and Tx people are so much alike)
Hello Jamie,
I love the look of curtains on the patio, fabulous. I have always wanted some but figure that it would be pricey. Wow, this is such a awesome idea to use drop cloths as curtains. I just pinned it. Thanks for sharing.
Smiles, Paula
PS Nice Work.
First of all…your patio is GORGEOUS!!!! Love the curtains…especially the ties..super creative!
Wow so dramatic and no sew! This turned out spectacular! Come link up to Centerpiece Wednedsay and share your idea with us! This the the centerpiece of your patio for sure !
Karin
Oh, you had me at "no sew". Just have to follow now 🙂 Great job, I love the tie backs you added, super cool.
Those are way cool, I love them! Such a simple idea but they look super fantastic! I'd be thrilled if you want to link this up to my link party that just opened tonight: http://practicallyfunctional.net/2012/07/the-fun-in-functional-link-party-7/
Wow. These look absolutely great! I would love to have a porch that I could curtain off like this.
Thanks for sharing on Show and Tell Wednesday at SNAP!
xoxo, Tauni
It's lovely! It looks so good! Great job! No sew is my kind of sewing! haha.. We'd love it if you'd share this at our Home is Where the Heart is! http://www.homesteadsimple.com/home-is-where-the-heart-is-link-it-up-wednesdays-1/
and any other posts you'd like to share that have to do with homesteading and homemaking!
I love it! I've been wanting to add curtains to our porch and was just thinking about drop cloths the other day. Yours look so nice- I'm definitely trying this first!!! Thanks for linking up at My Girlish Whims. 🙂
Hello! What a great idea for patio curtains! I'm stopping by to let you know I've nominated you for The Versatile Blogger Award. You can find more information at http://bit.ly/MimOXV. Congratulations!
These look great! I never would have known that they were made from drop cloths. I was looking for a similar solution for my sunroom, so I'll have to give this a try! How did you attach the hooks to the curtains?
They look Marvelous! You really did a beautiful job on something that could have cost you a small fortune.They look like an add in a Pottery Barn mag!
Prewash all drop cloths before doing anything else! They notoriously shrink in unpredictable directions, and it saves you grief when they get wet and dry on your patio.
You have sun ?
What is sun ?
Your patio is bigger than my whole house !!
good 'ole UK !!
Oh my goodness!!! This is AMAZING!!!!! You're a GENIUS!!! Really!! You are! It looks FABULOUS!! Can you tell I'm excited?! I'm SOOO going to try this!!
Thanks so much for sharing this at The DIY Dreamer.. From Dream To Reality! 🙂 xoxo
Absolutely amazing! They look like something out of a magazine. I'm so jealous of your backyard. Thanks so much for sharing at Whimsy Wednesdays.
You are super clever. They look amazing and I'm sure they are super functional. Thanks for sharing at DIYByDesign.
I can attest to the relentless texas sun! Our patio is south facing– I'd love to have something like this! Do you think they would work for indoors? How is the texture?
I LOVE them!! I have been thinking about using these in my boys' bedroom because of their nuetral color, size, and price. Great idea to use them in such a big area – you probably would have spent an arm and leg otherwise!