Next time you go to the hardware store, you might consider adding bedding to your shopping list! Especially if you have a full size bed:
Cotton painter's canvas (or drop cloth) comes in a 6-foot by 9-foot size that makes it perfect for a full size bedskirt without any prep work. On a full bed, it would have an approximately 10-inch overhang on all sides. With its unbleached, nubby cotton appearance, you'll have a chic, au naturel look for only about ten bucks.
MORE DROP CLOTH IDEAS FROM APARTMENT THERAPY:
Image: The Paint Store
Dirty Little Secrets of Tidy Families
Emi & Nathan's Natural History
Good Food to Share 
The Big Book of Small, Cool Spaces 
Apartment Therapy Presents 
The Eight-Step Home Cure 
Sprout Side Table
5 Things Paris Taught Me About Travel
Recipe: Ham, Cheddar & Chive Egg Bakes
Picture of the "after?"
There's no doubt a good reason for the absence of an 'after' photo...
A bedskirt is not a mere rectangle. It typically has split corners (for going around bedposts) and is tailored to 'fit' the bed.
This one would look like... a drop cloth thrown under a mattress. Nice, if that's the look you're going for.
Perhaps the poster meant to say bedspread, instead of bedskirt?
Well, it wouldn't take much to turn a dropcloth into a bedskirt with tailored corners. Try it with a piece of paper.
Look at that hemming on the dropcloth. Perfectly fine for a dropcloth, but do you actually want that thing in your bedroom? Seriously now. There's shabby chic, there's budget decor -- and then there's SLOPPY.
Yes!, drop cloth is great stuff, and I thought I was clever when the client wanted to occupy the space for the weekend. window shades not ready. Quickie, makeshift curtain rod made of wood with nails for straight pins. The drop cloth's color and texture was a hit. Drop cloth, the perfect solution. We went with it into finish.
Come on creative people - don't be so negative - iron some pleats in for the corners. With the right bedding and bedroom aesthetic, it could be a perfect solution.
I am currently using one as the bedskirt to my king-sized bed. Wanted a natural linen look but wasn't willing to spend $$$ to get it. I think it looks great. The corners tuck in easily.
So you say it would work for a king bed? I will try it!
I used one of these for a temporary false ceiling in our mudroom, it's just stapled up and I can just pull a corner down when I need to access the stuff that is stored in the rafters above!
I used one of these for a temporary false ceiling in our mudroom, it's just stapled up and I can just pull a corner down when I need to access the stuff that is stored in the rafters above!
I use dropcloth to cover my ugly (with good bones) sofa. I just decided to get another one or two and dye them so I can change it up a bit. no one ever guesses I'm using inexpensive dropcloth.
Those drop cloths make fabulous curtains too, with very little joining up to do if you have large windows - nearly 50% of the wall space in the living room of my 70's house. Drop cloths drape beautifully also.
I forgot to say, wash them before you start to sew as they will shrink.
Kim @ Yellow Brick Home made an awesome outdoor table cloth with one of these. She painted white stripes on it for a semi-nautical feel. It's just unbleached canvas and it has a great rustic feel to it, if you like that sort of look. I don't get why everyone is being so negative over the suggestion.
it's not too difficult to find a neutral bedskirt on sale for $10...!
I like dropcloths too, and I've used them for all sorts of things, but I don't see how those measurements work out. A standard full-size bed is 54x75 in., and 6x9 ft. is 72x108 in. Tell me how that works out to a 10" drop all the way around.
Just a few minutes ago I was staring at a washed dropcloth draped over a footstool trying to decide whether to have slipcovers made for two wingbacks. Funny to see this first thing on AT this evening. I have read that dropcloths wear like iron. While painting my dining room last month I was admiring the texture of the dropcloth covering the table and the floors.
Dropcloths come in different fabrics/colors/textures. The one that I like best has a white/grey earthy/flax texture. I would love to use linen, but the heavier grade is too pricey for me right now. Anyone else use dropcloths for slipcovers? Did the slubby texture become too prominent...too enticing to kids who like to pick at things?
I found this site to be inspirational too: http://missmustardseed.blogspot.com/2010/07/more-on-drop-cloths.html
I've used dropcloths for tailored slipcovers and drapes, among many other things. They're great, but they're just unbleached cotton twill.
If you can find the fabric by the yard instead, just buy the whole bolt and haggle down the price. It will be easier to work with. There can be a lot of waste if your project needs the dropcloths to be on-grain and it's a pain to take them apart and rehem them. Been there ...
Thanks Luna. I see your point.