How To...Turn Drop Cloths into Curtains
Then we came across "6 Ways of Looking at a Drop Cloth" in the Fall issue of Blueprint, one of the most down-to-earth, unperfect glimpses into the Blueprint "lifestyle" (and one of the reasons we'll continue to check out this mag). Like Maxwell's 2004 post on How To Hang Curtains Across Any Space, our project followed the same guidelines and basic materials - we just added drop cloths from Home Depot into the mix for a floor-to-ceiling room transformation and closet concealing effect:
Goal: To conceal a closet that previously had nonfunctioning, unattractive bi-fold doors; Conceal the small laundry closet right next to it as well, which still had bi-fold doors (no need to look at something we don't like). This would be a wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling curtain.
Materials:
- Three 5'6" x 8'9" drop cloths ($9.97 each at Home Depot)
- Grommet kit (with easy to follow instructions on adding grommets to drop cloths)
- 1/16" thick wire cable with ferrules and stops
- Turnbuckle
- Hooks/eyes
- Toggle bolts
Our method was essentially the same as Maxwell's. It's best to anchor your hardware into studs, but if your walls are hollow, make sure to have the appropriate anchors to handle the weight of the cable/curtain. Also, it is helpful to a have second set of hands when hanging the curtains, threading the cable, and tightening the cable (any slack should get taken in by the turnbuckle).
Before tackling this, we threw the drop cloths in the dryer, but those things still have crazy wrinkles. We're hoping a steamer might help...
Any similar projects lurking out there or other helpful instructions??
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after moving to a house with very minimal closet space, i bought an ikea wardrobe, but i didn't want to shell out the $400+ for the sliding glass doors, so instead i bought an inexpensive curtain wire system also from ikea (see my name for the link). i plan to buy 2 twin sheets for the curtains, either plain white or something to go with our bedding. i haven't set them up yet, but i'm hoping that the wire stays taught enough...
I saw that same article about the drop clothes, and thought it was ingenious. They're relatively inexpensive, but very hardy. I was just thinking last night that you can even paint a pattern on a dropcloth to dress it up.
Heather:
I have white canvas cotton drapes in my bedroom and if I put them in the dryer they wrinkle like crazy. Ironing/steaming them is an awful job.
I have started taking them straight from the washer and putting them right up. I pull them into place a bit while hanging them but I really just let them dry in place - they come out wrinkle-free every time. I think the weight of the fabric just pulls out any potential wrinkles...
Dropcloths also make a fantastic liner for blockout curtains. Got an East-facing window in the bedroom and want to 86 the sun in the morn... Dropcloth in back, fancy fabric in front and badda-bing no more sun...
Every time I have attemped to use wire based curtain rods I have had the wire droop after a while and eventually pop out of the wall. A good alternative is to use a ceiling mounted track system like they use in hospitals. The theory is that a minimal metal track gets mounted to the ceiling and slides hook into the track and support the curtain. Ikea has an inexpensive system that is available in aluminum; if you use it coat the inside of the track and the glides with a little bit of Pam or olive oile to help it slide freely. Otherwise, Kirsch drapery rod company makes a higher end version that is in use at hospitals. Kirsch also sells beaded drops so you can hang a standard length shower curtain liner form the ceiling and get rid of the pesky bar. Click on the link to see an image of the curtain over and under configuration taht I did for a client. Either system enables you to hang a curtain from them by simply installing grommets along the top of the curtain. If you install them about an inch from the top the rod andglides will be completely hidden from view.
Oh... yeah Ironing or steaming the cotton duck won't work well as it's not high enough quality...
one thing that you can do is to return to the hardware store and buy a length of chain (smaller chain- not that rambo stuff) the width of the curtain. Then sew the chain into the hem of bottom of the curtain (like theatre curtains)... this will give the curtain weight and keep the lines nice and vertical. You can now have the curtain end before the floor and it won't flap around in the breeze... It will also help when you hang it to dry...just be sure to either buy stainless steel chain or to leave an opening so you can remove the chain prior to washing...
thanks to you all for the de-wrinkling advice!
Back in the early 90s I used cloth dropcloths on a used loveseat. When my mother saw it, with the measurements stamped on it right out of the packaging she asked me it the print would ever wash out and I said "god, I hope not!" I loved the raw, industrial look of it. And it lasted a very long time (print intact).
You might try a product called something like Wrinkle Release (I think that's the name). It works well on linen, but not so good on jersey. You spray it on and smooth, with hands, the wrinkles, and works best if you smooth against a hard surface. Good luck.
I just completed a project that yielded similar looking results, with a cafe rod from Bed Bath and Beyond and very long linen curtains from IKEA, that you hem with a fusable plastic. The ironing was extremely tedious but helped the look enormously. It looks so much better than the closet doors did.
I've also put up the IKEA ceiling system elsewhere, but I wouldn't recommend it if you want to pull the curtain back and forth regularly - it's pretty delicate. Maybe they have more than one system, but the one I installed wouldn't be good for heavy use, or a very heavy fabric. Also, I have found that the clips can jump off of the track, and that would be a pain to correct if you have high ceilings.
I also have a friend who achieved nice results with a tension rod placed just within the frame of the closet.
This is a great idea. I have done a similar project using twin bed sheets. they are the perfect length if you have eight foot high ceiling's and are already hemed and have a rod pocket at the top of the sheet. all you have to do is make a little cut then hang on a rod. it hide's a crazy amount of stuff. great for small space's,it make's my bedroom feel much larger.