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Furniture with Curtains and Shades

If you've got a cabinet that needs a cover-up, roller shades and curtains can provide a quick fix. For a streamlined, modern look, use a flat roller shade on a media cabinet or shelf. For a more traditional look, cafe curtains will do the trick...

 
 

Click through the links below for step-by-step DIY projects and ideas:

1 Bookcase Makeover: From Better Homes & Gardens
2 Shade by Greatboys: Hides your media equipment, but lets the signals through
3 Shelf Roller Shade from Martha Stewart: Cover up a single shelf
4 Cabinet Curtains: Also from Martha
5 Countertop Curtain: Hide the mess with an under-counter curtain


Tags

inspiration, window coverings, DIY

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Comments (11)

You know, I personally do not like the look of curtains and shades on indoor items, especially on bookcases. Perhaps on a wall, they would be pretty, but no thanks else wise.

Laura
http://www.grafxnerd.net

posted by grafxnerd on June 5th 2009 at 10:42am
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The roller curtain on the bookcase seems seems pretty useless, but the quaint little curtains on the kitchen armoire is a nice way to keep the dishes dustfree, which has always bothered me about the idea of open kitchen shelving.

posted by teeze on June 5th 2009 at 11:18am
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I completely understand the curtains hiding the unmentionables beneath a kitchen sink, but overall, I would have to agree with the above comments. If anything, I'll accept curtains hanging in entrance ways or as replacements for closet doors.

posted by sassifrass on June 5th 2009 at 11:46am
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This is just odd-looking. If I wanted closed shelving, I'd go with classic glass-front doors. Though I'll admit that I do like the look of pretty curtains used beneath vintage sinks or vanity tables.

posted by slowdown on June 5th 2009 at 11:51am
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I once used pieces of bamboo rollup blind on the bottom of a media cabinet that was a bit messy. The bamboo looked fine with the wooden shelves (about the same color) and was easier to DIY than actual doors. (Cheaper, too.)

But I don't think I'd want to use fabric blinds -- they would not hold up to frequent use and would probably quickly curl at the edges and look tacky. (In windows, they are open more than shut, and when shut, usually you are asleep or entertaining and don't care. Plus you often have curtains covering those edges. For shelving the opposite would be true.)

posted by SherryBinNH on June 5th 2009 at 12:05pm
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I like this idea, though the second pic just looks like a cheap metal blind stuck on a cabinet.

posted by heather77 on June 5th 2009 at 12:59pm
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I just wanted to comment for Austinites that there is a 50% off sale going on in Austin for Furniture in the Raw on the their 7718 Burnet Store. Get there as soon as possible because good stuff if selling out.

posted by AustinSarah on June 5th 2009 at 2:14pm
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I just did this for my bathroom hutch! And here I thought I was all clever and unique!

I have a SMALL bathroom in my apartment. We have no storage at all for our personal items, they are all stored out in the open on shelving above the toilet. No matter how you organize your personals, it will be ugly and cluttered, and sometimes embarassing, to have guests use your toilet.

What I did was install a small curtain rod on the top shelf, and got matching shower curtains. One for the actual shower, the other I cut to fit the shelving. It looks pretty nice if you ask me, and now when i have guests over, I can hide my stuff!

posted by Cheezball on June 5th 2009 at 2:59pm
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I think if you had to use a shelf for storage, as opposed to decor items, a shade would be a great way to make it look nicer. For a kids room or pantry storage, you could paint something fun on the shade.

posted by baileyb on June 5th 2009 at 7:20pm
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The mini blind on the cabinet is fascinating. I"ll have to ask my therapist why that appeals to me.

posted by quiltmaster on June 5th 2009 at 10:21pm
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I find it very stylish!

posted by MSMILLA914 on June 10th 2009 at 8:33pm
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