HomeGoods Just Convinced Me to Use Living Room Curtain Panels as Table Runners

I never tire of creative repurposing — especially when it comes to home decor. Just a little bit of resourcefulness can give new life to an old item, or make the purchase of something seem even smarter (and more worth the money) in hindsight. I’ve had my moments here with these kinds of ideas, like the time I decided to use a paper towel holder for my scrunchie collection in middle school. Or, more recently, when I used a footed ashtray from the Paris flea to corral guitar picks on my coffee table.  

Sometimes, though, I borrow my tricks from the pros. Chief among them? The event planning and visual merchandising departments at my favorite furniture and decor stores. HomeGoods, in particular, has been high on my list of inspiration lately. I wrote about how the brand used tiered bathroom shelves to serve small bites at a media brunch. And later that same day at dinner, I couldn’t believe the team had another inexpensive table-setting trick up their sleeves: using curtain panels as table runners.

If you’ve ever shopped for a tablecloth or runner around the holidays or for a party you’re hosting, then you know that linen sticker shock is very real. Either because they’re special events-adjacent or because the fabrics can be fine or hand-woven in some cases, a good tablecloth or table runner can set you back close to $100 if not more for larger, longer sizes. 

That’s why I love that the HomeGoods team decided to put sets of $20 and $25 curtain panels to use as runners going down a super-long banquet-style table. To pull off the look you see here, probably a dozen or so panels were used. But if you’re just trying to cover a standard dining table — or two — you probably don’t need more than two packs. That means your table linens total will come in under $50 (if you can find something that goes with whatever cloth or paper napkins you happen to have on hand).

The HomeGoods team was riffing on a “wild” theme with the tiger-patterned drapes-turned-table-linens as pictured above. But you could select just about anything; the stores tend to be stocked with solids, stripes, florals, toiles, and even plaids and ginghams, depending on the season. I loved this green floral that T.J. Maxx currently has online.

For the most coverage, you’d probably think to shop for the longest standard size of panels stocked (likely 96 inches or 108 inches). That’s one way to approach the decision. But I’d argue that it’s probably smarter to go with a size that actually fits the windows in a room of your home. That way, you can use the “runners” as curtains one day (once you’ve washed them, of course). Hemming is always an option, too. 

And there you have it. Another smart idea I’ll be stealing from HomeGoods for my next gathering.