Look How Domestic My Wife Is

Sherry was the mastermind and the hands-on executor of our latest project: DIY curtains for the bedroom. I mostly watched the baby, approved comments, and provided moral support while she handled the heavy lifting. I’m writing this mostly to brag about her impressive ironing and curtain-making skills.

We started by cutting 12.5 yards of an on-sale yellowy-green fabric into panels for two bedroom windows and one closet curtain. The fabric bolt was about 61″ wide, so we left the panels the same width. That gave us five panels approximately 90″ long by 61″ wide — two panels per window and one for the closet — which works well for our 39″ windows without making the fabric feel strained.

Cutting was straightforward. The living room rug made a great guide for keeping cuts straight and corners square, and the long rug allowed us to measure and cut five 90″ panels efficiently. We ended up with only a small leftover scrap — tight planning meant we didn’t buy more yardage than necessary.

Hemming with No-Sew Hem Tape

Hemming all four edges of five long panels is tedious, but Sherry’s favorite trick made it much easier: heavy-duty no-sew hem tape. The process is simple — iron, peel, fold, iron again — and it delivers a clean, finished edge without sewing. It took a while, but the result was worth the effort.

While she ironed, Clara and I provided company from the kitchen — singing, approving blog comments, and snacking. It was a full-family effort, punctuated by a rare moment when Sherry’s hair was down and she wasn’t wearing an apron.

Installing Rods and Clips

After hemming, we clipped the panels to ring clips and hung three curtain rods. We prefer ring clips because they simplify installation — no grommets or sleeves — and they’re kid-safe: if a little one were to pull or swing on the fabric, the clip will release the fabric so the rod and rings stay mounted. We picked oil-rubbed bronze rods and matching clips for a clean, slightly dramatic look that pairs well with our wood furnishings.

We hung the curtains higher and wider than the window opening to give the room more height and presence — the classic “high & wide” approach. This makes the windows feel larger and the whole room more polished. To get the perfect length, clip the panels to the rod and move the rod around on the wall until the panels just graze the floor or pool as you prefer. Then mark and install the brackets.

Closet Curtain Instead of a Door

We used one panel as a soft closet curtain in place of a bi-fold door. It sits neatly pulled to the side most of the time, but can be closed for privacy or to hide clutter. The rod is mounted high enough to be hidden from view when the curtain is open, and wide enough to allow the panel to clear the opening completely when desired.

There’s a light inside the closet, and Sherry loves imagining Clara staging puppet shows or other imaginative play in there as she grows.

Color and Styling

We’re pleased with the color choice: a yellowy-green that highlights the golden-green tones in the bedding without matching it exactly. After several days of fabric hunting, this shade felt fresh and complementary against our wall color and bedding. The curtains also work nicely with our new pillows and help inject that golden-green accent into the room. From here we’ll layer in other colors and textures — possibly eggplant, navy, or charcoal — to build depth and interest.

Progress and Behind the Scenes

This room is still a work in progress — we’re missing nightstands, lamps, and wall art — but it’s come a long way in a few weeks. Comparing the current look to photos from right after we moved in, the difference is striking. A final funny note: Burger, our chihuahua, sometimes refuses to get out of bed and happily hides under the duvet while we shoot photos. He’s a diva, but he’s our diva.

All in all, this curtain project was rewarding and left us eager to tackle more rooms. We’re planning bolder, patterned textiles next — no more defaulting to plain white panels everywhere. Fabric store adventures, here we come.

Psst — Burger enjoyed his moment of fame; he was quite content hiding under the duvet during the photoshoot.