Remember when we split four Ikea curtain panels down the middle to make eight for our living room? Those panels were discontinued, but they added such height and pattern that we loved them. If you need a refresher, here are a few photos:
We loved the added height, texture, and pattern, but I’d always thought that layering lightweight sheers behind them would make the whole look softer and airier. I wanted them to feel fuller and more layered, so I kept an eye out for inexpensive sheers that might work.
One day at Ikea I found two ready-made 98″ white panels for $9 and grabbed four packs. They were the right weight—breezy and light—but I didn’t keep the packaging. After comparing textures, I don’t think they were the Vivan panels we’d had before; these were lighter and thinner. Update: we think they’re called Wilma.
First step was washing them to pre-shrink before hemming, so they wouldn’t shorten later. I used the same ring clips I’d used for the original panels to hang them.
After drying, I cut off the tab tops so I could clip the sheers directly to the ring clips. If the panels you find have tab tops, that’s a hint they could be the same. If they have a rod pocket, they probably aren’t.
I hung the sheers on the same rod as the patterned panels, using extra ring clips. To make them move together and remove any gap, I overlapped the patterned panels and the sheers slightly so they clip together. That way, when you pull one, the layers flow as a single unit—handy, even if we rarely move our curtains. Mostly they add softness and scale to a large room.
The two left-most clips on the patterned panel each hold a white sheer clipped behind them. This prevents a gap between layers and makes the curtains function and look cohesive. In a big, open room, adding soft, airy layers helps the space feel more inviting and less cavernous.
I stalled for a while on hemming because other projects cropped up, and a few readers even spotted the unhemmed sheers in other posts. Eventually I hemmed them using heavy-duty iron-on hem tape (Heat N Bond) while they were hanging on the rod. I trimmed about a foot of excess fabric from each panel and left an extra inch so the finished hem just grazes the floor.
Ignore the dust bunnies—let’s zoom out.
The curtains can be hard to see from far away because of the bright light, but the layered effect reads well in person. We’re excited to tackle a large media cabinet build next—probably after the kitchen.
If you’re wondering where the remaining two panels hang, they’re on the living room slider pictured below.
Also, Clara’s little homemade coloring desk has been getting a lot of use—either cooking up pretend meals or going wild with crayons and stickers. It’s fun watching her enjoy small-scale furniture and pretend play.
All in all, I love the layered, breezy look. Doubling up ring hooks on each side of the rod gives a slightly polished feel that I really enjoy. That’s the quick curtain upgrade—aside from taking forever to hem them. What have you been clipping, sewing, or hem-taping lately?