I’ve always believed curtains are the unsung heroes of room makeovers. People often rave about how paint transforms a space (and it really does), but curtains can deliver that same “wow” in different ways. A well-chosen curtain can:
- make a small window appear wider
- draw the eye upward and make ceilings feel taller
- introduce color, pattern, or texture—or stay simple for a breezy look
- add softness to make a room feel cozier
- provide useful function like blocking light and drafts, offering privacy, and absorbing sound
So hi—I’m Sherry, and I love curtains. Here’s the nursery wall before curtains:
And here it is after adding some cheerful apple-green curtains:
The room is still a work in progress—we’re planning a colorful large-scale mobile above the crib and the bare wall opposite the crib still needs furniture and artwork. Back to the curtains: they truly change the feel of the room. This time I tried a pinch-pleat approach with extra-thick hems at the top and bottom to give the panels weight, and I’m a complete fan. It was easy, so here are the details.
For fabric selection, we wanted something joyful and colorful since the walls and built-ins are neutral. Neutral paint and built-ins leave room to add personality through textiles, art, and accessories. We debated bold patterns, dip-dyed looks, or a band at the bottom, but ultimately chose a solid color so the curtains wouldn’t compete with the patterned rug and crib bedding.
We were inspired by different shades of green from a Target box we used for the built-ins and an old stacking tree game—both showed how vibrant apple green paired with a darker kelly tone could look great together.
We visited a local fabric store and JoAnn Fabrics, and fell for a bright apple-green cotton at JoAnn. I bought five and a half yards of 100% cotton (listed as Solid Apple) at $6.99/yd, and used a 50% off coupon so the total was $19.22—making each panel very affordable.
First step at home: pre-wash the fabric to avoid later shrinkage that can leave curtains too short. I folded the fabric lengthwise and cut along the fold to create two 99″ panels. My finished length goal was 88″, allowing for a substantial 5.5″ hem at both top and bottom. I started by making a 1″ hem at each end using hem tape.
I prefer heavy-duty Heat N’ Bond hem tape because it produces straight, neat results without the wobble I sometimes get with a machine. It has also held up well through years of use and washes in kids’ rooms.
After that initial 1″ hem, I folded each end again to create a 4.5″ cuff, giving a clean finished edge. Even on the back of the panel, that extra fold looks tidy and doesn’t take long to do.
I used hem tape to secure the 4.5″ cuffs, then hemmed the sides with a simple 1″ fold to keep the panels wide while finishing the edges. Here’s one panel laid out on the floor, backside up, wrinkles and all.
Next I ironed the panels to smooth wrinkles and tried creating a pinch-pleat look. Rather than clipping rings to the very top edge, I pinched the fabric into ten roughly equal sections and attached each ring clip to the back of the top hem about 2.5″ from the top. Burger was curious about the process.
Here’s a close-up of the back top hem with the ring hooks spaced by eye. It creates a casual, effortless pleat rather than a perfectly uniform one.
John held up the rod while I strung a panel on so I could photograph the back. Once hung with anchors and screws from Home Depot, the front looks like this:
Those pleats add a subtle upgrade over the usual ring-hook look. If you prefer perfectly identical pleats you can adjust the clips from a stepladder, but we liked the relaxed, slightly imperfect look. Either that or we were too lazy to climb a ladder.
Update #1: People have asked whether these are blackout curtains and whether they block light when closed. Each panel is 56″ wide and they can close, but we also have faux wood blinds upstairs that we usually close instead. I might add blackout linings later if this little one prefers total darkness like Clara did.
Update #2: Questions about the chair: it’s a few-years-old find from Joss & Main; the white pouf was also a Joss & Main sale find. The chair used to live in our old kitchen and then our office before moving to the nursery.
The space is starting to feel more like home, and seeing these changes makes the baby-on-the-way feel more real.
I’m telling you—curtains make a big difference. Well, that plus a new floor, fresh paint, built-ins, crown molding, and furniture.
Operation Homemade Mobile is in progress, so I’ll share that soon along with updates for the blank wall across from the crib. Have you ever tried pinch pleats, either sewn or with ring clips? Do they make you feel fancy? Was your dog intensely curious the whole time?
