Princeton Happenings

If you’re like me, you’ve browsed Pinterest and drooled over all the gorgeous designer rooms, only to be frustrated by the price tags that accompany most of the items that make the rooms shine! One of the easiest changes you can make in your apartment that has the biggest impact is your curtains. But curtains are expensive, easily running you $50-200 per window!

An easy solution to this is to make your own. Ok I know a lot of you just tuned out as soon as the picture of a needle and thread popped into your head, but don’t worry, there’s no sewing involved!

I recently made curtains for my living room and including fabric purchased from www.fabric.com, stitchery-witchery (aka hem tape) and curtain clips from Joann Fabrics, my grand total came in under $45!
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<a href=”http://www.flickr.com/photos/94469468@N05/8601113872/” title=”curtains by AngieEm03, on Flickr”><img src=”http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8510/8601113872_7705980105.jpg” width=”500″ height=”361″ alt=”curtains”></a>

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…and up close:

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<a href=”http://www.flickr.com/photos/94469468@N05/8601113902/” title=”curtains 3 by AngieEm03, on Flickr”><img src=”http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8386/8601113902_901c3f1eae.jpg” width=”372″ height=”500″ alt=”curtains 3″></a>

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Not bad, right?
Here’s a great example of how much money this can save you: I LOVE these curtains from Crate & Barrel: http://www.crateandbarrel.com/teramo-curtain-panels/f43025

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<a href=”http://www.flickr.com/photos/94469468@N05/8600015039/” title=”Crate &amp; barrel curtains by AngieEm03, on Flickr”><img src=”http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8097/8600015039_f0d617e9d0.jpg” width=”500″ height=”500″ alt=”Crate &amp; barrel curtains”></a>

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….but the $89 price tag PER PANEL?? Not something I’m willing to commit to! Head on over to my favorite site, www.fabric.com, and what do you find there? This lovely fabric for only $7.48 per yard:

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<a href=”http://www.flickr.com/photos/94469468@N05/8600015055/” title=”premier prints zigzag by AngieEm03, on Flickr”><img src=”http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8532/8600015055_1ca002465d_n.jpg” width=”320″ height=”320″ alt=”premier prints zigzag”></a>

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To make standard 8 ft panels, you’ll need roughly 5 yards of fabric, bringing your curtain total to <strong>just $37.40</strong>! (You can get it even lower than that… always check online for coupons before making your purchase… I got 15% off!)

My favorite no-sew curtain tutorial can be found here:

http://www.younghouselove.com/2010/02/nursery-progress-getting-the-hang-of-it/

(Feel free to get addicted to their blog while you’re at it… you won’t regret it!)

You can do this! I promise the hardest part will be narrowing it down to just one fabric.

Happy Curtain Making!