How to make pipe curtain rods with sheet curtains – plus video
Hey everyone! Remember my photo studio in part 1?
Here’s the promised tutorial on how to make pipe curtain rods with sheet curtains – plus video!
If you love industrial with a dash of beach, you’ll love this look. These pipe rod cheap sheet curtains are so easy to make, and help to diffuse the sunlight in a bright room beautifully.
These pipe curtain rods with sheet curtains happen to be in my photo studio but if you love natural light in any room without the harsh hit of direct sun, these sheet curtains will work!
Here’s how I made the pipe curtain rods and how I used sheets as price efficient curtains:
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Making the pipe curtain rods
Pipes used:
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I used ¾” pipe fittings for these curtain rods.
You’ll need floor flanges, 90 degree elbow pipe fittings, and LONG threaded steel pipe fittings that may need to be joined with a pipe fitting coupling if your windows require more length than you can find pipe length.
Find ALL the ¾” pipe fittings I mentioned on Amazon HERE
I suggest to just sit down on a hardware store floor with your measurements and screw pipe fittings together until you get the look desired.
And don’t’ worry if the long pipe is longer than your window. You can cut it like butter in minutes with a pipe cutter! See below.
Cutting your pipe
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A low cost hand held pipe cutter will cut your pipe to the desired length in minutes! This pipe cutter is adjustable to your pipe size and is easy to use!
Click the video above to see the tool in action.
Find a few pipe cutters on Amazon HERE
How to use a pipe cutter:
- Slip pipe into the pipe cutter’s opening.
- Adjust the clamp to tighten around the pipe.
- Spin the pipe cutter around the pipe to cut.
- As pipe cuts, keep adjusting the cutter’s depth.
I spun the cutter about 2-3 times, then tightened the clamp, then spun, tightened, spun, until…
*clang* … it cut right through.
Hardware required: pipe fittings with screws and anchors
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The ¾” pipes I used have a little bit of weight to them, so I used metal wall anchors for the ultimate stability.
Installing the pipe curtain rod
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- Set flange against wall in desired location.
- Pencil in the screw holes.
- Insert metal anchors first using a cordless drill.
- Set flange into place over anchors.
- Insert screws to attach.
Install one flange. Insert the pipe, then dry fit the other flange placement. Pencil in the 2nd flange, set everything down, screw in the 2nd flange, then insert the pipe.
When the pipes were installed, I made sure they were just loose enough so they could be twisted into final desired position.
Curtains (sheets)
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Knoppa Ikea flat white twin sheets – 1 per panel – approx $3.99 @
Find Flat White Sheets on Amazon HERE
The material used for no sew curtains were these price efficient twin-sized flat bed sheets from Ikea called Knoppa (from Ikea in Canada). They were very gauzy, which was perfect for allowing sunlight to penetrate through, while cutting out the glare.
Twin may not give you quite as much bunching when they are closed. I suggest upsizing to a queen or king flat sheet, depending on your window sizes.
Update: The flat knoppa sheets don’t appear to be available any longer. So I’d suggest to just pick a price efficient flat sheet with a weight dependent on how much light you desire to penetrate through.
Cheap – generally allows more light through
Heavy – will block out more light
HERE is a blog post that shares flat sheet curtains I landed in Walmart!
Ties – cotton floor mop head
Best kept secret for beachy styled soft twine is a cotton floor mop head!
I landed this cotton mop head at a thrift store, however HERE is a few cotton floor mop heads on Amazon.
The mop strings were cut as long as possible so there were more options.
Once figuring out how long I desired the ties, they were all cut evenly with a knot placed about 1/3 down the strings.
A fold was created along the top of the sheet and ironed into place. No sew curtains at their best!
Each cotton mop head tie was hand stitched into place, behind each knot.
Then one by one, the strings were hung by double knotting along the tops of the pipes. The knots were left loose enough to unknot and take down for washing when desired.
The perfect rustic curtain tabs made cheap! Aren’t they the cutest?
If you don’t wish to use cotton mop strings, HERE is how I used curtain hooks with clips instead!
The finished sheet curtains on pipe rods
I just love the look! Casual, while adding a light and bright softness to windows!
I allowed the sheets to be a little long so they could puddle on the floor. Love the look! However they will require adjusting each time you move the curtains…
How to achieve a puddle curtain effect:
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- Adjust curtains to touch the floor.
- Slide curtains into desired position.
- Pick up the fabric, then drop them straight down until desired look is achieved.
Don’t you love how beachy and scrappy those cotton mop ties look?
This little photo studio is really coming along! But I will admit, the pipe curtain rods with sheet curtains really made the difference!
Think you’ll give this look a go?
Other photo studio update posts to check out:
Part 1 of the full photo studio build and reveal is HERE.
Sheet curtains on pipe curtain rods using curtain hooks with clips
Painting a concrete floor white
Visit other unique window treatments HERE
And all other photo studio updates HERE
This is utter genius! So impressed with every detail… and the mop, priceless. Fantastic tutorial.
melinda
Love this idea! I always grab a few of those sheets whenever I make a trip to Ikea. So many ways to use them, and super cheap fabric. I have a sun room that will be perfect for this idea! Thanks for always sharing your genius with us.
super impressed! I’m looking around my house for a place to do this…
So cool.
I absolutely love this idea…I’m thinking “hide the washer and dryer” in my pass through Utility room.
Man! you have to pass through that room to get to the bathroom, my bedroom and the backyard! This would be wonderful.
Hmmm… the wheels are spinning. Thanks Donna! Pat
Donna, you continue to amaze!! I recently remodeled my main floor bath and wanted to use the pipes and baling twine to hang my feed sack shower curtain. Since the shower is tile, I opted not to do it.
However, I’d like to do this on my screen porch. I might try with a heavy clear tarp and could use to protect the area from inclement weather.
Great idea!!!
Who woulda thought!? A mop head, how clever! 😉
Your creativity has no limits!
D.
Awesome! I’m thinking that pipe for a shower curtain rod… mine is a cheap expandable one but this will work! Thanks!
Susan
mop head twine……who knew!!!! I absolutely love love love this idea. If my beach retirement home dream comes to fruition I am definitely doing this! Thank you for sharing. xo
I am so excited you posted this can’t wait to try these thanks for sharing
Love these drapes! And great job on the video, too.
Debbie 🙂
These are gorgeous! So easy too. Thank you for always sharing your wonderful ideas with us.
Great idea – You’re ideas are always very inspiring! -Carole
I just love, love this idea! I’m pinning and will be recreating in my family room remodel …
Thanks for the amazing inspiration!
🙂 Linda
Quick question: Did you need to use an anchor piece halfway down the wall? Or is the pipe sturdy enough to stretch the full length without sagging in the middle?
Ohhh I did forget to mention that part Linda! It could have used a centre support, but I got away with it being that the sheet weight absolutely nothing. 🙂
They are so cute with the rope ties. Here are mine, done awhile ago. I could have used your tutorial!! http://www.refreshandrepurpose.blogspot.com/2012/01/boys-curtain-link-up.html
You are so creative.
I gave my husband a heads up – he works at Home Depot.
He says he can tell when bloggers post about industrial hardware DIY projects 🙂
~ Dana
My husband works at Menards and he says the same thing, he can tell when posts about pallet wood, everyone wants them. To bad for me they return them…pooh! Thanks for the cool tutorial, I’m gonna try this with drop cloths and rings. And mop head twine…who knew!!!
~ Pendra
Those look great Donna! I love the tip about the beachy rope! I did this same idea about 20 Yrs ago and used copper pipe…it looks great as it starts to verdigris over time…..it might be too expensive now I suppose but it did look nice!
All I can say is WOW..
Using the mop..
GENIUS..
This is why I love this blog..
Have a wonderful and creative weekend..
Perfectly beachy! I love the look and feel of the pipe. I’m looking into making some bookshelves with it, but the flanges are a bit pricey, especially considering how many I’d need. Love the mop head ties…I have one of those old mops, but mine is used and I’d have to bleach the life out of it before I’d touch it!
Have a great weekend!
Deborah
Well….I couldn’t resist. I bought a new mop head today. Can’t wait to use the “twine”. LOL
Are you a mind reader? I was just talking to hubs about doing curtain rods for our living room windows (12′) with pipe just like you used! Thanks for the tutorial!
Janet
Real Nice! I recently did something similar in my office. I used Kee Klamp instead of threaded pipe fittings and came up with several options to hang curtains. Check it out: http://www.simplifiedbuilding.com/blog/industrial-pipe-curtain-rods/
Chris
you are a genuis. i am in love and utter envy.
GREAT IDEAS… I HAVE A SUNROOM THAT IS ALL GLASS SLIDING DOORS WINDOWS. I BOUGHT WHITE GROMMET LINEN CURTAINS ALREADY BUT WAS STUMPED ON WHAT TO USE FOR THE RODS AS THE ROOM IS 14X15. IF I NEEDED A SUPORT BRACKET IN THE MIDDLE OF THE RODS, WHAT COULD I USE?? ALSO, I THOUGHT I WOULD USE THE ELBOWS IN THE CORNERS SO THE ROD WOULD BASICALLY BE ONE CONTINOUS ROD SO I WOULD NEED SOME TYPE OF BRACKET AT THOSE CORNERS TOO. ANY SUGGESTIONS? THANKS BRIDGET
That was a good idea. However I was confosed as to how you attatched the end you cut the threads off.
They are just sitting in loosely. It worked awesome!
I can’t wait to try this on my outside deck using drop cloths! GREAT IDEA! Thanks!
Very nice! What size pipe did you go with? 3/8, 1/2, or 3/4 inch? Thanks.