December 12, 2011

DIY Curtain Rods [Sliding Glass Door & Bay Window]


Are you guys sick of looking at my new stenciled curtains, yet? There's just one more project I that made these "after" pictures possible.


I knew I wanted curtains in the bay window, but I also knew there was no way I was paying full price for the hardware- this isn't my forever home you know.  So, I made my own instead! It was so simple, I actually couldn't believe I've ever paid for them, serious!

Wanna make some?
First  You need to measure your space...twice! These are not adjustable curtain rods, make sure you know how large you want them to be. Although they are not adjustable, they are not weak in the middle and are really sturdy, i.e. awesome!

Second WHAT TO BUY:

  • 1/2 inch Electrical Conduit ▻Found at any home improvement store, quantity 2 rods, *not pictured
  • Metallic Paint of your Choice ▻ I chose Rustoleum's Oil Rubbed Bronze▻
  • L brackets ▻quantity 5 brackets: 3for the bay window & 2for the Sliding glass doors. 
  • Finials ▻ Glass ball Heligt Finial from Ikea, quantity 4 finials *Similar to image above- but not sold online*
  • Clear Lacquer ▻ Choose desired shine of lacquer in same brand of paint you used, I chose Rustoleum's Clear Gloss Lacquer, quantity 1
  • Also: Hardware to attach the L brackets to the wall- screws, nuts, bolts- if not included & Sandpaper

Third Cut conduit to length. I've heard that some stores cut this conduit for you- I went to Lowe's and they didn't do it there. But it took like 15 seconds to cut through it with a hacksaw. Make sure you sand the edges down where you cut them, they're very sharp.

Fourth Step 4 ONLY for Bay Windows only!  For the bay window, we used leverage and the stair railing to bend the conduit. You don't need a stair railing to bend it- but anything you can use for leverage will be helpful. This "system" did help us to control exactly the angle and place we would bend. 
Measure out where the bend should be, I then used two rings of white tape to mark where the bend needed to go.

Bay Windows only!  I made a template of the angle measurement of my wall using  a piece of paper to make sure the angles would match up. Well, I grabbed a piece of used paper off the counter and quickly bent it against the wall to mimic the measure- nothing high tech over here folks! Like most my tutorials, I'm winging it- and you guys get to hear about the successes {and the sometimes failures!}

Bay Windows only! ▻ When there were no more gaps in between the paper template and the rod, I knew our angle was correct. Flip it on over and do the other side.

Fifth Paint the rods! A little tip for you, I used spray paint lids to keep the rod off the drop cloth. I also had to paint the L brackets and hardware.
The Lenda curtains I purchased form Ikea didn't come with a rod pocket, instead they had tabs- (ugly!) So I bought Riktig Ogla curtain hooks. They only come in black, white and nickel, so I painted them, first using a plastic primer.

{Remember the tutorial I shared from Lindsay a few weeks ago, about priming plastic then using any spray paint you want over it? I bet you didn't imagine I was envisioning this project!}
The directions call for two light coats, but with all those nooks and crannies was more like 10 coats. They went on very smooth and light though.
The primer worked like a charm and the spray paint got a really good bond, I was really happy with it. It looks legit, like metal.
Sixth Complete the rods by painting them with a sealer in the shine finish of your choice.

Here's a close up of the after. Oil rubbed bronze never photographs as good as it looks in person. The shine and reflectivity doesn't come across. 
The curtain finials I chose are also from Ikea. I am so happy with them! I can't find a link for them online, but they're called Heligt Glass Finial- and for 5 bucks you get 2. Steal of a deal, dontcha know. These Ball Finials were the closest I could find- though they aren't priced nearly as well. But Hobby Lobby is also a good source for finials. 

Before I found them I was planning to  adapt some old glass door knobs- but these were just so close to what I was wanting and the price was right! The glass is mottled, and that texture gives them an aged appearance.
The bay window had three L brackets holding up the rod and my curtains are a medium to heavy weight fabric. 

The long window is actually sliding glass doors, so you know how long that is. For that huge space I have only two brackets holding up the rod. I LOVE how the rod is strong in the center, not flimsy where two rods are stuck together. That used to drive me crazy! I used to have three brackets for this window and some napkins jimmy rigged to keep the rod from sagging in the center. Just one of those small things that drive you nuts! I am thrilled it's fixed now!


Want the cost break down?
Electrical conduit, 110" {I think} - $2 ea (4 total)
Metallic Paint- $5
Plastic Primer- $5
Glass Finials-$5 ea. (10 total)
Paint Sealer- mine
L Brackets- mine
Hardware- mine

That's it! Less than 20 bucks for both of the rods-- and I have tons of paint and primer left over! Comparable bay window rods sell for at least 50 bucks! And mine is the metallic I want, the gloss finish I want, the size I need, with the finials I choose! Like I said, it was so easy; I can't believe people ever pay full price for them!

I am super in love with the whole outcome: the curtains, the stencil, the color, and my new homemade curtain rods! Yay! Thanks for checking out my latest and greatest!

75 comments:

  1. Oh my goodness!... Those curtains and rods are...fantastic! You are such a creative girl! I bookmarked this page and am following you. I'm having trouble following and with my followers showing up. Is anyone else?

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  2. I love your stenciled curtains and am considering doing that with our plain gray bedroom panels. I had never thought of doing that...duh.

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  3. I love your gorgeous damask curtains!! Thanks so much for the tutorial on making frugal curtain rods. I have a bunch of curtains I need to hang in my house and I will definetly be checking out the electrical conduit!

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  4. Nice!! We have a bay window as well that I would love to put curtains in, and your post solves my problem of the the corners!! Wonderful!!! Thanks!

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  5. That is so awesome that you made them yourself! I love the whole look of your window, so pretty!

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  6. WOW Becca!!! This is great!!! Thanks for sharing your awesomeness :)

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  7. Too Cool! And the curtains are AWEsome!

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  8. Becca, Thanks for sharing that you can have the 'look' without the cost when you think outside the box.

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  9. You are a GENIOUS!!I love this idea so much ,gonna use it:)Thanks,Deidre~ http://simplysimplisticated4.blogspot.com

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  10. Awesome!! I love it!

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  11. Great idea; I love, love those curtains--your room is so pretty!

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  12. Great tutorial. Your curtain and rods came out great. Just beautiful!
    Karah @ thespacebetweenblog

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  13. Very nice! I love the fabric choice and those finials are fabulous!

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  14. What a gorgeous job! Thank you for sharing the season at Potpourri Friday! May you have a Merry Christmas and the Happiest of Holidays!

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  15. You are my hero! I have been pricing hardware for my bay window and been so discouraged. This ROCKS! Visiting from Tuesdays Treasures. :)

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  16. I am super impressed. A curtain rod of that size would have cost you a fortune.

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  17. So clever! I have been looking at bay window rods and they are so expensive! I have some bay windows in my kitchen that need curtains. This will be perfect. Thanks for sharing. :)

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  18. Love it! Very smart way to tackle that bay window.

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  19. Great tutorial on the curtain rod but, omg, I LOVE those curtains! I just got a great damask stencil. Now I know what I'm going to do with it...great inspiration. I'm visiting from FCC's Freestyle Friday.

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  20. Awesome! Great idea! Love inexpensive ways to make curtain rods!

    --Katie
    Creatively Living

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  21. I love this! I bought the metal pipe and just need to spray paint it and make a trip to Ikea. My kids kept hanging on my curtains and bent my old, cheap rod. I am hoping this will hold up against them!

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  22. Becca, What a wonderful idea! I wish I had thought of this when we moved into our new home. Would have saved me a lot of money.
    xo,
    Sherry

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  23. Very creative and frugal...love that. Your curtains are gorgeous - Did you make them or purchase? Would love to know where to get the fabric.

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  24. I have recently started following your blog and love these curtain rods! Thank you so much for sharing! I have TWO bay windows in my home and would like to use these curtain rods :) How did you connect the two pieces of conduit to make the longer rods? Thanks!

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  25. Hi Anne!
    Thanks for your comment.
    I actually didn't have to make the rods longer. The pipe comes at {I think} 120 inches. This was longer than I needed, for both the bay window and the sliding glass doors.
    But, if that's not long enough for your windows you there are 1/2 in conduit straps you can purchase cheaply to secure the two pieces together.
    Let me know if you have any other questions- but maybe an email address would be better to get in touch with you?
    Thanks again!
    Becca

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  26. This is AMAZING! I love what you did! So creative!

    I'm stopping over from Nifty Thrifty Things linky party. I just became your newest follower and would love to have you come check out my blog and follow me too!

    -Sarah @Adventures of Our Fami-Ly

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  27. Is there any DIY thing that you can't do?? I'm super impressed!

    Thanks for linking to a Round Tuit!
    Hope you have a fabulous week!
    Jill @ Creating my way to Success
    http://www.jembellish.blogspot.com/

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  28. Geez you're brilliant! I'm so impressed with your innovative approach & I can't wait to try this. Thank you so much!

    Warmly, Michelle

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  29. I so wish I had read this before we spent $50 for 4 rods. I hadn't replaced my living room curtains in 20 years and got sheers and my husband wanted to get them up quickly. I KNEW I should have surfed the web. Ugh. Your curtains look fabulous!

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  30. Thanks for the Tute. I desperately need to put up curtains in my master bedroom but the cost of rods was the problem. Now I can !!! Thanks for the great idea.

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  31. looks great! I made my own curtain rod for my ginormous back window. It is larger than a sliding glass door. I used PVC pipe and spray painting that. Love how it turned out too. Making your own sure is cheaper! Way to go. I love the glass knobs on the end too.

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  32. love love LOVE!!!!!!!!! I had to buy curtain rods for a WIIIIDE window and oh my work the cost!! I am so doing this when I redo this room!! Thanks so much for the tip and I also love the curtains!!

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  33. Awesome!!! We are currently renovating our cottage with 5 sliding glass doors... This is just what I needed to see.... I will be copying this one...
    Thanks for sharing

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  34. You just saved me a bundle of money! What a great idea! And I actually love the industrial look and may just leave the conduit unpainted. OOoohhh....thanks!

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  35. Wow, looks great! Totally impressive...and I like the curtains too!! Thanks for linking up at Shine on Fridays this week!

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  36. Becca-

    Thank you so much for the tip! My windows are 192" so I was trying to find a way to make this project work for my huge windows. I love your blog and TALENTS! Thanks for sharing!

    Anne
    amhashworth@gmail.com

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  37. I'm just starting the process of updating all of my curtains so your post couldn't have come at a better time. I'd love for you to link up to my new "Thriving on Thursdays" linky party here in Australia every week. My blog features recipes, crafts, decorating, organising and decluttering advice and tips. I know everyone in Australia would love to read this blog post.

    Thanking you,
    Anne @ Domesblissity xx

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  38. Awesome! This is just what I need for the bay window in my master bedroom!!!

    I can't tell in the pictures what kind of bracket you used. Is it a true "L" bracket from the hardware store, or is it an old curtain rod bracket with the little half round notch where the conduit/rod sits? Can you show a closeup or explain? THANKS!

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  39. <3 from your newest follower and fellow {brand-new} blogger! LOVE this! I can't wait to try my hand at this! I've been so hesitant to put panels up because rods are SO EXPENSIVE! Thank you for inspiring me!

    ~Misty
    www.413sparrowlane.com

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  40. These turned out great! I have a bare window in my bedroom that I might have to try this on. Thanks for sharing. (coming over from Tatertots & Jello) Cheers!

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  41. I'm back! A few blog friends and I are collectively presenting a new challenge idea and I immediately thought of your creativity and think it would be so fun to have you join. If you have a second, check in at http://www.thespacebetweenblog.wordpress.com on Monday to learn more, and feel free to email me if you have any questions!

    Also, I am guest posting at Between U & Me on Tuesday, I made a faux anthro letter and referenced the one you made with tin foil in my post!

    Karah @ thespacebetweenblog

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  42. It all turned out fabulous! I have made these rods before and the problem I had was putting the finials on the end. How did you attach them? Does this kind just fit well?

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  43. Love it, Pinning it. Thanks for the tutorial!!

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  44. You are brilliant! This is such a great project, thank you so much for sharing. I'm so glad I found you on Uncommon slice of suburbia, I am your newest follower. Tabitha @ simplyhomecents.blogspot.com

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  45. The awesome information that I find on people's blogs sometimes blows my mind. Your drapes and rods are one of those mind blowing times. Total inspiration!!

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  46. This is a great idea! I've been looking for a perfect window curtain to complement my newly replaced windows. My wife and I decided to revamp our cozy little space beside the window of our living room and gave it a more interesting look. This would be a perfect curtain for it. I think I'd go for a green or maroon curtain. Thanks!

    Kermit Lukacs

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  47. Thanks so much for this! I've been struggling to find a solution for my bay window, and these look great!

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  48. Went to Lowes today, picked up my "stuff" to make curtain rods. What a savings this will be compared to getting them ready made. Just hope my husband can make the curve for the bay window rod and it turns out like yours. Gotta have a little faith, he is a super handy guy but this will be a first for making rods!
    Thanks so much for sharing your talents!

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  49. I love the panels!! Now can I ask, where did you find the curtain rod?! Your window is identical to mine, and while I have my curtain panels, I've been searching unsuccessfully for a rod exactly like that one!

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  50. Simply gorgeous! Thanks for linking up at Giggles, Glitz & Glam.

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  51. Awesome!! I love the way they turned out. Curtain rods are one of the things it frustrates me the most to spend money on because they are so expensive, but don't really stand out that much! Great thinking to make your own. And the curtains are just lovely! Thanks for linking to Scout's Sweet Sundays!
    Zoe

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  52. I found your blog through cutting edge stencil's facebook page and can I just say that I am SOOO happy that I did! I was looking into buying a bay window rod and they are so expensive! I love your tutorial! Also love the curtains and am definitely going to do that as well! Did you cut off the 'tabs' or just fold them behind?
    Thanks again!
    Nicole

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  53. Liked these so much I featured them on Scout's Sweet Sundays!!

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  54. Thanks so much for linking up last week! This is so awesome...I've featured you at today's Mop It Up Mondays! Have a wonderful week!

    {HUGS},
    kristi

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  55. The rods and drapes look great! How did you attach the finials?

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  56. This is a great DIY project. One question, though...do you think the conduit piping can be bent to a 90-degree angle for a corner rod, or do you think Id be better of with some type of connector? Thanks.

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  57. To tell you honestly I really like your blog about glass doors, for the reason that it caught me here.

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  58. Thanks so much for posting this! I just finished hanging curtains on my bay window curtain rod and LOVE them! My husband keeps saying how professional they look :)

    I actually had to piece two rods together b/c I needed 180 inches of length, so I made it into three pieces, with the joints just inside the bend on each side. I used a dowel rod wrapped with electrical tape to fit the joints together, and used the same strategy to fit the finials in on the ends.

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  59. Newer to DIYing and I was just curious as to how the L Bracket held the rod if they are flat right? Please help, I have a sliding glass door and I cant find a rod long enough in stores to cover the ugly vertical blinds. Thanks!

    http://homelovelifegenevieve.blogspot.com/

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  60. I should dedicate an entire post just to curtain rods, because after this experience. Sliding doors

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  61. This post info described to make stencil rods is very easy and cheap. I really love it.

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  62. You are clearly genius and you seem a lot like me...always looking at products to see how they can be replicated for less. Love all of your projects and hopefully I will have a blog set up in the new year to share with you.Again you are clearly a talented, try anything, make it work kinda gal! Loved visiting with you.

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  63. I continuously keep on coming to your site again just in case you have posted new contents.
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  64. Sliding doors are an evolution from the traditional hinged doors. They are set in tracks and open sideways. They have a number of advantages and benefits that you may find just right for your home.

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  65. Thanks for sharing. In my opinion I think curtain poles are a must if you want to get the very best out of your curtains. I recently got some cream curtain poles to go with my dark coloured Sanderson curtains, and they contrast really well.

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  66. Great idea that I'd love to try, but you don't mention how to attach the finials to the conduit?! Please help!

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  67. Wow, That is so awesome that you made them yourself! I love the whole look of your window, so pretty!
    shower doors portland

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  68. I am also wondering how you attach the finials to the rod?? Looks great!

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  69. I'd love to do this. Can you show close ups of the L bracket and how the rod attaches please? I'm not following that part. Thank you!!

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  70. These are not adjustable curtain rods, make sure you know how large you want ... longcurtainrods.blogspot.com

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