Fancy IKEA Curtains

The remodeling of my master bathroom has left me gasping at prices these days on everything.  Every. Little. Thing. I’ve saved money where I could for the most part, but labor is sky-high, and materials are through the roof, thanks to inflation, I guess.

My Roman blind, which I purchased online in 2020 from Blinds.com, is operational via remote, something I knew but didn’t really know.  I thought it needed to be hard-wired to work, and Ive anxiously sought out professionals who could do that for me. The electrician working with me on the remodel gave me the bad news that there was no way at all to hardwire it.

Upon closer inspection of the fine print that was included with the blind and its remote control, I discovered that it contains a rechargeable lithium ion battery that simply needs to be charged up every six months. The included cord barely reaches the nearest outlet, but HALLELUJAH!  I LOVE seeing my newly operational Roman shade smoothly glide up and down now with the touch of a button. I’m not sure I would’ve started this remodel if I’d known that it only needed a good charging up! 😉

However, the snazzy, relaxed Roman blind reveals huge glimpses of the backyard on each of its sides as it pulls the fabric up every morning.  The gaps are not so attractive, so I decided to hang curtain panels on either side of the window to disguise the little problem.

Have you priced drapes lately?!?

The new bathroom is turning out to be gorgeous.  I can’t skimp on the curtains…! Can I?

I had a break from subcontractor appointments on Monday, so I jumped at the chance to walk through The Linen Shop in nearby Gluckstadt, Mississippi, one of a few shops left in my part of the world that sells custom drapes and upholstery fabric.

Yes, the drapes are amazing, but (yikes) they are pricey!  The least expensive set that I found in the store cost more than $500!  These are straight-line sewing projects!

I came home disappointed. Then I thought, “I can sew straight lines.” According to my Aunt Judy, the trick is to hold your mouth just right!

I slowly toured my home, stopping in the dining room.  

When we first moved into our home, I sewed some place-holder curtains for the dining room and library, meaning to replace them with nicer ones in a few years.  They still hang here, and no one has ever said, “When are you going to replace your place-holding curtains?”

The place-holders are made from super inexpensive IKEA linen curtain panels, decorative tape, and a linen table runner (to add length) that I found at HomeGoods.

I made a beeline for the IKEA website.  I bought a set of gray linen curtain panels (Hannalil) that are 57”x95” and come equipped with “heading tape” for pinch pleating, if you please.  After tax and shipping costs, my total was $32 and some change.

Then I visited Etsy.  I had priced fabric tape at The Linen Shop and calculated how much I’d need for two curtain panels.  Custom Curtains Beyond in Tomball, Texas, has an Etsy store. They had the same tape I’d been ogling at The Linen Shop for a fraction of the price.  I bought 2 lengths of 102” tape at $38 each.

I received my curtains quickly from IKEA, and my fabric tape should be here in a few days.  I’ll post pictures when I’ve got them sewn up!

Sure, a “WOW” print or custom (professionally made) curtain would probably add a lot of zing to this bathroom, but I hate feeling married to a thing. If these drapes bother me after a while, I’ll re-purpose them and splurge on a new set after the sting of the high cost of remodeling the room has lessened. We shall see!