Ever hung store-bought curtains only to realize they don’t quite cover the width of your window? No worries, widening them is easier than you might think, even if it will work for your corner windows! From adding extra fabric panels to layering with sheers or adjusting the curtain rod, these creative solutions can transform your space.
So, ready to make your curtains look perfect? Here’s a step-by-step guide to give your curtains a little extra width without breaking the bank.
Steps to Widen Your Store-Bought Curtains
Widening store-bought curtains can be a simple DIY project. Here’s a quick fix you can try:
What You’ll Need
- Extra Fabric
- Sewing Machine or Needle and Thread
- Measuring Tape
- Pins
- Iron
Step 1: Measure the Curtains
Start by measuring the width of your window frame and the existing curtains. This will help you figure out how much extra width you need.
Maybe you want them to cover more of the window or just have a fuller look when drawn. Once you know, cut your additional fabric to match the length of your curtains, but with the added width you need.
Step 2: Prep the Fabric
Fold the edges of the fabric over twice, about half an inch each time, and give them a good press with an iron.
This will help create a neat, clean edge. Then, sew along these folded edges to hem the sides of your fabric. Hemming prevents fraying and keeps everything looking tidy.
Related Post: Easy Ways to Hem Curtains Without Sewing
Step 3: Attach the Fabric
With your fabric prepped, it’s time to attach it to your curtains. Lay the fabric next to the curtain panel, with the right sides (the pretty sides!) facing each other.
Pin the fabric to the curtain along the edge where you’ll sew. Then, sew a straight line to join the two pieces together. Take your time to keep the seam as straight as possible—this will help everything hang nicely once it’s up.
Step 4: Finish the Seams
After sewing, open up the seam you just made and press it flat with an iron.
This extra step will help your curtains hang better and look more polished. Plus, ironing the seam-open reduces any bulkiness where the two fabrics meet.
Step 5: Hang Up Your Wider Curtains
Now for the fun part! Hang your widened curtains back on the rod and admire your handiwork.
You’ll find that the extra width gives them a fuller, more custom look that perfectly frames your window.
Related Post: Hanging Curtains on Rings
Alternative Solutions to Widen the Curtains
If you’re looking to widen store-bought curtains but don’t want to sew or just want to explore different options, here are some additional solutions:
1. Add a Curtain Panel
One of the simplest solutions is to purchase an extra curtain panel that matches your existing set. Hang this panel next to the existing ones. This works well if your curtain rod is wide enough to accommodate another panel.
If an exact match isn’t available, consider buying a panel in a complementary color or pattern. Mixing different patterns can create a stylish, eclectic look.
2. Use Curtain Clips and Fabric
You can buy a piece of fabric that matches or complements your curtains and use curtain clips to attach it directly to the curtain rod. This adds width without any sewing. Simply clip the fabric to the top of the curtain rod, letting it hang alongside your existing curtains.
For a more creative twist, you could use a decorative scarf or shawl in place of the fabric. Drape it over the curtain rod, letting it hang down the sides of your curtains for extra width.
3. Layer Sheer Curtains Behind
Another no-sew option is to hang sheer curtain panels behind your existing curtains. This gives the illusion of more volume and width, especially when both curtains are drawn. The layered look can also add depth and texture to your window treatment.
If your rod allows, hang sheer panels slightly overlapping your main curtains. This not only adds width but also creates a soft, layered effect.
4. Extend the Curtain Rod
If your curtain rod is adjustable, you can extend it and center the curtains differently. This might involve moving the brackets a bit wider apart on the wall, allowing the curtains to cover more space.
Install a double curtain rod and add an additional set of curtains or sheers behind the existing ones. This can give the appearance of a wider, more luxurious window treatment.
5. Use Curtain Tiebacks Strategically
Curtain tiebacks can be used to pull back the curtains at a wider point, giving the illusion of greater width. You can place the tiebacks further out from the window frame, allowing more of the window and wall to be visible, which makes the curtains appear wider.
Similar to tiebacks, use decorative holdbacks placed on the wall to hold the curtains open wider, which can help stretch the look of your window treatment.
6. Add a Valance or Pelmet
Adding a valance or pelmet above your curtains can draw the eye upward and outward, creating the illusion of a wider window. The extra fabric on the top can give your curtains a fuller appearance.
Choose a valance that’s wider than your window, so it extends beyond the edges of the window frame, which naturally makes the curtains look wider too.
7. Combine with Roman Shades or Blinds
Install Roman shades or blinds that cover the window and hang your curtains on the sides. This combination can make the curtains look like they’re just for decoration, giving the appearance of width while the shades handle the light control.
Mount the blinds outside the window frame, wider than the window itself. This makes the window—and therefore the curtains—appear larger and wider.
8. Decorative Drapery Rings
If your curtains are a bit narrow, adding drapery rings can help stretch the fabric when you hang them. Space the rings out a little more to create a bit of tension in the fabric, which helps the curtains cover more area.
Each of these alternatives offers a different way to widen your curtains, depending on your style preferences and the tools you have at hand.
Whether you choose to add more fabric, adjust your curtain rod, or layer your window treatments, you can achieve a wider look without much hassle.
Wrapping UP
So there you have it—a bunch of easy and creative ways to widen those store-bought curtains that just aren’t cutting it.
Whether you’re adding extra fabric, layering with sheer panels, extending your curtain rod, or simply playing around with curtain clips and tiebacks, there’s a solution here for everyone.
These quick fixes are all budget-friendly and can be done with minimal effort, even if you’re not a sewing expert.
