Easy And Budget Friendly Window Decor Ideas And Tutorials

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A collection of easy and budget friendly window decor ideas, including draperies, Roman shades, cornices, valances and budget friendly drapery hardware.

Let’s talk about window decor. As the former owner/operator of a custom window treatment workroom, I consider window treatments to be the jewelry to a room’s outfit!

bay window with blue curtains, two side chairs and a king size bed with blue, white and gray bedding in a master bedroomPin

BUT – the labor price for custom window treatments can be very costly. Add the cost of fabric, drapery hardware and installation to that and your cost can shoot right through the roof.

Thankfully, for us budget minded folks, there are many easy options for getting the look of custom window treatments on a budget!

There are many good reasons for adding window treatments to your home – let me try to convince you:

  • They aren’t always just for looks. Having window decor can actually add value to your home.
  • From a visual perspective, window decor elevates the decor in your home and helps to give rooms a finished, pulled together look.
  • Depending upon how you hang it, window decor can actually make a room appear larger and ceilings higher.
  • Draperies and window shades provide privacy and can actually save you money by helping to control the temperature in your home. When open they allow warming sunlight to enter a room, but blackout draperies and shades will block the sun and help to cool a room. They can also be lined with thermal lining to help to keep a room warmer during the cold months, keep air conditioned air from escaping during the warm months and help to reduce outside noise.
  • Valances, faux Roman shades and inoperable draperies (draperies that don’t actually close) work well to dress windows when you don’t want or need to be able to completely cover a window  for privacy or light control.
  • All types of window decor do a wonderful job of softening all of the corners and hard edges that surround a window. Or they can help camouflage and dress up windows that don’t have any trim around them.

I’ve rounded up a great collection of two dozen different ideas to give you inspiration for affordable window treatments around your own home. Many of these ideas are actually step by step tutorials for those of you who love to save money by doing it yourself.

You’ll find loads of window treatment ideas for all different styles and budgets and many of them don’t require any sewing!

SHADES & ROMAN SHADES

Shades and Roman shades are a good option to use in several instances:

  • you don’t have space for draperies to hang
  • you don’t want to cover the trim work
  • you want to layer window decor, such as using a shade flanked by draperies
  • you want a more tailored look
  • when you need something where draperies aren’t practical

HOW TO MAKE A NO-SEW FAUX ROMAN SHADE STEP BY STEP from WORTHING COURT

window above sink in kitchen with green walls and maple cabinetsPin

HOW TO MAKE A RELAXED ROMAN SHADE THE EASY WAY from DIY DECOR MOM

relaxed roman shade with floral fabricPin

DIY ROMAN SHADE from SATORI DESIGN FOR LIVING

section of roman shadePin

HOW TO MAKE A ROMAN SHADE from CYPRESS & SIENNA

roman shade on a door with windowPin

UPHOLSTERED CORNICES

Upholstered cornices:

  • can make a beautiful design statement, especially when made with a shaped bottom edge
  • are money saving because they don’t require much fabric
  • give the appearance of a higher end, custom window treatment
  • can be used to hide less appealing blinds when they are raised
  • can be used to hide unattractive window decor hardware

HOW TO MAKE AN UPHOLSTERED CORNICE – STEP BY STEP from WORTHING COURT

upholstered cornice with floral fabricPin

DIY FABRIC COVERED CORNICE from DIY DECOR MOM

Pinterest image for making scalloped window valancePin

ALL ABOUT CORNICES & HOW TO MAKE YOUR OWN from HEATHERED NEST

pair of tan draperies with cornices with sconce betweenPin

DIY PAGODA STYLE WINDOW CORNICE from DIMPLES & TANGLES

pagoda style upholstered cornicePin

VALANCES

Valances:

  • are a good choice when you need something quick and easy
  • when you want to save money by not using much fabric
  • are perfect for giving a window a little accent without a lot of fussiness
  • can add to the visual height of the room when hung higher than the window frame
  • can visually change the shape of a window, ie: when you don’t want an arched window on the inside of your home

NO-SEW WINDOW VALENCE IN AN HOUR (OR LESS) from IN MY OWN STYLE

Pinterest image for no sew window valancePin

DIY HANKERCHIEF WINDOW VALANCES from DESIGNED DECOR

hankerchief valance on two windowsPin

NO-SEW WINDOW VALANCE TUTORIAL from MARTY’S MUSINGS

window valance with blue and yellow fabricPin

WOOD & DROP CLOTH VALANCE from SALVAGED LIVING

wood cornice with fabric valance above sofaPin

DIY BOX PLEAT VALANCE from SALVAGED LIVING

box pleated valance above tubPin

DRAPERIES

Draperies not only look beautiful, but serve many practical purposes:

  • they help to control the temperature in a room, especially when lined with thermal lining
  • they protect from damaging uv rays that fade furniture fabrics and floors
  • they can help to reduce dust entering your home from outside
  • blackout draperies can actually improve your sleep by blocking out light
  • can help reduce outside noise from entering your home.

HOW TO MAKE LINED DRAPERIES JUST LIKE THE PROS (TO USE WITH CURTAIN RINGS) from WORTHING COURT

pair of draperies on windows in a corner with a chair in frontPin

WINDOW DECOR IDEA FOR FRENCH DOORS from WORTHING COURTgray recliner in front of French doors with blue and white draperiesPin

HOW TO MAKE CURTAINS WITH GROMMETS from HOUSEFUL OF HANDMADE

Pinterest image for making curtains with grommetsPin

IDEA FOR FRAMING OUT A BAY WINDOW WITH STATIONERY DRAPERIES from WORTHING COURT

buffalo check chairs flanking gray chest with mirror abovePin

HOW TO ADD BLACKOUT LINING TO STORE-BOUGHT CURTAINS from SO MUCH BETTER WITH AGE

Pinterest image for lined draperiesPin

BUDGET FRIENDLY DRAPERY HARDWARE

The hardware you use for your window decor:

  • is the cherry on top of the window treatment “icing”, so to speak
  • can completely “ramp up” the look of less expensive treatments
  • needs to be substantial and sturdy enough to support the type of window treatment being used
  • can be customized to fit the style of your home
  • can add value to your home

SUPER BUDGET FRIENDLY DRAPERY HARDWARE from WORTHING COURT

draperies and dining table in a large bay windowPin

DOOR KNOB & INDUSTRIAL PIPE CURTAIN RODS from IN MY OWN STYLE

white airy draperies with blackout liningPin

LONG CURTAIN RODS FOR SUNROOMS & BIG WINDOWS from CRAFTIVITY DESIGNS

Pinterest image for extra long curtain rodsPin

THE CHEAPEST CURTAIN RODS EVER from LOVELY ETC

white curtains on window behind sofaPin

HOW TO HANG CURTAINS WITH COMMAND HOOKS (NO HOLES!) from THE HAPPIER HOMEMAKER

Pinterest image for hanging draperies with command hooksPin

EASY DIY WOOD CURTAIN RODS & BRACKETS from ABBOTS AT HOME

draperies hanging from wood curtain rodPin

graphic that says pin it

pinterest image for window treatment ideasPin

 

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4 Comments

  1. Loved this post. Lots of great info. I spotted the small chair pictured in the bedroom, can you share a source? Appears to be swivel recliner. Thanks!

    1. Glad you enjoyed the post! If you’re referring to the pair of gray and white striped chairs, they’re swivel rockers and came from HomeGoods.

  2. Oh My Goodness! What a plethora of WONDERFUL helps and ideas! Thanks sooo much!