There’s one thing about taking down all of your vacation decorations that places a magnifying glass towards all of the issues in your house you forgot you’ve been ignoring. Wreaths get pulled off home windows, doorways, and mirrors; garland is stripped from staircases, doorways, and mantels. After the sigh of reduction that it’s all put away, and you’ve got your own home again, it’s frequent to go searching and actually *see* your own home. The uneven curtain panels in your lounge, you swore had been solely short-term…three years in the past. The cluttered bar cupboard you retain that means to reorganize and elegance. The half-finished DIY sconces with the shade you by no means acquired round to wrapping in that cool cloth that’s nonetheless shoved in your closet.
All of the issues above I discussed are literally my private residence challenge shortcomings—after which some. Working my very own freelance enterprise and elevating an inquisitive toddler who solely goes to highschool half a day leaves me with little time to prioritize issues like lastly fixing the cafe curtains I made for my eating room over two years in the past that bum me out each time I stroll by them (that may be many instances a day, FYI).
However provided that it’s that point of 12 months for leaving all of your failures up to now and laying out intentions you actually hope you may maintain previous January 15, I’ve determined that I’m resolving myself to cease being blind to the spots in my residence I’m lower than happy with and laying out a plan for what and how one can sort out them.
First up: These eating room curtains.
Wait, However How Ought to I Determine The place to Begin?
I need to shortly lay out just a few notes that may allow you to resolve on which challenge ought to take precedence, as a result of for those who’re something like me, the concept of beginning and the laundry record of duties is overwhelming sufficient to freeze you in your tracks.
Step #1: Begin with probably the most seen (however least daunting) challenge. The extra you see it, the extra doubtless you might be to be blind to it (till you’ve visitors and begin panicking over it as a result of your on a regular basis home goggles come off and also you begin seeing issues such as you suppose a brand new particular person will see it…trace: they don’t). Plus, nothing boosts your confidence and drive greater than lastly locking in and bettering a spot in your house you work together with day by day. For me, my eating room curtains are seen virtually instantly upon transferring via my residence, but additionally from the road. Now for the “least daunting” a part of this step. In actuality, my lounge curtains are extra problematic to me than my eating room window coverings. They’re uneven, poorly positioned, and seem like a sloppy afterthought. However I do know that changing six to eight curtain panels of over 100 inches along with a large curtain rod goes to be massively costly. My eating room window, although? A much more approachable downside to sort out and test one thing off my record.
Step #2: Determine how a lot cash you’re keen to throw at it earlier than beginning. Selecting a price range isn’t a groundbreaking rule for residence initiatives, clearly. However I discover it’s usually skipped for smaller issues with the thought that it simply gained’t be that costly…haha strive once more. Even when it’ll run you just a few hundred bucks, versus hundreds, it’s essential to stipulate how a lot you need to spend earlier than working via your choices and pricing them out. It’d simply make your resolution that a lot simpler in case your selections fluctuate extensively in price.
Step #3: Set a practical deadline for your self. “Oh, it gained’t take a lot time in any respect” you stated…two years in the past. SET THAT DEADLINE, or else you’ll be including this identical challenge to your 2027 resolutions record but once more. My recommendation? Set it round some kind of milestone or landmark so it larger danger for those who miss the mark. Which means, do you’ve household coming in March to go to for spring break? Do you’ve an enormous birthday banquet on the books for February or April? Give your self a bit of buffer of about two weeks prior to permit for troubleshooting or moments of #lifehappens, and work backward from there.
Step #4: DO NOT START ANYTHING NEW BEFORE FINISHING! I capitalize this for dramatic emphasis because of the truth that I want somebody would scream this at me day by day upon strolling down the steps to get my morning espresso. Keep targeted, end up, and *then* transfer on to the subsequent factor. One completed challenge is price 10 instances what 5 unfinished initiatives are. Belief me.
Okay, now that that’s sorted, let’s dive into my first challenge of the 12 months.
An Intro To Arlyn’s Eating Room Curtain Predicament
For reference, right here’s what my eating room regarded like earlier than we totally moved in. We’ve these large home windows in practically each room of our residence, and whereas I first actually appreciated them, I shortly discovered how difficult they might be to cowl in the way in which I wished. We inherited largely damaged vertical blinds that every one needed to come down ASAP for my psychological well being.
And above is the place we are actually. As in in the present day, as a result of I simply took these images. Trying on the images of those cafe curtains, they truthfully don’t look *that* dangerous, however in actual life, they don’t work practically in addition to I had imagined they might.
Earlier than selecting this design years in the past, I contemplated doing curtain panels, however I actually wished to strive one thing totally different. To not point out the ceiling top in my eating room is pretty low, and I believed lengthy drapes would overpower the area that already had a ton of large-scale furnishings in it. That, and our residence’s perimeter consists of a minimum of a dozen old-growth camphor and pine bushes, which signifies that regardless that our home windows are gargantuan, they don’t let in a lot gentle. Blocking any of that daylight, particularly from the highest a part of the window, felt prison.
Besides that I ignored that cafe curtains work greatest on small home windows, or on the very least, home windows with someplace to safe a middle assist. Discovering a steel rod sturdy sufficient to carry up the load of curtains and rings throughout a 75-inch span is close to unimaginable. As a result of belief me, I attempted. There’s a graveyard of dangerous selections in my storage from this very challenge. The one factor that ended up working (and I exploit that time period loosely) was a 1-inch diameter rigidity rod. The outcome was all the time one thing I didn’t love, partly because of the truth that it has a plastic ring at eye degree the place the rod extends, but additionally as a result of the inset of the window is barely any deeper, so the curtains puff out weirdly with out room to maneuver.
You’ll be able to see the flaring of the curtains right here higher, which frankly is generally because of the truth that I fell in love with this Rebecca Atwood cloth however did not ask them if it labored properly for material. That is a lot better suited to upholstery and pillows because it doesn’t cling very properly—one thing I solely got here to understand after spending the time to stitch the panels. I can nonetheless keep in mind the night time I put them up, and instantly felt my pleasure tank, solely to get replaced with remorse and disappointment.
Unrelated, this can be a good photograph to see the area a bit higher and the way it usually seems. The bar is cluttered, my workspace takes up one aspect of the eating desk, the nook is the one place we are able to plug in our Tineco moist mop, and there are just a few vegetation by that window holding on for pricey life. It feels busy, overly tight, but additionally in some way form of boring.
How I Can Make It Work
There’s a world the place I lean in and simply make this work. We gained’t be dwelling right here ceaselessly (or presumably even for much longer than this 12 months), so why spend the psychological/inventive power and cash on doing an excessive amount of to alter it if it’s a short-term resolution? I’ve lived with it this lengthy; I can absolutely maintain dwelling with it with just a few tweaks. I outlined just a few make-it-work choices beneath.
Make-It-Work Possibility #1: Add an fascinating border to the edges and backside of present curtains.
One thing that isn’t tremendous apparent in my images is that the curtains are too small. I sewed them and barely undershot their size and really a lot underestimated their width after pleating. In an effort to shut them, you need to place them *simply so* so you may’t see in from the road. And I let go of a few of the backside hem to elongate them, however they’re nonetheless hovering over an inch above the windowsill.
A strategy to repair that, I believed, was to easily add to the completed curtain, both pleated or unpleated. I really let the pleat out on the left panel to see how that may look. Spoiler: I didn’t like it, however I left it that manner in order that we may really shut the curtains at night time. After which I forgot I did that and by no means went again to take care of the opposite panel, so now I’ve one pleated and one non-pleated curtain. Cool.
Nevertheless, I may return, pleat the left panel, then add two-inch ribbon all alongside the edges and backside. I feel this is able to be higher in idea than in apply, given the thickness of the material and the way flimsy a ribbon could look when affixed to it. This, nonetheless, wouldn’t enhance the look of the strain rod.
Make-It-Work Possibility #2: Remake curtains with a distinct cloth and dimensions.
I made a decision to mock up what some lighter linen or cotton would seem like. Possibly the problem isn’t the concept of the cafe curtains however moderately the curtain I made itself. A wispy semi-sheer cloth would drape a lot better, nonetheless let in some gentle, and never be as heavy if I determine a distinct rod.
I do know the colours right here would look higher IRL, however I’m not that into this. (Additionally, it’s simply now that I’m realizing the vertical blinds observe is STILL on the highest of this window…) Presumably a distinct cloth can be higher, however meh.
Cafe Curtain Material by Tonic
I do like this greater than the primary choice, however I’m beginning to suppose not all home windows could make cafe curtains work.
Different Choices If I Transfer On
Possibly I ought to lower my losses and check out one thing else. Although I initially didn’t need curtain panels right here, I’m softening to the concept. So long as I simplify the styling on all my surfaces and pare again the vegetation, it will not be as visually overwhelming as I believed it could be. Let’s see how this feature fares in Photoshop.
Transfer On Possibility #1: Set up curtain panels.
As I discussed, I used to be hesitant from the get-go to do curtains right here, however I acknowledge that they’re probably the most versatile alternative for the longer term. Each time we resolve to maneuver, we may take these with us and reuse them (so long as the peak works). I went forward and mocked up a impartial choice and a colourful one.
Okay! Wait…I like this. Pay no thoughts to the short Photoshop job of extending the panels. West Elm’s product web page solely reveals a tiny little bit of the highest, so that is the very best I may do with out bringing in AI (no thanks). This feels beautiful and lightweight, however nonetheless fascinating due to the delicate sample and scalloped edges.
I’m stunned by how a lot I like this. I do fear that it’ll come off heavier in particular person, however the mauve-y hue helps to bridge the hole between the wooden tones within the room and the rug (the Danish Floral Flat-Weave Wool Rug from Garnet Hill, which provides some good sample to this in any other case easy area).
Transfer On Possibility #2: Set up Roman shades.
Now, I wished to discover some Roman shades right here, as I feel that might be a cleaner, extra tailor-made search for the small area. Honestly, although, the funding is an excessive amount of for this window dimension to justify how lengthy we’ll be right here. Possibly if I had accomplished this three years in the past, however I can’t spend this a lot for one thing that may be custom-sized for this particular window and may’t include us.
However by seems alone, I can see that it’s a high contender.
The streamlined look of a Roman shade is strictly what this room wants, TBH. A shade leaves the dear ground area open, I can higher management the sunshine through the day, they usually don’t overwhelm the low ceilings. A blue pulls within the palette from the rug and provides some curiosity to the owner white partitions.
To scratch the impartial itch I typically have because of web overload, right here’s a mock-up of a impartial beige Roman shade. I prefer it sufficient as a relaxation for the eyes, however it doesn’t do a lot for me. This is able to be higher for me if there have been a delicate pinstripe or sample.
So…What’s The Answer?
Good query! Scrolling again via the pictures I Photoshopped, I maintain going again to these earthy mauve curtains. I’d have by no means guessed that’s what I’d like probably the most had I not mocked them up. I used to be satisfied a Roman shade would look greatest, and whereas it fits the area properly, the coloured curtain higher fits my preferences. On condition that two of these panels will run me practically $350, I had a bonus concept: Take two white curtain panels I have already got in storage, attempt to dye them an identical shade, and cling these on a fairly brass curtain rod that was meant for my bed room, I by no means hung as a result of I didn’t find yourself having the wall clearance for it. That manner, my solely expense is the dye and the time it takes me to work via the challenge.
If it finally ends up being ugly, then I’ve misplaced virtually nothing and am no worse off. But when it’s fairly good, I can all the time improve to the actual deal if it appears like we’ll be right here longer than anticipated.
I’m fairly excited, tbh. My deadline? The top of the month. I’ll make sure you share an replace once I make some strikes. Keep tuned till subsequent time, associates.
