If you’re a homeowner, then you’ve had the experience of homeowner sticker shock. It seems so many things we need for our homes cost WAY more than it feels like they should. One example? Curtain rods.
That’s why I’ve pulled together this awesome list of the best 30 DIY curtain rods from around the web and blogosphere. These homeowners have all found creative ways around the steep retail curtain rod price tags.
And not only are these DIY curtain rods typically way cost-wise, but they also have a serious leg up when it comes to style!
DIY Curtain Rods To Try
1. Galvanized Pipe & Rope DIY Curtain Rod | The Heathered Nest
This versatile (and quick) DIY curtain rod using rope and pipe has been one of the most popular posts we’ve ever had on the blog. And it makes sense!
This technique can be adapted to hang from your ceiling or a wall. These rods will easily adjust to any height, and you can create double curtain rods with the tutorial as well.
It can create a rustic, industrial look like below, or
it can also be done with wire in lieu of rope, for a sleeker look, as seen below in our daughter’s pink bedroom makeover where this technique was used to create a little reading/bed nook that also houses her desk area.
2. Restoration Hardware Inspired Curtain Rods | Maison de Pax
Using a super pricey curtain rod as her inspiration, Rachel shows you how to DIY a similar rod for less than $20 for an 8′ rod!
3. Frugal Farmhouse Curtain Rods | Taryn Whiteaker
Taryn shares the secret sauce wood stain used to give this perfect rustic farmhouse look on a previously unfinished dowel rod.
4. DIY Curtain Rod with Clay Finials | Lolly Jane
Make finial rods with clay! This tutorial shows you how it’s done.
5. DIY Baseball Curtain Rod Finials | The Magic Brush Inc.
Or try completely unique finials that mesh with a themed room! Have a kid who loves baseball? How about baseball finials like Jennifer did here? Would work with tennis, golf, lacrosse balls, etc. too!
6. Knockoff West Elm Curtain Rods | Living Letter Home
Expensive, rustic wood curtain rods served as the inspo for this handmade version made by Living Letter Home. And it looks great for being a fraction the price, right?
7. DIY Bay Window Curtain Rod | Kelly Leigh Creates
All curtain rods are expensive, but custom curtain rods for customs situations like a bay window? EXTRA expensive. So Kelly came up with a DIY solution and teaches you how to make your own DIY bay window curtain rod, too.
8. DIY Long Curtain Rod for Sunrooms & Big Windows | Craftivity Designs
Extra length/extra long curtain rods cost a bundle, too. Craftivity Designs shows you a more cost-effective DIY solution.
9. The Cheapest DIY Curtain Rods Made from Electrical Conduit | Renovated Faith
Karin compares using PVC to electrical conduit for creating DIY curtain rods and shares the pros/cons so you can make a decision as to which material may be best for your own situation.
10. Industrial Conduit Pipe Curtain Rod | By Brittany Goldwyn
Brittany shares another electrical conduit rod project, this one with galvanized pipe end caps.
11. Door Knob & Industrial Pipe Curtain Rods | In My Own Style
Isn’t this a beautiful finial? Diane used vintage doorknobs! Check out the whole tutorial for this genius hack.
12. Cheap Outdoor Curtain Rod | Hey There Home
Corey uses cool hardware to mount her outdoor DIY curtains and rods. A really easy and inexpensive idea.
13. Clever Curtain Rods for Tricky Shaped Windows | Shine DIY and Design
Lisa shares some great tips and a great technique for hanging curtains in awkward spaces. This is really helpful for those windows smack in a corner, etc.
14. DIY Painted Faux Antique Brass Curtain Rod | The Chelsea Project
Sometimes, a little paint is all it takes to bring a curtain rod from boring to blinged-out!
15. DIY Ping Pong Ball & Wooden Dowel Curtain Rods | Shine DIY and Design
Check this out! Lisa will show you how to make glam curtain rod finials from…PING PONG BALLS!
16. DIY Custom Pipe Curtain Rods | Chatfield Court
Keep it affordable by keeping it SHORT! Galvanized pipe rods can be expensive, even when they are DIY. If you don’t need a functional rod, then keeping them short is one way to save $$$, as Kristi did below.
17. Extra long DIY curtain rods with Electrical Conduit | House of Hepworths
Sensing a trend yet with these DIY curtain rods? Yes, there is a wide variety here, but a common thread is one material, in particular.
And it’s…you guessed it! Electrical conduit! Allison compares this material with others commonly used, including PVC, wood dowel, and metal piping.
18. Branch/Driftwood DIY Curtain Rod | Coastal Kelder
How’s THIS for thrifty, and rustic perfection?! Use a piece of driftwood (or a branch) for a rod! Coastal Kelder will explain the ins and outs.
19. Bamboo & Jute Curtain Rod | Cassie Bustamante
A simple, primitive curtain rod made from a bamboo stalk and jute rope. It’s beautiful, right?
20. Oar Curtain Rod | H20 Bungalow
Who says a curtain rod needs to be a simple, basic rod? Just like we’ve seen branches used in lieu of a regular, old rod, this use of a canoe oar is a fun, unique twist, isn’t it?
21. No Rod at All Curtain Rod | Lolly Jane
Love barn wood? Then highlight it as Olive and Love do with this rustic barn wood curtain holder with hooks.
22. Forged Nail DIY Curtain Rod | Inspired By Charm
Isn’t this unique DIY curtain rod twist from Micheal at Inspired by Charm great? He mounted a wood board over each window then drove forged nails into it. Check out the tutorial for the whole DIY scoop.
23. Yard Stick Curtain Rod | KariAnne Wood via Krazy Glue blog
KariAnne has genius ideas all the time, and this one is awesome. Using yardsticks as unique DIY curtain rods! The tutorial is over on the Krazy Glue blog, so check it out!
24. Towing Hook Curtain Rod Hook | Sunny Side Design
This mom embraced her son’s love of the movie, “Cars” hardcore. She went all out on the theme, including crafting her own DIY curtain rods using antique towing hooks for the wall brackets! Isn’t it a fun look?
25. Antique Boat Hook DIY Curtain Rod | Finding Silver Pennies
And Danielle opts to use this antique boat hook as a rod. A look that works perfectly in her New England coastal home.
26. Nautical Rope Rod | Us on Instagram
Another great idea? a rope DIY curtain rod! It’s another great look for a rustic, or coastal-inspired decor style.
We’ve done several of these in our camper remodels. Tutorials to come, but you can see more of them on our Instagram (see our RV flips stories).
In this kids’ bunkroom, you can see the rope rod which separates the bunk room from the hallway/bathroom area below.
And in the shot below, you can see another rope curtain rod that divides the master bedroom from the living area.
27. DIY Curtain Rod from a Closet Rod | Shabby Creek Cottage
As popular as electrical conduit is for DIY curtain rods, wood dowels, or closet rods are also quite popular. Shabby Creek Cottage shows you how to make a wooden DIY curtain rod from wood dowel or a closet rod.
28. DIY Bay Window Curtain Rod with Conduit | Kelly Leigh Creates
Unique window shapes and sizes call for unique curtain rods. And we all know that anything custom means you’ll typically have to pay through the nose.
But Kelly Leigh Creates has a genius tutorial for a custom bay window curtain rod that’s not only incredibly affordable, it’s insanely easy to put together, too!
29. XL Curtain Rods on a Small Budget | Just Call Me Homegirl
Tara had a big sunroom that needed curtains and rods…but her budget for window coverings was small. Check out her solution to dress all of her windows for under $40!
30. Use a belt for curtain rod hanger | Vikalpah
Another super fun and unique DIY curtain rod bracket idea here – use leather belts! Check out the tutorial and see how the rod is simply inserted through a loop created with a segment of the belt. So smart.
31. DIY Outdoor Curtain Rod with Wire | Heathered Nest
Lastly, we were looking for a way to hang outdoor curtains across our pergola. So we created these DIY extra long wire curtain rods. Not expensive, and work like a charm!
We’ll show you the step-by-step process to make your own for either inside or outside your home!
And that’s a wrap on the rods! Over 30 DIY curtain rods in total. From wood to pipe to wire and everything in between including a leather belt, I hope you’ve seen that you don’t need to go the traditional, retail route when it comes to curtain rods!
Thinking outside the big retail box can help you create beautiful, unique curtain rods in your home for a fraction of the cost! Happy curtain hanging, friend!
Looking for more beautiful & budget-friendly home decorating ideas and DIY projects? Make sure to check these articles out, too!
Pin this post for later! And if you make one, leave a comment (or better yet, a photo) on the pin! That helps others know whether they want to try this project, too!
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sona says
great ideas! thank you
Carmen Smith says
Oh wow thank you so much for including our West Elm inspired rods!!! I’m honored 🙂
Heather says
Well you are so welcome! I totally ❤️ them!