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Home » Curtain hacks

How to Make Drop Cloth Curtains for Porch or Patio Privacy

By Debbiedoo's Team Published: Jun 14, 2023

DIY drop cloth curtains are a simple and inexpensive craft project for decorating a porch or patio, especially if you long for privacy and the cozy feeling of an indoor space. This guide shows how easy it is to make your own DIY drop cloth curtains with a twist: stencils.

drop cloth curtains

1. Gather your supplies

  • Drop cloth
  • Adhesive towel hooks
  • Curtain ring clips
  • Stencil. This could be anything you like, from a simple geometric pattern to a more elaborate floral design
  • Stencil roller
  • Craft paints. I used Lumiere
  • Fabric softener
  • Painter’s tape (optional)

2. Prepare two drop cloth panels

Start by taking a drop cloth and cutting it in the middle to create two panels. Then you can freshen up the panels by lightly spraying fabric softener and tossing them in the dryer. It’s a neat trick for improving the texture of the cloth, making it softer and more pleasant to the touch, and giving the curtains a fresh scent.

3. Prepare the workspace and stencil

Put a piece of plastic or another form of protective layer underneath the drop cloth to prevent staining caused by bleed-through. Then, place the stencil at the bottom of a drop cloth panel and secure it with painter’s tape if necessary to prevent the stencil from moving around.

4. Apply the stencil

Next, use a stencil roller to carefully apply craft paint evenly. Repeat this step for the other drop cloth panel. By only stenciling the bottom of the drop cloth panels, you’re creating a bit of color and pattern while keeping the overall look simple and minimalistic.

5. Attach your new drop cloth curtain

After the paint dries, it’s time to hang up your curtains. Begin by positioning the adhesive towel hooks where you want the top of the curtain to be. Then attach the curtain ring clips to the top of the drop cloth curtain. Finally, hang your new drop cloth curtain on the hooks.

If you loved this project, check out more exciting drop cloth curtain ideas.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Shannon

    April 24, 2016 at 8:54 pm

    Those turned out cute Deb! Love the doo’s touch with the stencil 🙂

    Reply
    • Gwen harper

      November 11, 2017 at 7:07 pm

      Luv this idea!

      Reply
  2. carol bittner

    April 24, 2016 at 9:19 pm

    Oh yes! I love curtains on the front porch; I did the rod-thing a few years ago but it didn’t last cuz I used screw in hook in the metal ceiling. Bad idea. Now your hook idea looks dooable; I’m gonna give it a try. Our porch faces south and the late afternoon sun is so hot; a bit of shade will be good. Thanks for another great tip.

    Reply
  3. vanessa

    April 24, 2016 at 10:21 pm

    This is a great project and they look beautiful. If I did this though I couldn’t use self adhesive hooks, the heat in Florida makes those hooks fall off after a couple of weeks.

    Reply
  4. Kathleen Hornbecker

    April 25, 2016 at 9:12 am

    Yes, adhesive hooks! Perfect for hanging stationary panels on the porch. My next project for the season. Love the stencil on the bottom of curtains. Enjoy rocking and watching on your porch!

    Reply
    • debbiedoo's

      April 25, 2016 at 9:26 am

      Thanks! Hopefully they won’t fall off. But they do not get direct sun up there so I think they will be fine:) I’ll let y’all know. xo

      Reply
  5. LIZLA EMERICK

    April 25, 2016 at 10:24 am

    Very pretty!!!

    Reply
  6. Peggy Renie

    April 25, 2016 at 10:28 am

    Great project, and I love the look. It’s another winner!

    Reply
  7. Catherine

    April 25, 2016 at 11:01 am

    What a clever idea, Debbie! I LOVE the touch of color at the bottom,too! I would have OCD’d and done the whole panel and then wonder why I made so much work for myself. LOL!

    Reply
    • debbiedoo's

      April 25, 2016 at 12:02 pm

      I was afraid it would look too busy:) I thought about it though LOL.

      Reply
  8. Jewell

    April 25, 2016 at 11:11 am

    Another winning design. We are finalizing plans for a screened deck with a roof that matches the house’s roof. I am a little afraid it will look like a big back porch, and become a dumping place for extra furniture. Between Debbie Doo and Hometalk, I’ve gotten great ideas. I can just see these dropcloth curtains as a soft frame, and the removable hooks and curtain rings clinches the deal. The stenciling is too intimidating right now, but this would be a good umbre project that would bring in color. This design is now officially added to the plan.
    I have a new blog address! Gloryallaroundme.com. Come see me.

    Reply
    • debbiedoo's

      April 25, 2016 at 12:04 pm

      Your site looks great Jewell. I love your Mickey and Minny fairy garden. I could not see where to comment though.

      Reply
  9. Judy

    April 25, 2016 at 12:33 pm

    What a great idea! As always, I love your creativity!

    Reply
  10. Mary Brogdon

    April 25, 2016 at 2:27 pm

    Awesome project, Debbie! It looks fabulous. I’m sharing this with my sister….we’re both kinda crafty around the house. Thanks, Mary

    Reply
    • debbiedoo's

      April 25, 2016 at 3:47 pm

      Wonderful Mary! Enjoy.

      Reply
  11. Gersch

    April 25, 2016 at 2:34 pm

    Off topic (but love the curtains and porch) but wasn’t there a link a while back for purchasing your famous rooster stencil and perhaps “the recipe” that is so popular? Now don’t laugh but I think there might have been two rooster stencils, one that had extra tail feathers perhaps? Please assure me that I’m not loosing my mind 🙂

    Reply
    • debbiedoo's

      April 25, 2016 at 3:47 pm

      There probably is somewhere…I will go look for it and post it here Gersch in the post:) You are not loosing your mind LOL!

      Reply
    • debbiedoo's

      April 25, 2016 at 3:50 pm

      http://amazon.com/s/ref=as_li_bk_tl/?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=Rooster%20stencil&tag=debbiedoos-20&linkId=7bd545463d19a28da2847aa870bba48a&linkCode=ktl.

      The recipe stencil came from Hobby Lobby.

      Reply
  12. Denise Monville

    April 25, 2016 at 5:12 pm

    Love the drop cloth panels, it changed the whole look on your front porch. So creative. I’m married to Mr. Clean/X-ray man, as well. Im digging your style!

    Reply
    • debbiedoo's

      April 25, 2016 at 5:33 pm

      LOL Thanks Denise!

      Reply
  13. Debbie K.

    April 25, 2016 at 6:46 pm

    I love drop cloths and I imagine they are fun to paint! Going to give this a try!

    Reply
  14. Missy

    April 25, 2016 at 8:53 pm

    I’ll be trying this! I have the drop cloths and rings already. I had some copper pipe cut to use as a rod but wasn’t thrilled with mounting to the ceiling. Great idea! I’m a beginning blogger so when I post about it I’ll be linking back to you. Thanks for the great idea!

    Reply
    • debbiedoo's

      April 25, 2016 at 9:00 pm

      Great Missy! Good luck. I didn’t want anything permanent, so this hopefully will do the trick. I think because they are facing on the inside they should be ok and not fall down. They seem to be adhered pretty well.

      Reply
  15. Bliss

    April 26, 2016 at 5:19 pm

    A porch oasis.

    Reply
  16. Lunda

    April 26, 2016 at 8:56 pm

    I always wanted to do that I love the look it looks awsome ?

    Reply
  17. Doris

    April 27, 2016 at 8:39 pm

    I love this look, Debbie. I am a renter now and I don’t know if the landlord would allow me to do that. I think I will ask and try it. You are so creative!

    Reply
    • debbiedoo's

      April 27, 2016 at 8:52 pm

      Doris, I don’t see why not. Nothing is permanent. Good luck. Thanks. xo

      Reply
  18. Naomi S.

    April 28, 2016 at 12:26 am

    If I only had a porch! I just have a tiny “stoop” in the front of the house and on the side. There is a big deck on the back, but no where to hang a curtain. It sure would cut the sun from the east on that side of the house, but alas… I think I will have to go for a small screen house or something. I love drop-cloth projects, though. Have been thinking about using them for an inexpensive–I was going to say “cheap” but that sounded too miserly…set of curtains for my patio door. I wonder if the drop cloth would be too heavy for an indoor window. Ahh…if I only had a porch!

    Thanks for the good idea, though. I’m a bit of a newcomer to your blog and I must say I like it a lot. Your projects are always fun and interesting. Keep on keeping on!

    Reply
    • debbiedoo's

      April 28, 2016 at 9:01 am

      Thanks Naomi, and welcome. Yes, you can most certainly use drop cloths for indoor window treatments! Go for it.

      Reply
  19. kristin salazar

    July 06, 2016 at 10:08 pm

    I love this project and your porch is beautiful!

    Reply
  20. Rachel V

    September 03, 2016 at 10:15 am

    This is perfect for me as I live in an apartment, still long for more privacy but need a short term solution. Thanks for this post; can’t wait to give it a try!

    Reply
  21. susan newton

    January 22, 2017 at 6:08 pm

    Love the look- and had planned to do this on my screened porch– any ideas out there for covering the carpet- you know the old looking stuff- I have it mostly covered with rags rugs floor of a covered deck to prevent dirt and bugs from coming up from below. Currently there is a ugly green outdoor wall to wall
    Thought of many ways to handle but wondered if any one here has tried anything functional and wears well. I thought of sisal but that can get expensive.
    Ciao and thanks!
    Susanna

    Reply
    • debbiedoo's

      January 22, 2017 at 6:19 pm

      What is under the outdoor carpet? If you have concrete you can always paint the floor and stencil it…Just a thought.

      Reply
  22. Daisy

    March 10, 2017 at 8:04 am

    Your porch looks so inviting

    Reply
  23. Cindy

    March 10, 2017 at 1:36 pm

    Great job and adore the stencil you added.

    Cindy

    Reply
  24. Debbora

    April 02, 2017 at 9:00 pm

    I enjoyed looking at your patio! Thank you for coming up with the idea sharing it here. I have been looking for over a year for a good solution and now know I have found it for our condo balcony.. I just purchased a thrifted sheet that I adore, to use as yardage ~ you can’t imagine my surprise when I saw it as your background art. Although in a different country, we “Debbie’s” have a similar taste 🙂

    Reply
  25. Renata

    May 29, 2017 at 10:42 am

    How have the adhesive hooks been holding up? I want to try the same thing on my patio ceiling and I am a little scared to bite the bullet, but I don’t want to drill because we are renting.

    Reply
    • debbiedoo's

      June 02, 2017 at 5:40 pm

      They held up great. They were not in direct sun either so that helped.

      Reply
  26. Peggie Crist

    October 30, 2017 at 8:44 am

    Your home is lovely and your ideas are fantastic! Plus being a tad bit messy helps me relate. We always get cleaned up…eventually! Thanks for all your inspiration. Love it!

    Reply
    • debbiedoo's

      October 30, 2017 at 1:55 pm

      Thanks Peggie:) I appreciate that.

      Reply
  27. Obxyak

    June 06, 2018 at 3:14 pm

    What happens to the curtains during a rainstorm? Have you had problems with mildew? Here in the south it is sooo humid! Love the look though!

    Reply
    • debbiedoo's

      June 12, 2018 at 4:23 pm

      Mine are covered on the patio. I would say yes they can get mildew after a season.

      Reply
  28. Chelsea sutton

    July 28, 2018 at 2:50 am

    I wonder if the self adhesive will stick to textured walls?

    Reply
    • debbiedoo's

      July 31, 2018 at 12:35 pm

      Not sure

      Reply

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