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.
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.
Those turned out cute Deb! Love the doo’s touch with the stencil 🙂
Luv this idea!
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.
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.
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!
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
Very pretty!!!
Great project, and I love the look. It’s another winner!
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!
I was afraid it would look too busy:) I thought about it though LOL.
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.
Your site looks great Jewell. I love your Mickey and Minny fairy garden. I could not see where to comment though.
What a great idea! As always, I love your creativity!
Awesome project, Debbie! It looks fabulous. I’m sharing this with my sister….we’re both kinda crafty around the house. Thanks, Mary
Wonderful Mary! Enjoy.
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 🙂
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!
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.
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!
LOL Thanks Denise!
I love drop cloths and I imagine they are fun to paint! Going to give this a try!
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!
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.
A porch oasis.
I always wanted to do that I love the look it looks awsome ?
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!
Doris, I don’t see why not. Nothing is permanent. Good luck. Thanks. xo
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!
Thanks Naomi, and welcome. Yes, you can most certainly use drop cloths for indoor window treatments! Go for it.
I love this project and your porch is beautiful!
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!
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
What is under the outdoor carpet? If you have concrete you can always paint the floor and stencil it…Just a thought.
Your porch looks so inviting
Great job and adore the stencil you added.
Cindy
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 🙂
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.
They held up great. They were not in direct sun either so that helped.
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!
Thanks Peggie:) I appreciate that.
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!
Mine are covered on the patio. I would say yes they can get mildew after a season.
I wonder if the self adhesive will stick to textured walls?
Not sure