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imjustinjk

Curtains?

9 years ago

I'm having a hard time finding curtains that I like. I ordered a light green rug with a trellis design, a light blue denim-esque chair with tufting and nail heads, and a white sofa for my new apartment. The floors in the new apartment are a white-washed greyish wood.

I have a somewhat eclectic style and love color, but I can't find curtains that go with what I've chosen. I was trying to find white curtains with a green or border or white curtains with green poms/tassels. Idk. I was looking for some neutral with a green accent, but I can't find anything. I'm also looking for 4 panels maybe around 200$ if possible. Hopefully I don't have to go the custom curtain route? Any ideas or suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks!

This is what I have so far:



Comments (32)

  • 9 years ago

    Well, you can get Ikea curtains and just iron on a border or tassels.

    In addition to Ikea, have you checked world market, urban outfitters, west elm, crate and barrel, cb2, and Allmodern?

  • 9 years ago

    I would do relaxed romans in a neutral shade...like a natural linen or off white. I wouldn't add the green to the window treatment, but I'd put it in the throw pillows on the couch and maybe some room accessories like something on the coffee table and art on the wall.

  • 9 years ago

    You could even just pin the trim on with small brass safety pins, so you could remove it if you wanted for washing. Your apartment is sophisticated.

  • 9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Is the first picture meant to be a picture of your apt or just a picture to show us what you have purchased? I have been doing a lot of online shopping lately and the room looked very familiar to me. The same picture is also found on Wayfair in the listing for the rug.

    Is the window size and location in your apt similar? Edited to add, I just wanted to check because I think people are giving advice based on the windows in the rug picture.

  • 9 years ago

    I thInk the first picture was to show the rug he's purchased.

  • 9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Haha the first picture is a stock photo of the rug! I was wanting to incorporate some more green into the apartment I'm moving into soon, but I guess I can do that with throws as suggested. Maybe some artwork or something too.

  • 9 years ago

    These are photos from the apartment complex I'm moving into. The apartment has roller shades, but I don't like them. I just want to put some curtains over them.

  • 9 years ago

    @nosoccermom - I have looked at those places. I'm thinking I'll just have to get neutral curtains, maybe something with a subtle pattern so that the room isn't overwhelmed with curtains and an area rug.

    @Annie Deighnaugh - The windows have these ugly roller shades already, so I wanted to cover them up :(. But I like the idea of adding green elsewhere!

    @palimpsest - Haha, I'm not sure if that handy! I just saw some pictures online with bordered curtains and little accent pieces, but they were on blogs and such. When I tried to find them I had no luck.

  • 9 years ago

    Thanks k9arlene!

    I did like some curtains from West Elm that aren't too terribly overpriced, but maybe they'd still be too much/not go.


    West Elm Echo Print Curtains Gold Dust

    West Elm Echo Print Curtains Platinum

    West Elm Fading Soft Triangles


    Neutral curtains from Ikea:

    Vivan - Plain White

    Flog - Grey with white hexagons

    Matilda - White curtains with "barb wire lines"

  • 9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Trust me, it's super easy to attach grosgrain ribbon or pom poms to curtains.


    One way is using stitch witchery:

    Same idea as described here, but with vertical ribbon:
    http://onlyfromscratch.blogspot.com/2013/05/adding-ribbon-to-shower-curtain.html

    Or use fabric glue.

    http://www.hgtv.com/design/rooms/bathrooms/create-a-ribbon-embellished-shower-curtain

    Or better yet, a glue gun:

    http://www.yellowbrickhome.com/2012/11/13/easy-upgrade-curtain-trim/

    Justin James thanked nosoccermom
  • 9 years ago

    I found these on the West Elm site in the sale section, these would give nice texture to the room and they are sold in pairs so much more economical. drapes

    Justin James thanked Yayagal
  • 9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    I have the Matilda; they are sheers. If you are looking for something more substantial, the Aina (linen), Ritva, and Lenda offer more privacy and are heavier.

    Check out this gardenweb thread for the different shades of white/cream of the three, with pics.

    Pesonally, I'd go with solid curtains, maybe add a border.

    Justin James thanked nosoccermom
  • 9 years ago

    Nosoccermom, thank you so much! I think I'll go with the IKEA curtains. That link was so helpful. I'll buy an extra pair so I can experiment adding a border to see if I'm capable or not, haha. They're a great price, too.

    The sofa is really white, like the cabinets. Should I buy white-white curtains or will something a slightly different shade be OK? Like a cream or whatever.

  • 9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Justin, you may want to take a look on Etsy. You're options will really widen and you may be able to find someone who sells panels in your price range.

    I agree that Roman Shades might be a better option though especially the faux romans. The ones below are available in the Jamiesinteriors Shop. They're reasonably priced and she does custom as well. Maybe instead of the navy border, she could put a border that matches the color of the rug. If not her shop, there are many shops that sell this type of valance though.

  • 9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    I have Ikea curtains (Lenda, I think) and they've been great, and they cost less per pair than most places charge per panel.

    I was thinking fabric paint...https://www.bobvila.com/articles/28450-dream-it-do-it-how-to-paint-your-curtains/

  • 9 years ago

    As far as what white, it also depends on the wall color. Depending on how far you are from an IKEA, I'd get all potential curtains and look at it in your place. Return what you don't want.

    At my recent visit, they also had some really neat blue/white curtains.

  • PRO
    9 years ago

    Justin! Look on this photo and get some inspiration for divider.

    Model Home Living Room · More Info

  • PRO
    9 years ago


    Simple Modern Chic Natural Linen Insulated Curtains In Green Curtains · More Info

  • PRO
    9 years ago


    Green : Curtains : Target · More Info

  • PRO
    9 years ago

    I would leave sheer curtain in the middle

  • PRO
    9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Here is IKEA white curtains

  • 9 years ago

    Celery, I was using them for windows but that photoshop is so helpful omg. I think the white looks better? I think it makes the rug stand out more instead of trying to compete? The white is so clean. I can spruce the room up with accents.

  • 9 years ago

    Yes to white/off white curtains!

  • 9 years ago

    I may be branded the buzzword everyone hated in the other thread, but here goes: try jcpenney.com. They have a wide selection of panels / fabrics with easy free returns (to a local store) and very affordable prices. Buy on sale, use free shipping, and stack discounts...I recently got 4 grommet panels for about 100 after all discounts. I can't sew them for that price.

    Justin James thanked Jubilante
  • 9 years ago

    If you go to IKEA, dive into their as-is bin. Curtains are 5.00/pop. (Needless to say, I have a whole gallery of curtains (linen, velvet, ....)

    Justin James thanked nosoccermom
  • 9 years ago

    Another good source, made in America, is Country Curtains. The quality is great, the prices are reasonable and they have many different styles, not just country. With your modern vibe I would think simplicity is best, just white or off white curtains (I have their cream thermal curtains in two rooms with a lot of sun exposure.) I'm more traditional in my decor, but I love the good taste and clean lines, with that great couch and the whimsical items you've added that are perfect.

  • 9 years ago

    Jubilante, my dad and I actually went to Pennys when he was putting in curtains, although he went custom and has a bigger budget than me, haha. I'l check them out!

    Ingrid, thanks! I'll look! I would describe myself as eclectic. I like a little bit of everything: mid-century modern, traditional, glam, whimsical, rustic, etc. I like masculine and feminine stuff. I decorate in the manner that if I see something I like I try to make it work, rather than look for matching things or a certain style. I'm trying to stick to cleaner and brighter stuff because the apartment is on the small side, and kind of dark.

  • 9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Update: I'm still getting moved in, but I went with IKEA curtains. I'm so glad they were recommended to me. I made a two hour trip to the nearest one, and I love them! I bought 4 panels of 118" curtains for like $70 (2 packs of 2 panels for 35ish each!), which is insanely inexpensive. I changed my color scheme from blue and green to blue and grey.

    They're an off white, really great color. The only thing I hate are the back "tabs", which seem to just be a bunch of strings? They kind of get caught on the curtain rods a bit. I love them because they're thick. A lot of the other extra long curtains I was searching for were either sheers or hundreds of dollars!

  • 9 years ago

    I'm guessing you probably don't sew, but if you really hate the strings, maybe you could get someone to sew this tape to the back instead - Back tab tape

  • 9 years ago

    Yeah I was considering having my friend sew on some tabs for me. The strings get stuck on the part of the rod where the little pole goes into the bigger. I have 10 foot ceilings so it's hard to resolve the issue without a step ladder.

  • 9 years ago

    I really like the curtains though. They're great!