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When my husband and I moved into our first house, it took all the financial resources we had. The day we moved in, we had enough money to put food in the fridge, and that’s about it, which was unfortunate because our windows had no coverings. As soon as we got our hands on some money, we bought the cheapest window treatments we could find (curtains), but even then we discovered the expense of window hardware. We didn’t even know what window hardware was until we bought the curtains and discovered we would need something to hang them from. Window hardware, though not necessarily expensive, was an extra outlay of cash we couldn’t afford, so we made our own.
Though necessity was the mother of our window hardware, in hindsight, I’d make my own hardware again, even if I did have the money to purchase it. However, I would purchase finials – or some creative stand-in for them – which are the ornamental endings to curtain rods. Finials, like doorknobs, are often overlooked when they are ordinary pieces of window hardware, but when they are special and unique they can be conversation pieces that bring decorative interest to your room. Except for finials, window hardware is quite easy to make. Here’s how: 1. Measure the width of the windows, and add a few inches on each side as curtain rods generally extend a couple inches beyond the sides of the windows. 2. Visit the curtain department of any home improvement warehouse or general shopping center to see what parts comprise window hardware. You’ll likely need a rod, finials and some hooks. Many curtains have fabric loops that serve as hooks or some sort of channel through which the rod can pass, so you probably won’t even need hooks. If you do need hooks, buy shower curtain hooks. For some reason they are cheaper and more interesting than curtain hooks. 3. Go to the lumber department and pick out a wood dowel that suits your window measurements or can be cut to fit your measurements. If you have hooks instead of loops, be sure the dowel is the proper diameter to support the hooks. 4. If you are not going to buy actual finials, cabinetry hardware is a great substitution. 5. Get some kitchen hooks or coat hooks to support the curtain rod. 6. Cut the dowel to fit if need be, sand and paint it if you want or leave it natural if your curtains are pastel-colored or casual. 7. Before screwing the hooks into the wall, thread the dowel through the curtains and play with the height placement of the rod. Remember that most curtains are hung a few inches above the windows. 8. Screw the hooks into the wall at the appropriate height. 9. Screw or otherwise affix the finials to the window rods. Make sure your curtains are already on the rod when you do this as the finials are probably too large to accommodate the curtain loops or rod channel. 10. Hang the curtains. An extra tip: if your décor is rustic, thin tree branches, birch or mesquite (with the spines removed), make for interesting window hardware. Don’t be ashamed of your inability to purchase high end window hardware, seize the opportunity to make a conversation piece out of an overlooked workhorse. |
Hardware