• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Meatloaf and Melodrama logo
  • Home
  • About
  • Collaborate
  • Recipes
  • Subscribe
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Bloglovin
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Twitter
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Home
  • About
    • Collaborate
  • Recipes
  • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Home
    • About
      • Collaborate
    • Recipes
    • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×

    projects

    No-Sew Drop Cloth Valances

    This post may contain affiliate links. Please see disclosure for more information. Published: Mar 31, 2014 · Modified: Mar 25, 2021 by Dee

    Hello Everyone!

    Can you believe it's nearly April? I don't know how the weather is where you are, but around here, March is not going out like a lamb! It's been very windy lately, and in the desert, that means flying dust! So, I spent a lot of time indoors this past weekend, but I finally got to finish the no-sew valances I've been making for the family room windows.

    The valances are made from drop cloths, and not only are they super easy to make, but they are also very inexpensive -- my kind of project!

    window coverings made from drop cloths and stencils



    The family room has three big windows that are fairly close to each other. I kept the honeycomb shades, which were there when we moved in, only because they are energy efficient and do a great job of blocking out the hot desert sun. Someday, I may replace them with something else, but for now, they stay. Still, I never liked how plain the windows looked.

    plain window without valance



    I've been seeing so many cute curtains made from drop cloths, and because 
    these are already hemmed, I knew it was the perfect material for a non-sewer like me! But, instead of making curtains, I decided that drop cloth valances would work better for this room, primarily because the kids and fur boys hang out here, and lets just say it's a very casual room. Because of the amount of light in here, it's also hard to get a good picture!

    I bought two drop cloths from Home Depot. Each was 5 X 5, and they were exactly wide enough for the window. All I had to do was cut each in half. The hemmed edge would be showing, and the rough edge would be folded back on top of the window.

    plain drop cloth


    The longest part of the project was deciding what color and design would work best for the room. I almost used blue and green, for spring, but in the end, I decided to keep the color neutral so that the valances would work with any season. I used a watered-down burnt umber and stenciled a design over the material. 

    stencil on drop cloth valance


    The design is darker in some spots, but I like this effect. It almost looks like the cloth is dyed and not painted.

    stencil on drop cloth valance with paint


    Instead of using a curtain rod, I kept the material folded and had Hubby nail the valances to the wall in the crease. Weird, isn't it? But, I thought three rods on the same wall wouldn't look right, and this was a really cheap way of hanging the valances! I only spent around $20 for the drop cloths, which covered three windows, and I have one more left over.

    drop cloth valance over window


    Here is how all three valances look over the windows. I don't iron, so the wrinkles will eventually fall out, and that's fine with me! I love how the brown print works with the room. I can always add more color by changing the pillows, throws and other decorations.

    room with stencil drop cloth valances over windows



    What do you think? Did I go overboard on the frugality? We visited some model homes recently, and I noticed they had valances without curtain rods. I don't know the method the designers used, but the result wasn't too different from they way mine look. I'm just happy to cross another project off of my list!

    Thanks for visiting, and have a wonderful day!

    Dee 🙂

    Pin
    Share
    Tweet
    Pin
    Share
    Tweet

    More projects

    • chocolate-peppermint-sugar-scrub-recipe
      Chocolate Peppermint Sugar Scrub
    • easy-student-dorm-desk-organizer
      Easy Dorm Desk Organizer
    • diy-summer-cork-coasters
      DIY Summer Cork Coasters
    • sharpie-tie-dye-t-shirt-craft
      Easy Sharpie Tie Dye T-Shirt

    You May Also Like

    chocolate-peppermint-sugar-scrub-recipe
    Chocolate Peppermint Sugar Scrub
    easy-student-dorm-desk-organizer
    Easy Dorm Desk Organizer
    diy-summer-cork-coasters
    DIY Summer Cork Coasters

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Review Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    I’m the blogger, chief cook, recipe developer and photographer behind Meatloaf and Melodrama. I absolutely love to create easy, budget-friendly, homemade meals and treats for my family. I also love to think of new ways to repurpose leftovers so that my family will actually eat them!

    More about me →

    Trending Recipes

    • baked breaded pork chops with panko bread crumbs and mashed potatoes on plate
      Baked Breaded Pork Chops
    • ground beef pasta, creamy shells and beef, in creamy tomato sauce in dutch oven
      Creamy Shells and Beef
    • Easter bunny bait snack mix with popcorn and candy in glass bowl
      Bunny Bait Snack Mix
    • easy strawberry jello fruit salad on plate
      Strawberry Jello Fruit Salad
    • baked kielbasa and sauerkraut in casserole dish with parsely
      Grandma's Kielbasa and Sauerkraut Recipe
    • no bake banana pudding with cool whip and nilla wafer cookies and sliced bananas
      Easy No Bake Banana Pudding
    • slices of grandma's nut roll with swirls walnut filling on a white platter
      Grandma's Nut Roll Recipe
    • easter lamb cake decorated with buttercream frosting, colored coconut and jelly beans
      The Best Easter Lamb Cake Recipe

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • All About Dee
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms & Conditions

    Newsletter

    • Sign up for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact

    As Seen On

    as seen on buzzfeed delish country living forbes southern living

    Copyright © 2023 Meatloaf and Melodrama