Grad Design Guide: Advice on Curtains and Shades

Figuring out how dress your windows may seem like a formidable task, but two Alexandria designers offer easy and inexpensive solutions:

DIY CORNICE BOARDS

From Shazalynn Cavin-Winfrey:

Do not buy expensive hardware or unlined panels that are only 50 inches wide (going wider will give you a fuller look). Instead, visit a local Next Day Blinds or Lowe's for an inexpensive shade and build your own cornice boards (decorative horizontal boards hung above a window, typically to conceal curtain rods or other hardware).

Cornice boards can be made with plywood, two-by-fours, L-brackets, a staple gun, a hot-glue gun, batting and fabric remnants from a fabric store. A hardware store will make all the wood cuts, and the rest can be done on your living room floor.

Pair your new cornice boards with $20 retractable, vinyl roller shades cut to size at Lowe's. Inexpensive grosgrain ribbon can be used to add detail such as lattice, Greek key corners or simple banding.

IKEA PANELS AND SETS

From Claire Schwab: Select curtains from a source such as Ikea, which carries curtains and hardware. Select panels with grommets or buy panels and use rings with clips for easy movement along the rod. The colors of the panels should be neutral to allow for style or color changes down the road. Use pattern and color in small doses (on area rugs, sofa pillows or artwork, for example). Suggested window items from Ikea:

-- Curtain rod only: Vagen curtain rod set ($6.99), pictured.

-- Rod and hooks for a grommet look: Trolig curtain rod set ($7.99).

-- Neutral panels: Aina curtains ($49.99 for a pair).