DIY Window Wear

A few readers had questions about how we made the DIY kitchen window treatments shown here in my Oh No-ing to Glowing Kitchen reveal post. Here is a short summary of how we used extra materials from our remodeling projects to make pelmet box style custom window treatments out of leftover wood and fabric.

The materials used for the small window were pieces of beadboard that we had left from the kitchen cabinet trim. The larger window over our sliding door required a more sturdy material to ensure it would be rigid and for that we used MDF. You could use a less sturdy material to construct similar window boxes but for a family that moves as often as we do, they needed to be able to withstand being handled if we wanted to keep them!



If you don't have anything at home that you can use, you will need the following materials:

• (1) eight foot long 1 X 4
• (1) 1/8 inch thick sheet MDF
• Batting (This helps make the edges rounded and will help disguise whatever material you use for the frame)
• Fabric (I had nearly seven yards but for both windows needed about five)
• Brad nailer and Staple gun
• (2) Hanging hardware eyelets

The photos below are of the beadboard but the concept is the same if you are using the MDF.



Step 1 Construct the frame using the 1 x 4 (The width will depend on how far out from each side of window you want to extend)
Step 2 Cut and attach the MDF (Beadboard shown here) with construction adhesive or a brad/finishing nailer
Step 3 Attach the eyelet for hanging onto both ends of the 1 x 4 frame

After constructing the frame, cover completely with batting. We stapled it right to the center board on the back. Then do the same with your fabric, trimming it, pulling it tightly and tucking it under itself as you go. I wrapped the corners like you would with wrapping paper on the sides of a package.

The eyelets will be covered now so use a razor blade to trim the fabric around them and uncover them. You could also try to attach the eyelet after covering the frame but it will be tougher to go through the layers of batting and fabric. 

The fabric I chose has a pattern that is tricky to line up so depending on your fabric choice, be mindful of how the fabric looks on top when you are stapling to the underside!

For the window over our sink the cabinets on either side are close and didn't allow much room so the box is close to the window fame.

For the large window we made the box extend past the window frame two inches on each side and hung it several inches above the window to give the illusion of more height. There is a curtain rod with two white panels hanging behind it.

I purchased seven yards of fabric and covered two window boxes, two barstools, and still have extra so depending on how large your windows are you may be able to get by with much less. Our small window box is 20 X 41 and the large is about 16 X 80.

Happy window styling!