Guest Post: How to Make DIY Hardware Drapery Rods By Merri Cvetan

Disclosure / Disclaimer: I received this guest post,, free of charge, from Merri Cvetan, via Home Depot,  for posting purposes on this blog. No other compensation, monetary or in kind, has been received or implied for this post. Nor was I told how to post about it

I'm spending this week celebrating St Patrick's day and getting ready for Miss Grace's birthday party,

and starting to redecorate her bedroom to a 'big girl room', so I have some great posts for you this week! This post has a gerat idea that would be perfect for a boys room, a rec room or playroom!

There are several reasons to install draperies. The practical reasons include privacy, protection from the sun and energy efficiency.

If you live close to your neighbors, you'll need shades. The UV rays from the sun fade fabrics quickly, even in northern climates. And window coverings can help keep the heat out in the summer and the cold out in the winter. But the biggest reason is to add color, texture and pattern to a room.

From an interior design aspect, draperies, curtains and window coverings are the finishing touch. Choosing hardware (rods, brackets, holdbacks and finials) is like picking out jewelry when you get dressed.

Although there are hundreds of ready-made hardware options to choose from-wood, metal, iron and glass-I often design and make my own when decorating a room.

I love shopping in home improvement stores. I get my best ideas walking up and down the aisles.I had a young boys' room to decorate, so standard hardware just wasn't going to work. I wanted to go with an industrial look that would satisfy both an elementary-age boy and a teenager.

The first thing that caught my eye was a U-bolt. I chose the 3/4 in. zinc plated U-bolt with a plate washer and nuts. The two threaded arms keep the bolt securely in place. It makes the perfect industrial drapery "ring."

Then I needed a "rod." I found a zinc-plated slotted-steel 90° angle rod. It has holes on both sides. This one is 1.25 in. x 18 gauge. It won't bend and will be sturdy enough to hold the U-bolts and drapery valance. I used a chop saw to cut it to right length (about 1 in. beyond the outside width of the window trim).

I attached the angle rod to the wall using hollow wall anchors, with screws and washers appropriate for a plaster wall. I didn't want any of the window trim to show, so this rod is 5 inches above the top of the molding.

To attach the drapery to the U-bolt, I sewed a small flat washer to the pleat in the valance, and 

then threaded it on the bolt before attaching it to the rod.

Insert the bolt through two of the slots/holes. Top with the plate washer and screw the nuts as far as they go. I wanted as much of the threaded arms to show as possible.

For this project, I let the hardware dictate the style of the drapery. I chose the fabric and trim first and knew I wanted a valance (as opposed to long drapery panels). Once I decided on the angle rod and U-bolts, it made sense to do an inverted pleat. Since lime green was an accent color in the rest of the room, I trimmed the edges of the valance in that color.

This particular valance is an advanced sewing project, but the rod is easy to do and would work with a variety of valance styles.

About the Author:

Merri Cvetan writes on home décor and her innovative DIY projects, based on work she has performed on behalf of clients, for The Home Depot. Merri's interior design career, including window treatment projects, began after she bought an 1890s fixer-upper farm house. To view Home Depot's selection of window treatments, you can click here.