2 Affordable Window Treatments that Will Look Expensive and Beautiful

by | Feb 9, 2023 | DIY Projects, The Home Decor Basics

2 Affordable Window Treatments that Will Look Expensive and Beautiful

 

Picking the right window treatment can be scary and overwhelming. There are so many different styles, options, price differences, and qualities. You could spend a whole day trying to settle on the right choice for your home. But, stop right there! I have you covered! In today’s blog post, I will be showing you 2 affordable window treatments that are within budget, made of quality materials, and still give off that designer, expensive-looking appeal.

 

*Please note! The title of this blog post says that I will give you TWO affordable window treatments; however, I find that the two separate window treatments actually look 10x better when you do both instead of just one. Even when you buy both the shade and the curtains, the price is still considerably less than anything else on the market. 

 

The Details: 

Approx. Price if You Do Both- $105 (not including the tools you’ll need for installation)*

Approx. Price if You Choose One- $58 AT MOST  (not including the tools you’ll need for installation)*

Overall Quality Rating-  8

Difficulty to Install- MEDIUM (easier if you have an extra set of hands)

 

*The larger the window, the larger the price will be. 

 

Before You Buy!

Before you go and buy any of the items that I have linked below, please make sure you measure once. Then, go back and measure again. Getting the right dimensions is critical if you want your affordable window treatments to look good and fit properly. So, pull out that tape measure, paper, and pencil, and write those window dimensions down before you spend a dime!

 

The Roman Shades

Roman shades can send your budget way into the negative zone. However, roman shades play a huge role in taking your window treatments to that extra level often found in designer looks. Finding an affordable, high-quality option can be a daunting task. But, don’t worry. I will save you this step.

 

 After conducting hours of research looking for roman shades that were under $100, I found some! These roman shades from Amazon come in many different colors and sizes. I went with the light gray color and absolutely love them! Considering the price of these roman shades is almost half of what the average price is, the quality is amazing. Rolling them up and down is very smooth, and the shade itself is made of blackout material to block the sun. If you want your window treatments to look professionally designed, then these roman shades are sure to do the job… without hurting the paycheck. 

 

CLICK HERE TO BUY! 

 

The Curtain Rod

Ah, yes, you can’t have curtains without a rod to hang them on! Curtain rods all go for about the same price, so it really just depends on the look you’re wanting to achieve. I was going for a modern farmhouse look, so I went with a black curtain rod that has rounded finials (the two end pieces). I was super impressed with the quality- considering they were a bit less than all of the other curtain rods I looked at. 

 

Although the quality upon arrival matters, what really mattered to me was how they handled everyday use. A year later, I can safely say that both curtain rods (one for the master bedroom and one for the spare bedroom) look as good as new. There aren’t any paint chips, scratches, or smudges to be seen. I would definitely recommend this curtain rod to anybody going for the modern farmhouse, modern, or minimalistic style. 

 

CLICK HERE TO BUY!

 

The Curtains

Buying curtains online can be super scary. The colors and pictures online can look significantly different than what arrives at your doorstep. They can be sheerer than you thought, made with cheaper materials than you would like, and the pattern can look funny and crooked… the list of reasons for not liking the curtains you bought online is endless. I won’t lie. I was nervous to buy the curtains off of Amazon that I chose for those exact reasons. But, great news! They were just as the picture showed them to be. Slightly sheer, lightweight, and the exact color I wanted. Talk about relief! Although there are only solid options for these curtains, you can rest assured that they’ll come just as they’re pictured. Best part? They’re under $20 for TWO panels! Now, that’s a steal!

 

CLICK HERE TO BUY!

 

After You Buy Your Affordable Window Treatments!

Now that you have all of the supplies, it’s time to install everything!! 

 

The Supplies

  1. A drill
  2. A few screwdrivers 
  3. A leveler
  4. A tape measure 
  5. The roman shade
  6. The curtain rod
  7. The curtains
  8. An iron (or a steamer)
  9. (recommended) an extra person

 

The Breakdown

  1. Install the roman shades
  2. Mount the curtain rod
  3. Iron the curtains
  4. Hang the curtains
  5. Admire your work 🙂

 

Step #1: Install the Roman Shades

Installing the roman shades is super easy… if you follow the instructions that come with them! Because it’s so important that you follow the instructions to get good results, I’m not going to lay out all of the steps for you. Instead, I’ll just give pointers. 

To start, make sure that you align the two end pieces in the dead center of the top part of your window sill. This is super important. If you don’t align the plugs in the center of the sill, you risk having the shade rub against the window. After you have them aligned, tighten those plugs super well! You want them to lay flush with the window sill. After you have the end pieces centered, flush, and fastened, it’s time to hang the shade. This part can be tricky because it will be and should be a tight fit for your window. Nothing should be loose. This is where I fully recommend having a second set of hands available to help. The installation will be made a breeze if you have another person helping. Make sure that your shade is facing the right direction. And, simply click both ends of the shade into the plugs. Woo, hoo! Affordable, durable roman shades for the win!

 

Step #2: Mount the Curtain Rod

Similar to the roman shade, the curtain rod will come with instructions. I fully encourage you to read them to avoid having crooked curtains! The instructions should give you enough guidance on properly mounting the rod. But, here are a few more pieces of advice from my personal experience: 

 

First of all, make sure that you measure, measure, measure! Measure the width and the height of your window (trim included) at least two times. You can never be too careful when it comes to measurements. After you measure twice, leave a mark at the dead center of the window (trim included) and two more marks about two inches past the window trim on either side of the window. Use these marks to help you evenly space your supporting brackets. I also recommend fastening your support brackets a few inches higher than the actual window trim to help the curtains to hang higher. This will give the room a larger feel. Other than that… just make sure to follow your instructions, use a leveler to make sure you’re even, and all will turn out great!

 

Step #3: Iron Your Curtains!

Now that you have your roman shades and your curtain rod installed, you’ll probably want to rush right into hanging your curtains… But, wait. Before you hang anything on that curtain rod, you will want to iron (or steam) your curtains. Because the curtains were squished in such tight packaging, they’ll probably be pretty wrinkled. Nobody likes to look at wrinkled curtains! So, make sure that you iron or steam your curtains before you hang them.

 

Step #4: Hang the Curtains

Good news! You made it! Now that your curtains are wrinkle-free, you can hang them on your rod! I feel like you guys got his step without the need for any coaching. So, my only piece of advice is to hang away!

 

Conclusion

If you have been putting off getting window treatments for a while due to a tight budget, I hope these affordable window treatments help change that. Everything is super easy to install, super high quality, and super durable. Whether you choose one or both window treatment options, it will add both practicality and comfort to your home for a fraction of the cost. 

 

Just remember that even when something seems impossible, there are always ways to work around it. It is possible to get the looks that you want for less while not settling on low-quality products. Every time I look at the affordable window treatments that I did, I smile. They add so much warmth and character to a once sad room. And, I hope that these same window treatments will make you smile soon too. What are you waiting for? Get to shopping for these affordable window treatments and add a little more life and comfort to your space!

 

(Please Notice: The links in this post are Amazon affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase using one of the links at no extra cost to you.)

 

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