01.23
2012

Painted Curtains and Pillows for the Master Bedroom

Well, I finally got my pictures uploaded of the curtains and pillows we painted a couple of weeks ago for our master bedroom. Believe it or not the white “curtains” we had hanging up there for the past three and a half years were just white twin sheets. I had them hanging like curtains so I don’t think anyone knew, but it always drove me crazy. I never could find exactly what I was looking for, though, in my price range.

My sister, Dana recently moved and got a new job in New York and got to decorate a new apartment with her best friend, Christine. It turned out fabulous and I hope at some point I will be able to take some photos to share with you all. Anyway, when it came time to make some draperies she sent me a link to some fabric swatches that she was interested in but wasn’t quite sure about. I agreed that although they were all pretty none of them were quite right for her space and suggested a stripe. I thought the bold look of a wide stripe would be a nice contrast to the otherwise soft room she was designing. It turned out finding a decently priced striped fabric that would look right in her apartment was not an easy task. I mentioned that I had seen on Pinterest some painted curtains but wasn’t sure where. She found some links and decided to go ahead and give it a try. She bought two long white panels at IKEA and painted away. When she sent me a phone picture they were GORGEOUS! I fell in love with them and had her pick me up a pair of the same panels at IKEA and she sent them back down with Jason after Christmas. I used leftover paint from Lillie’s room (London Fog by Benjamin Moore) and decided to go ahead and give it a try. I was in a hurry so I didn’t bother to look up any tutorials but basically what I did was just used painters tape to tape off every 12 inches or so and then painted away. If you do want to find a full tutorial for this idea here is one from Shaunna at Perfectly Imperfect. I LOVE her blog!
I did two coats heavy coats (I didn’t want the stripes to be see-through at all) and then ripped off the tape and that was it! It was pretty time consuming taping each panel off, but other than that it was really easy and I have to say I am so happy with them! And seeing how I used paint I already had they only cost me $24.99! (Or whatever the IKEA curtains were…I think it was $24.99, but I will check with Dana and make sure that is correct).
 I moved all my porch furniture aside to make room so I could lay each panel down. I had to do one at a time because of the space it took up. Oh how I wish we had a basement! =) 
After they were dry we pulled the tape off (Lillie loved that part!) and hung them.

I also played around with the pillows on our bed a little bit. First I brought back up the bolster pillow. It was in the garage after the girls did some damage to it =). I fixed it back up, though, and added a little panel with some new words on it that I was playing around with. We are hoping to have a bolster designed to sell soon. I also used the sheets that used to be our curtains to make pillow covers for our Euro shams on the back of the bed. You can see them below on the all white side that has a little ruffle in the center.

I made the Euro Shams reversable. On the other side I painted on thick strip down the middle using the same paint as the curtains. Once again, Lillie had lots of fun ripping off the tape once the paint was dry.

Here is one side of my extra sheets that were once curtains and now are pillows. 

And here is the other side:
Neither side is perfect but seeing how they go behind everything it doesn’t really matter.
I didn’t like mixing the gray stripes with the black on the other pillows so when I switched them to this side I removed the black pillows. I was a little torn on which look I liked better at first but now I am pretty sure I like this softer gray look better. What do you think?

 

While I was taking photos of our bedroom, Lillie made me these little Valentine’s and wanted me to take pictures of them. =) 

And here is my little rascal doing a dance move on the trunk in front of the new curtains.

I also wanted to let you know that we have two new Valentine’s pillows available in our shop today! Well, actually they don’t need to be specifically Valetine’s pillows. I have used the ones I made last year in Lola’s room year round.

 And we also have a Ruffled Heart Pillow in White:

That’s it for today! I hope you all have a wonderful Monday!

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100 thoughts on “Painted Curtains and Pillows for the Master Bedroom”

  2. Beautiful, Jenni! Your curtain panels look perfect! They are a great addition. I love the striped pillows on your bed too. We also have all white bedding, and I keep thinking that our bed needs a little more . . . it looks too stark. The soft gray stripes are great!

  3. Guess I need to add painting curtains to my list!!! Gorgeous! I was just searching drape images on pinterest! Guess you read my mind! Love the pillows too! I need to come visit someday! Melaine

  4. Jenni it looks gorgeous! I love the painted panels, great idea! I had a hard time finding panels that were reasonably priced so this is a great way to customize. Love the soft gray on the bed, it's perfect! Have a nice week! Susan

  7. Great. Love it! What finish of paint did you use? Eggshell, flat, semi-gloss?Do you know what fabric the curtains are? How far apart did you put the stripes and how wide are the stripes? Love the way the pillows and curtains gave your room a whole new look. You always have great ideas.

    1. Thanks, Donna! It was an eggshell finish, with roughly 12 in stripes. The curtains look like linen, but based on the price I doubt they were. I'm pretty sure they were a cotton blend.

  8. Love this! I thought about doing this last year when I did our guest bedroom, but chickened out! I may give it a try! I like both looks but I think the softer gray is more in tune with your style!

  9. Oh my goodness, i LOVE the wide stripes on the curtains AND on the pillows! You just used regular left over paint??? I have spent quite some time looking for striped curtains online, and now i see you can just do them yourself… COOL!
    Tell Lillie, her valentines are so pretty! She's got the touch just like her mom!

    Cindy

    1. Thanks, Cindy! Yes, it was just leftover wall paint from Lillie's room. I thought it was going to be too light, but it came out a lot darker on the curtains than it did on the walls…. and it was free, YAY!

  10. WOW – the photos are gorgeous. Those ruffled pillows are my favorites! I mean, just gorgeous. Striped Curtains are so universal – I don't think patterns like stripes or dots go out of style. I LOVE what you did with yours! Lillie's Valentines are sweet and so is her little dance! Take care this week! xo

  11. I have always loved your bedroom, and now it's even better with the curtains! I think I like the grey's in the pillow switch, but I adore the bolster, so it's a tough call. You can just have two looks for when you need a change =)

  13. I love the new curtains! I've been looking for curtains for our living room. I wanted them to have some pattern but, still let the light fillter thru. I think I'll give this a try. Thanks Jen, you always inspire me.

  14. You're so talented and inspiring. 'Wow' ist the right word to describe your work.
    I have another question.. I saw the beautiful flowers on the bed table next to the window on several pictures. They look fabulous. Are these cherry blossom branches?

    1. Thanks! They are, but they faux flowers. I don't normally like to use fake flowers/plants, but I do like these. I got them at Pier 1 a few years ago.

  15. they are stunning! great job! need to go get a few extra white sheets (they are on sale at target right now for like $4)!!!

  16. I heard lots of bloggers having trouble painting stripes on curtains..saying it soaked up too much paint and they quit…yours came out like a dream. I think they were using drop cloths and maybe the fabric isn't suited to the paint? At any rate, always something pretty cool going on over here~I get my "wish i had a cute little daughter" fix when I am here, and some decorating inspiration too!

  17. Gorgeous bedroom…I would love having one as beautiful. I love the stripes and just happen to have some curtains that they may work really well on! I'm going to have to give it a try! The reversible pillows are genius too.

  19. The curtains look great! It looks like they are "pinch pleated" and on the rod at the same time – how did you do that?

    Rebekah

    1. Thanks so much! They aren't actually pinch-pleated, but due to the paint stiffening the fabric it helps give it a nice crisp look which I really like.

  21. Love the new look!!! Curtains look beautiful!! Did you get a new lamp as well? I love it!! Is it from Homegoods? Also are your hydrangeas real? They look so pretty, where did you get them? Lillie is a cutie pie!!!!

    1. Thanks! I got the lamp about 5 years ago at a store called The Horned Puffin. Yes, the hydrangeas are real. I got them at Trader Joe's with a little eucalyptus mixed in.

    2. Ha! I should have known, love Trader Joe's!! I thoroughly love your blog, it's my favorite!!! You are one very talented woman and your little girls are so precious!! Enjoy them, I have three of my own ,they are teens now, i love them to pieces! P.S. I have enjoyed all the pillows and Christmas stockings ordered from you!!! God Bless!!

  22. Oh my the curtains are beautiful..I love the heart pillows but my fav are the hearts Lilly made..What a cutie..Have a great week…

  23. OH MY WORD. Your curtains and bedroom look FABULOUS. And you're TOO sweet–you know your blog is one of my favs! Thanks for your sweet words!
    🙂
    shaunna

  24. Love this room! I came across your blog on pinterest and I'm so glad I did! What is the paint color that is used in this room??

  26. Your curtains turned out beautifully! I think the stripes add a fun touch to your room….elegantly fun! Your pillows on your bed are lovely, too. I think everything you do is golden, Jennifer. It's always a joy to see your new projects. How darling Lillie's Valentines are! Love love love the new ruffled heart pillows! I hope you have a great week.

  30. of all the beautiful and inspiring things i could comment about with this post want to know the most impressive of all? sweet lillie's amazing point. she will make a lovely ballerina!

  38. Love the painted curtains! They turned out beautiful..I just have a question about the paint color you used (London Fog, right?) is it more of a neutral color? In the pics it looks neutral..but when I looked it up the swatch looked more gray. In the pictures it looks just perfect for what I need….and since it could take me like 18hours to pick a color and I have 3 little ones running circles around me, I was looking to eliminate a step 🙂

    Thanks!

    Meaghan

    1. Hi Meaghan – I checked with Jenni about London Fog. She said it is definitely more of a light grey in real life. In the pictures it turned out looking more beige than it really is.

  39. I really wanted to tell you that what I LOVE, ADMIRE & RESPECT the most is the love you have for your daughter!!..it just comes shining through!!..My 9 yr. Old, Isabella, dabbles in every single project that I attempt. Please tell your little honey that those are some FABULOUS VALENTINES!!, & a very graceful dance move!!…& who doesn't love pulling the tape??;) Lisa.

  40. Working on my 1st grandchild's (boy) nursery. They live 200 miles away so I am doing as much as I can ahead of time before I go to paint and put it all together in a couple of weeks. I fell in love with the painted curtains and created them this weekend. Didn't have a minute's trouble and they are amazing. The nursery theme is nautical with blues and greens. I did a green stripe that matches and can't wait to hang them. Thank you for the idea and the inspiration. And best of all was the minimal cost. Wooo Hooo.

  42. We just did this. And they turned out great. They aren't perfect, some of the paint bled under the tape. But I love them. We're about to hang them up. I think I got the same color as you unknowingly. But in our bedroom we're doing a nautical theme so not only did we do the London Fog color we used the deepest navy we could find. It looks really good. But the secret to that is, I messed up. It was supposed to be London Fog every other and then I missed a row! So I added the blue in. But I was wondering, did you wash them before you hung them?

  43. Hi there!! I am in the process of coming up with a design for our MB. I am coveting your room! What color is on your walls?? I wouldn't have thought to go that dark.. but MY GOODNESS it's GORGEOUS!!

    I am perusing your blog now.. You are very talented and you have phenomenal taste 🙂 So happy I'm here!

    Thanks!

  44. I absolutely love your decorating style as it reflects my tastes as well. I love the striped curtains. What a great idea!! You're a great inspiration. Also, the lighter pillows are great for spring and summer and its always good to have change. I do have to say that I adore the black pillows as well. The pillows on my own bed reflect the whites, creamy neutrals as well as two black pillows. I love that look!!! Keep up the beautiful work 🙂

  47. I have a funny question: which type of roller did you use? A smooth roller, or a regular old textured wall roller?

  49. Bedroom is a comfortable private space that provides relaxation. The interior and decoration directly impacts the overall feel of the bedroom, so they should be given special attention.

  50. What a beautiful room and I just love how your curtains turned out! I decided to create my own striped curtains in a gray/white combo and your guide was so helpful! Just wanted to let you know that I featured your curtains as inspiration on my curtain blog post. Thanks for sharing!

    doordiy.wordpress.com/2012/07/12/earning-our- stripes/

    -Julie

  51. I'm going to attempt this tonight! I have the same curtains so I got them taped last night. I also chose London Fog. LOVE the color on the swatch. I also got the fabric textile to add and I'm praying they turn out as nice as yours. 🙂

  55. Just wondering what the name of the curtains are that you purchased at Ikea? Great idea great room! I must try!

  56. LOVE your home. You have done a smashing job of creating cozy elegance!!!
    Where did you get the wooden looking lamps in your master bedroom? I am on the hunt and have not found anything that I remotely like for anything close to an affordable price. Thanks in advance and I look forward to seeing your blog notification in my email in box!

    1. Thanks! It's by Aidan Gray. I got it for 75% off so it was reasonable at that price but if it weren't on sale it would have been WAY out of my budget for a lamp. I actually want to get another one similar and have not had any luck so am thinking of buying one at Target with a similar shape and painting it in some distressed gray tones to see if I can get a similar look because I don't think I'll ever be finding another Aidan Gray at 75% off. =(

  57. Beautiful Bedroom! I love everything about it..the colors, the painted curtains, the sweet dreams pillow, the tufted bed panel..all of it! Really really great job!!

  60. Just curious… Did you have any problems with the paint drying and cracking or crumbling off the curtains after a while? This is a great idea but I'm wondering how it held up over the long haul 🙂

    1. I have not had any problems with the curtains at all. The pillows cracked a tiny bit when I washed and dried them. They still look fine but not as nice and crisp as they looked before.

  61. I'm curious too, did you paint all 4 walls Kendall Charcoal? I was thinking of 1 accent wall in the KC, and the other 3 a lighter grey.

    1. Yes, all four walls are Kendall Charcoal. It's probably hard to tell because of the shadows in the corners but you actually can see three of the four walls in this post. And the other wall can be seen in some of our other master bedroom posts. Personally I am not a big fan of accent walls if it's just a different paint color. I am a big fan of accent walls, though, if they have a pattern!

  62. Question for you…might be hard to answer without pictures. I would like to do these curtains in our main room upstairs. ( It is a bi-level so the family/dining and kitchen are all in same room with cathedral ceiling.) we have been painting all of the trim and doors white. The kitchen cupboards are still oak but we plan to paint them black. We have painted the walls a light blue. Our furniture is beige. My question is should I go white and black stripe or beige and black or something different all together. These would be on all three sets of windows…family room and sliding glass door. One window has a crescent shaped window on top which I would leave open.
    TIA

  63. Hi! Can you tell me if you are able to wash your painted curtains? If not, how do you clean them? I love them and can' t seem to find any like this anywhere:/ Thanks!!

    1. I have not washed them and probably won't ever. I know there are some bloggers who I've seen do this recently and they've added some kind of fabric medium to their paint to make it washable. I can't remember where I saw it off the top of my head but if you google it I am sure it would show up!

  65. The curtains turned out great! But, I have been coveting your chandelier, it's gorgeous. I'm curious where you found it or if you painted or added the crystals yourself?

    Thanks!

  66. Where did you get the picture you have above your master bed? And also the "Sweet Dreams" pillow? I love them both!

    1. Thanks. I got it for 75% off at a little shop in Florence, SC about six or seven years ago and I made the pillow and then hand drew the sweet dreams.

  69. It's faux silk 🙂 Can I paint white stripes on colored panels though? Or does it have to be white curtains and paint colored stripes?

    1. Hmm I've never tried doing it that way. I would imagine it would work, although you may want to do an extra coat of white to make sure it covers well.

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