How to make DIY reclaimed wood curtain hooks and hang sheer tabbed curtains. A quick, inexpensive, and easy way to add farmhouse charm to any window.
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I recently ditched the blinds to our upstairs hallway window and replaced them with something with a bit more character. We also painted all of the upstairs walls white and replaced the golden oak with gray trim.
I love the idea of curtain hooks instead of a traditional curtain rod. I’ve seen this idea on other blogs as well as on Etsy. So, I decided to give it a try on my own.
Farmhouse Style Curtain Hooks for Tabbed Curtains
But, before I share how this came together, a note on “reclaimed wood”. I know we don’t all have access to reclaimed wood, but that doesn’t mean you can’t “fake” the look, so to speak. This is something I’ve done on a few past projects:
How to distress new wood to look “old” or “reclaimed”
I’ve tried this a few different times on various projects, and the lesson I have learned is this: There really is NO WRONG WAY to distress wood. It’s all a matter of preference!
On this frame, I layered chalk paint, only letting a little bit of the natural wood show through:
On these wooden curtain rods and brackets, I opted to mix wood stain, and then lightly distress with white and gray chalk paint, after “roughing” up the wood with a wire brush:
Tutorial: How to Make DIY Reclaimed Wood Curtain Hooks
Supplies needed for this project:
- piece of wood – I used a scrap 1×4 from a previous projects
- wood stain – two colors (light and dark)
- chalk paint – gray and white
- brushes, rags, paper towels, etc.
- various tools for roughing up the wood (see below)
- hooks – I used these exact ones
- drill, bits, and screws
- sheer tabbed curtains – they must be tabbed!!
Protect Your Work Surface
I just laid a trash bag flat on the floor. When using wood stain, be sure to work in a well-ventilated area.
Rough Up The Wood
Here are some tools you may consider using:
- wire brush
- screwdriver, chisel, painter’s tool
- hammer
- hand saw (or even an old serrated knife)
Distress With a Purpose
New wood is very smooth, so grab that wire brush or saw-tooth blade and work in the direction of the wood grain to add more texture. This will create more surface area for the wood stain to stick to.
Use a chisel to scrape down the square edges of the board.
Use a sharp tool to add scratches and dents. I placed two dents next to each other in the wood to create the effect that a staple had once been there but was removed.
Stain and Paint
What stain you use is really a matter of personal preference. I try to pick stains that don’t have a golden undertone.
I also like to use two stains – a lighter and a darker. Don’t mix them together first. Instead, use a paper towel to alternate layering on the stain. This way you can focus the darker stain on more distressed areas to really highlight them.
Before the stain has fully dried, use a dry brush with a very small amount of chalk paint (gray and white work great) to “dry brush” on a bit of paint in the direction of the wood grain.
Add Your Hardware
Evenly space the hooks across your board and attach with screws. I used ten hooks, which was just about right over my 32-inch window.
Leave two hooks unsecured. Use that space to screw your board into the wall. Then you can cover those two screws with hooks.
Hang Two Curtains
I used inexpensive sheer white curtains from Ikea, but you can find similar ones online – here, here, and here.
Depending on the amount of privacy and the number of tabs on your curtain, you will want to overlap the two panels in the center. Hang one curtain, and then overlap the second one over it.
If you want to pull the curtains back, you can. I made VERY basic curtain ties with a bit of twine.
My “NEW” Reclaimed Wood Curtain Hooks
That’s it! I’m so glad to be rid of the old blinds. These new curtain panels have so much more character and charm!
More DIY Curtain Panels and Curtain Rod Ideas:
- No Welding Needed! A DIY Copper Shower Curtain Rod
- 10 No-Sew DIY Curtain Panels
- 10 DIY Curtain Rods that will Save you Hundreds!
- DIY Industrial Pipe Curtain Rods – Customize for any Size Window
UPDATE: Here’s what that hallway wall looks after I added a fun paint feature.
I decided to make that wall really *pop* using a sponge paint technique. It was SO easy, and the best part? This was a ZERO dollar home decor project. I used all leftover supplies from previous home DIY projects. Watch how it came together here: