How To Make A Wooden Curtain Rod For Cheap

Curtain rods can be quite expensive, have you ever wondered what you could use instead of a traditional curtain rod?

In this post we show you how to make a homemade wooden curtain rod for cheap, using just a wooden dowel.

Before You Begin

Use this helpful diagram to help you with your curtain rod placement. You can find the full details here.

It can really make or break a room depending on how you position your curtain rod. You want to make sure you can see the casing around the window. You also want to make sure you rase the curtain rod well above the window frame.

Curtains should frame a window giving the appearance of a taller ceiling height and larger windows.

Supplies needed to build a wooden curtain rod

1" Dowel (length of curtain rod - we got 72" length)

1 ⅜" Dowel

5/32 - 1-½ Dowel Screws

Drywall Anchors

How to make a wooden curtain rod bracket

Using a 1 ⅜ wooden dowel mark out two measurements.

Mark 3" from the end for the hole and 4 ½" for the final cut.

measuing tape showing 3" mark on wooden dowel

measuring tape showing 4.5" on wooden dowel

Predrill with a ⅛" drill bit onto the 3" mark made.

Using the 1" hole saw, drill through the wooden dowel.

creating a whole with a holesaw in dowel

Now cut the bracket to size with a miter saw on the 4 ½" mark.

Pre-drill the long end of the bracket.

Using plyers screw the dowel screw into the bracket.

This is what your final dowel rod bracket will look like. The wooden dowel will sit inside this bracket forming the full curtain rod.

How to make a curtain rod out of dowels

Measure the length of your window casing. You want the curtain to sit just outside the casing.

Now measure 1 ft. off the window, this is where your bracket will go.

Add 3 inches per side to determine rod length.

*Our window was 37" wide. We marked 12" from the casing for the brackets. Added 3" per side to find the curtain rod length.

Curtain Rod Length: window length + 24" (12" per side) + 6" (3" over hang per side)

How to install diy wooden curtain rod brackets

Add drywall anchor 12" off the window casing. Install curtain rod bracket into the drywall anchor.

Preferably, you want to hang the wooden curtain rod brackets into a stud. Framing studs are usually 16" apart, if you can hang your bracket 16" off the window casing and hit a stud that would be best.

Living in an old house we have learned that building codes are much different now, we rarely find that our wall studs are 16" apart. In this case, we used drywall anchors and so far they have held up great.

How to hang wooden dowel rod

man holding wooden curtain rod standing on a stool

Now that the brackets have been installed, add curtains to the curtain rod.

man standing on ladder installing wooden curtain rod

Feed the dowel through the left bracket and then back up and through the right side.

man standing on ladder measuring wooden curtain rod

Straighten out the dowel curtain rod so that it is even on both sides. It should be 3" from the middle of the bracket to the end of the rod.

I hope that you find these homemade curtain rods to be helpful. I know full well how expensive it can be to purchase brand new curtain rods, especially if you are designing in a new home.

We love the softness and natural elements that the wood brings to the room. If you happen to use our tutorial we would love to see your take on it in your space. Send us a picture over on Instagram.