• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Iekel Road Home
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • DIY
  • Design
  • About
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×

    How To Make A Wooden Curtain Rod For Cheap

    Published: Oct 12, 2020 · Modified: Apr 5, 2021 by Aly @ Iekel Road Home · This post may contain affiliate links · This blog generates income via ads · #sponsoredpost ·

    9063 shares
    • Share
    • Tweet

    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.

    wooden curtain rod close up

    Before You Begin

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

    Apartment Therapy

    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

    Drill

    ⅛" Drill Bit

    1" Hole Saw

    Miter Saw

    Measuring Tape

    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

    1 ⅜ Dowel

    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.

    • drilling into wooden dowel
    • creating a whole with a holesaw in dowel
    • showing hole in wooden dowel for curtain rod
    • chop saw cutting wooden 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.

    • pre drilling end of dowel
    • adding dowel screw to end of dowel

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

    dowel bracket

    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.

    • man measuring window casing
    • man measuring 1 foot past window

    *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.

    • drywall screw
    • installing anchor screw to wall
    • installing curtain rod bracket into wall

    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.

    bedroom with wooden curtain 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.

    More Furniture Builds

    How To DIY a Cozy Closet Reading Nook

    How to Build a Modern Peg Rail Shelf

    Easy DIY Floating Shelves we built for FREE!

    How To Repurpose Old Salvaged Doors for Closet

    How To Make an Extra Long Curtain Rod

    Shop This Post

    PIN IT FOR LATER

    how to make a wooden curtain rod pinterest image
    « How To DIY a Cozy Closet Reading Nook
    How To Repurpose Old Salvaged Doors for Closet »
    9063 shares
    • Share
    • Tweet

    Primary Sidebar

    Hi! We are Greg and Aly, DIY enthusiast, licensed plumber and graphic designer, updating our home one project at a time. Follow along for budget friendly DIY home decor ideas. 

    More about me →

    Popular

    • How to Update Old Wicker Furniture
    • How To Paint a Brick Fireplace Step by Step
    • How to Create a Home Library Living Room
    • Hamuq Mattress Review: Canadian Hybrid Mattress

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • About
    • Privacy Policy

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    More

    • DIY
    • Design

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2021 Iekel Road Home

    9063 shares