2014 Cheap and Easy Window Treatment Projects Ideas

If you have bare windows, we have plenty of quick,cheap, easy, and affordable solutions to get you covered.

 You'll love these ideas to try in 2014! I hope you find these ideas useful and inspiring to you .... Enjoy it !!!!

Tuck and Fold : An orgami inspired folding technique turns plain window sheers into a one of a kind creation. To create the curtain, purchase two sheer window panels. Cut the first into equal size squares. Lay the other panel on the floor. On the squares, pin opposite corners in the center of the square. Then lay the pinned pieces on the full panel in a pattern of your liking, overlapping the corners slightly. (We repeated an X shape to cover the lower portion of the sheer.) Hand sew centers at the pins.

Flower Power : Take plain white curtains up a notch with a simple flower embellishment. To create the rosettes, trace around a 3-inch diameter drinking glass on the flower fabric. Repeat until you have five same-size circles per rosette. Cut out circles and fold into quarters. Hold all the quarter circles in your hand and stitch together with a needle and thread at the base of the flowers. Create the number of rosettes that you want and stitch them to a pair of curtain panels, alternating heights. Run a bead of fabric glue from the flower to the bottom of the curtain panel. Place a length of green yarn on the glue, wrapping it under the bottom edge of the panel and gluing to the back of the curtain. Cut leaf shapes from green cotton fabric and position next to the yarn. Sew a straight stitch down the center and around the edges to secure.

No-Sew Roman Shade : Made from a miniblind and midweight upholstery fabric, this Roman shade can be assembled in a matter of hours. First, lay the blind on your work surface with the front facing down. Set the length by adjusting the plug underneath the thick bottom slat according to the package instructions. Next, snip away only the strings that connect the slats on both sides. Maintain the slats at 7-inch intervals; snap off and remove the rest. Place the fabric facedown under the blind. Mark the fabric where it folds at the sides, top, and bottom of the slats. Remove the shade and press the fabric folds. Place the fabric under the shade, then glue the sides of the fabric to each slat and the top and bottom edges of the fabric to the top and bottom slats. Use clothespins to hold the fabric in place while it dries.

Embroidered Inspiration : Embroider a favorite saying or quote on curtains to make a fun statement. Measure the width of your panel. Cut kraft paper to that width, and write cursive words or letters on the paper in pencil. Trace the lettering with thick black marker on the paper, then tape the paper to the back of the curtain panel so the letters show through. Trace the words on the fabric using a 4b art pencil or white chalk. Following the lines, embroider a simple straight stitch using all five strands of embroidery floss.

Chevron Shade : Go geometric and paint a chevron design onto a plain shade. To make a chevron stripe, determine the center point of the fabric on the Roman shade, and position the pattern for pleasing symmetry. We allowed for 4-inch stripes. Use a plastic artist's triangle tool (or create your own triangle shape out of cardboard), and pencil to trace lines onto the shade. Use a straightedge to make sure the chevron stripes are level. Tape above and below the pencil line with painter's tape. Repeat for each stripe. Use a brush or roller to paint on fabric paint. Remove the painter's tape and install the shade once the paint is dry.

Embellished Bamboo Blinds : Off-the shelf bamboo blinds become a custom window treatment with ribbon and a little bit of glue gun action. We layered two different types of grosgrain ribbon on the edge of this blind. Glue the middle ribbon on first, then glue on the top and bottom ribbons, overlapping them slightly with the middle ribbon. For all ribbons, tuck the ends under the edge of the blind and secure to the back for a polished look.

Fringed Cafe Curtain : Set your windows apart with dyed linen strips. Start with sheer white linen and cut into strips. Divide the strips into four or five groups. You'll dye each group a different shade. We created five different colors using red and yellow crafts paint. Mix 1 tablespoon of crafts paint to 1 gallon of water and stir. Test the dye on a scrap of linen. Experiment with colors and saturation levels before you dye your final strips. Once you're happy with the color, plunge a length of fabric into the mixture. Remove and hang to dry. Repeat until you're satisfied with the mix of colors. Iron the dry fabric to set the color. Line up the strips in alternating colors, then tie to a curtain rod. Cut the fabric strips to the desired length. (These were cut short to create a cafe curtain.)

Lovely Lace : Get a lush, feminine look on a budget with DIY curtain panels decked out in low cost doilies and lace remnants. To begin, cut sheer fabric into two panels to fit your window. Finish the edges with no-sew adhesive strips. In a bucket, mix fabric dye with water until the desired saturation is achieved, then dunk the doilies in the dye. Remove and let dry, then attach the doilies to the curtain panels in a random pattern using a hot-glue gun. For a cropped look, adhere a few doilies along the edge and trim accordingly. To finish, glue a lace remnant to the bottom of the curtain, leaving an inch or so extra on either side to fold over and finish the edges.

Marbleized Curtains : Create custom marbleized fabric that starts with a design you create on paper. Click the link below to learn how to marbleize paper and then upload your design to a fabric printing service (we used Spoonflower), order your fabric, and sew it into basic drapes.

From All Angles : Plain curtain panels require no more than stitched-on triangles in various hues of satin to become eye-catching. Select a few fabrics in coordinating colors and patterns. Cut out triangles in various sizes, and sew the shapes in a free-flowing pattern.

Patchwork Drapes : Put scraps to use as fresh window treatments. We used sheer scraps to create a soft, shimmery effect. Choose your fabrics, and plot out the pattern for the panels on grid paper to scale. By using grid paper, you can determine the dimensions of each fabric piece you'll be cutting. Label each section according to the fabric used. We used seven different sheers to get this effect. Cut fabric and pin together in rows. Stitch the pieces into rows, then stitch the rows together. Sew a rod pocket and the side and bottom edges to finish.

Tea Towel Curtains : To create these pretty cafe curtains, purchase two 16x24-inch tea towels. Install curtain rods at your desired height. Attach ring clips to the top of the tea towels to hang them from the rod. If the towels hang past the windowsill, measure the fabric, cut off the excess, and hem the towels using a sewing machine or fusible web and an iron.

Dressed-Up Curtain Panels : A cottage style room would look amazing with windows dressed in these flirty curtain panels. Start with purchased panels and add the ruffle yourself.

Accessorize with Tiebacks : For a simple update, give drapery panels a makeover with tiebacks. The easy to make tieback here adds a polished look and a splash of the room's yellow accent color to this window treatment.

Flowy and Fabulous : You can dress up purchased tab-top panels with a bit of trim attached to the edges. Or, get a similar look by making your own panels. You can buy yardage at a fabrics store, but you can also shop for table coverings or linens in the kitchen, bedding, and bath section of your local department store. There you will often find discounted or discontinued fabric items that you can cut up and use as yardage.

Simple Striped Draperies : Striped draperies add interest to this mostly neutral dining room. Striped fabric like this is easy to sew, even for beginners, because the stripes provide straight-line guides. Affixing clip-on rings to the top of each panel ensures they remain easy to take down and clean.

Ombre Drapes : Add waves of color to plain white panels by progressively dyeing with two colors of acrylic crafts paint. We paired deep blue and teal. Dip the damp fabric into a solution of 1 tablespoon crafts paint per 1 gallon of water. Add more paint to the mixture and dip the lower portions of the curtain repeatedly to achieve an intense color.

Tie-Up Valance : When curtain panels won't fit or simply aren't needed, use an easy sew valance like this one to add softness and color. Sew a rectangle to the window size, adding a rod pocket at the top. Stitch a length of wide ribbon on each end of the valance, 4-6 inches from the outer edge. Drape the ribbon over the top of the valance so there is a length of ribbon running down the back and the front of the valance. Stitch the ribbon into place and use each ribbon tail to tie up the fabric.

DIY Ruffled Curtains : You can make these pretty curtains using solid color flat sheets. Cut each panel to twice the window width and 6 inches longer than the desired length. Sew a rod pocket along the top. Hem the panels to floor length. Make the ruffles by cutting strips of fabric twice the width of a panel by 4-1/2 inches tall, then sew a 1/2-inch hem. Sew a basting stitch along the raw edge. Gather the fabric to the width of the panel. Starting at the curtain's bottom hem, pin overlapping ruffles to the panel with hem side down, and stitch them into place. Attach the top ruffle upside down, right sides together, and flip over to hide the raw edge.

Cheap Living Room Decorating Updates 2013 Ideas

Cheap doesn't have to mean ugly, broken or disheveled. Choosing cheap living room furniture can be as easy as waiting for the right time, searching through stores, garage sales and online or making a careful inspection of each piece. Haggling well can also help when purchasing the furniture.

 One way to choose cheap living room furniture is to comparison shop. Look through various furniture websites in addition to sales fliers that come with newspapers. If a store or company seems extremely out of price range, so much so that even getting steep discounts wouldn't help, there are many more that are more affordable. Make a list of options that are more in the appropriate price range so, if a discount is possible, it is an added bonus.

 Surprisingly, garage sales and thrift stores can have quite a selection of beautiful living room furniture. In some cases, the only reason the previous owners gave away or are selling the pieces is because it was too expensive to move to a new location, they wanted something different or they were downsizing. These are places to haggle, especially when buying several pieces from the same location — ask if it's possible for a bulk rate. Make sure not to let anyone put pressure to buy any pieces that don't seem less than perfect for your home.

They've been around forever, but candle sconces are still brilliant for adding ambience without calling an electrician.

An extra large mat is a simple trick for giving a small photo or piece of art big presence.

Add one woven or wicker chair to a room. Spray paint it a great color, and you have both seating and an element of surprise.

Have a card you can't bear to throw away? Put it in a frame or easier yet  perch it on a little easel, and you've got art.

Plants are an underappreciated decorating tool. They bring life and color to a room, they're relatively inexpensive, and they're good for you, too.

A corbel is a clever perch for an accessory. Painted a bright color, it draws attention to whatever you put on it.

In place of a predictable coffee table, use two inexpensive side tables. Outline the edges with strips of nailhead trim for a high end look.

Remove the jackets, then group books by color, standing some upright and stacking others. Shelves will seem more organized and have an artistic, color blocked look.

2014 Tips for Cheap Bedroom Update

Affordable Bedroom Ideas :

Try a New Direction : To give your bedroom a decorative lift without spending a dime, angle the bed from a corner. If your present headboard looks too bulky for this arrangement, replace it with a salvaged iron gate or a shorter upholstered panel.

Add Pattern to a Select Spot : Try paneling a single wall or one section of a wall with a favorite wallpaper or stencil. It's a sure fire way to call attention to a seating area or to add pattern without the expense of papering an entire room or taking the time to stencil an entire room.

Switch Out Accent Pillows : Accent pillows let you quickly alter the personality of a room and shift the balance of color. They're especially powerful used in a bedroom because the bed is a natural focal point. Pillows can update a room instantly by adding volume, pattern, texture, color, and personality.

 Here, a subtle backdrop of cream and blue is brought into intense focus with a collection of lively pillows. Raspberry and sky-blue accent pillows pull the wall color and accent color together perfectly. Bold striped neckroll pillows add variety and interest to the grouping.

Suitcase Side Table : For a dose of quirky charm, create a bedside table from vintage suitcases. Search flea markets and estate sales for three suitcases in graduated sizes. Measure and cut a base from plywood to accommodate your largest case. Screw wooden furniture legs onto the base and paint. When dry, stack the suitcases on top. Use the suitcases to store off-season clothing and accessories.

Easy Upholstered Headboard : A few tricks make this stunning DIY headboard. The simple square shape makes the upholstery job easy. Plus, the backing is formed by two hollow-core doors.

Paper Trail : The popular trend of removable wallpaper has landed this fun product in even the big box stores. Peel the backing and press it to the wall, then peel it off if you tire of the look or if you?re a renter. You can use big graphic colorful prints behind a bed as a headboard, on a hollow-core door to make it dimensional, or over a fireplace without a big commitment.

Neat & Nifty Nightstand : Bedside tables with shelves work best for storage purposes. This simple but hardworking nightstand offers a tabletop surface for a lamp and a collection of decorative elements, a drawer to corral smaller items, and a lower shelf that holds reading materials.

Frame Game : For artwork on a dime, paint an old wooden picture frame, cut mat or foam-core board to fit the opening, and cover the board with a scrap of pretty fabric.

Floating Nightstand : If you don't have the luxury of a bedside table, create a storage-packed floating shelf by installing a closet shelf upside down beside your bed. The small shelf takes up no floor space yet offers an ample surface for an alarm clock, reading material, and decorative accents.

Cheap DIY Christmas Centerpieces 2014 Ideas

Forget the florist a little DIY elbow grease and $25 (or less) is all you need to make these show stopping Christmas centerpieces.

Take inexpensive baby's breath out of the background and into the spotlight with this hanging centerpiece. Use a round ball of floral foam, floral wire and monofilament to suspend this ethereal arrangement over the table.

Cut balsa wood or even cardboard into two equal sized triangles and put together to form a T. Boom: You have a tree for your centerpiece! Paint with craft paint in stripes, snowflakes or the design of you choice.

Turn leftover embroidery hoops into hanging wreaths studded with a few seasonal florals. Here, we attached dusty miller, roses and babys breath with floral wire.

Turn a leftover floral vase into a high end centerpiece vessel with drips of liquid gold leaf and white glass paint.

Inexpensive glass ornaments can become showstoppers when filled with ombre paint and hung above the table alongside sequins.

Saving Storage From Flea Market Find : Cheap Decor 2014 Ideas

One person's junk is another person's treasure at least when it comes to these flea market finds. See how they were transformed into pretty storage solutions without costing a fortune.

Recycle painted divider boxes into all purpose organizers that can corral just about any small object. Whether you're organizing in drawers or out in the open, the colorful boxes can round up everything from soap to silverware.

An aged flea market find makes for an inviting home office in this sunny room. A salvaged desk offers a spacious surface area for work or display and also boasts a roomy drawer for a bit of concealed storage. An old jewelry box accentuates the desk's well-worn charm and provides space for storing office supplies and other small items.

Nothing gets lost in the bustle of your kitchen with this metal bin turned spice rack. Formerly a chicken feed bin, the rack now keeps cooking necessities organized in plain sight on the countertop and well within reach.

This workman's hutch, made years ago by an Iowa farmer, provides the perfect spot to store and display dishes and valuables. It was painted green for a splash of color, then sanded down to reveal a bit of the original wood below. Changing the contents frequently keeps the space feeling fresh and fascinating.

A vintage wooden jewelry box proves just as useful today as it did in its prime. With a couple simple touch-ups, such as restaining the wood and replacing the knobs, the once outdated box gets new life. With nine compartments, it offers plenty of space to organize all of your jewelry and accessories.

Put antique accessories to work as handy storage solutions in your bathroom. Here, an old ladder stands in as a space saving towel rack, and a large hutch provides display space for pretty soaps and accessories as well as plenty of storage for towels and bathroom necessities.

For a focal-point pot rack with an undeniable rustic flair, suspend a vintage wooden sled above a kitchen island. Hang S-hooks from the rails to support your collection of pots and pans. The pot rack not only looks great, it also frees up cabinet space for other kitchen necessities.

For unique office storage, keep an eye out for a bin that has both cubbies and shelves. Outfitted with glass candy jars, the set of cubbies is the perfect place to organize and store small office supplies. Meanwhile, shallow boxes and baking pans make the shelves great for storing folders and papers. Mount the bin on the wall over your desk for a functional and stylish work center.

Spruce up your entryway with a unique flea market find. This vintage hall tree got a facelift with just a few coats of vibrant turquoise paint. Located in the entry of a cozy beach house, the tree now provides the perfect spot for friends and family to hang their gear as they come in from the nearby beach.

Create a scene-stealing shelving system by stacking a series of antique benches and anchoring them to the wall. The weathered finish of these benches testifies to their colorful past lives and adds a rustic, eclectic character to the space, all while providing a place to corral books and display accessories.

Add casters to a simple wood box for easy-to-move storage for almost any purpose. Place the box beneath an entryway console and you have an accessible, but tucked-away, place for shoes.

Turn an old toolbox into a modern-day must-have. To create a charging station, drill holes in the back of the box, wide enough for the outlet plugs on your charging cords to fit through. Cut a board to fit inside the box, and drill holes for the cords to fit through. Feed the cords through both sets of holes, tucking the slack beneath the board. Plug in the cords and start charging.

Place pretty jars out on your kitchen counter, and fill them with baking essentials. If you come across a jar without a lid, consider it as a holder for tall utensils.

Repurpose a vintage cart as a side table for a living room or entryway. A cart like this can be used as a drink station when entertaining. When outfitted with baskets on the lower shelf, it can be used as a handy entryway organizer and hold seasonal gear, shoes, and more out-the-door essentials.

Turn a tired old buffet that's seen its last dinner party into an entryway organizer filled with purpose.

Organize your jewelry in a vintage printer's tray. Give the tray a fresh coat of paint, and line the back of the compartments with pretty papers. Screw brass hooks into each compartment to hang baubles. To make space for necklaces and bracelets, use a hammer to remove a few slats.