Outdoor Curtains, Really!!!

Outdoor Curtains, Really!!!

Since we moved to Florida going on 5 years ago….I have had this idea of having outdoor curtains on our Lanai.

When the Captain and I were on our honeymoon in Egypt….we stayed at Dahab… and our room had the most beautiful private view of the Red Sea and white sands.  

What made the view even prettier (in my romantic mind) was the semi-circle, (arch on top) screen-less windows…with white, wispy, sheers gently blowing in the breeze.

Even tho these were sheer curtains, they kept out the hot sun and gave the room a shady retreat. (Yes, there was an air conditioner)

So you can imagine my thoughts when we purchased a house with a courtyard and arched pillar openings from the Lanai into the Pool and Spa area.

Yep! I dreamed of white sheers gently blowing in the tropical breezes. 

That was until I priced a few of these outdoor curtains.

The price and the fact that I had almost 12 feet tall arches….(no, I am not talking about my fallen arches, teeheehee)….nor the St. Louis Arch…altho when I received the estimates, the high cost might as well have been for the St. Louis Arch.

So I looked for alternatives and you won’t believe what I discovered.

Paint Drop Cloths!  They come in all sizes….and I needed a 9 X 12 foot covering (for each of our three arches)… which would mean 6 drop cloth panels at $22.00 each. 

The Captain and I worked up a plan to use these canvas drop cloths to see just how they would hold up to our Florida weather and I must confess, they have been holding up just fine.

Soooooo, I decided to share the process with you, my faithful readers.

The down side is drop cloths don’t come in colors, although I am sure one might be able to “dye” canvas….but the color is perfect for our Lanai.

As you can see in the pics…the Captain installed the curtain rod holders and the metal electrical tubing (curtain rod) over each 18 foot opening.

The “curtain rod” proved to be a bit trickier. The span is 18 feet across at each opening….so we used a metal conduit, curtain rod holders and curtain rings with clamps. My plan was to eventually paint the conduit to blend with the curtain rings…..but, it remains unpainted to this day, and somehow that doesn’t bother me. 😉 No one has commented on the unpainted rod, maybe they are being kind.

Perhaps one day, I will get ambitious and paint it. 🙂

The 12 foot canvas was a foot too long, so we folded the top over and now we have a makeshift valance….I suppose I could sew the valance down or use sewing tape to tape it down, but I opt for the easiest solution and this works. Another wonderful thing about these drop cloths; they are hemmed on two sides.

And the good news is…if we ever want to paint a room, I can pull down a curtain and use it for a drop cloth.  Who knows? I might like to have speckles of paint for a pattern on the canvas curtains!

Just joking….:) I think!

Tie backs were simple rope that the Captain kept from fraying by using electrical tubing that adhered through the heat of a curling iron. 

Now how clever is that?

We have really enjoyed these curtains whether they are pulled open or closed….and the cost is a bonus. 

My dear readers, do you like DIY projects?

Have a great week….and use your imagination.  Who knows what you might come up with! 🙂