The Best Way to Make your Own Curtain Rails

The Best Way to Make your Own Curtain Rails

You may find that the design of these curtain rails complimented the theme of our holiday home of a modern cottage. You can find a variety you might like to consider. The hooks could be painted black. The ends of the rails could have a fancy knob attached. At least one end has to be removable so the curtains can be treaded on and off again when required. If you wished you could use a square rail and bevel the edges to make it six sided instead of the round dowel I’ve used.

The benefit of having a wooden back board is that it can be screwed on to the wall where ever the studs (house frames) are. This can be a problem without the back board at the side of the window where the building framing disappears and you are left with only plaster board to screw into. 

1. Measure the window width and add 470 mm / 18½ in. That allows for 200 mm / 7⅞ in each side of the window to pull the curtains back and 35 mm / 1⅜ in. in from each end, to where the hook is placed. 

2. Once you know the length select the 28 mm / 1⅛ in. dowel first, then select the hooks that best fits the dowel. Do not trim the dowel to it final length until the hooks are in place so you can get an accurate measurement. Each end allow for a curtain ring to go between the disc and the hook. 

3. The timber back board I used was 65 mm /2½ in x 20 mm / ¾ in. 

4. There can only be two (on a narrow window) or three hooks.  The end hooks are placed 35 mm / 1⅜ in from the end. With three hooks the middle one must be centered. 

5. Pre drill the back board with a fairly large drill (you do not want to split the board) and screw the hooks into position. The ones I use I screwed up to the end of the thread. Then, using a hack saw, cut off the thread that is protruding through the back. 

6. If you are using wooden discs cut these and screw to each end of the dowel. 

7. Finish the wood to your requirement. I put a clear semi gloss finish on mine.