Living Room

Pink Living Room Curtains!

They’re finished (for the most part)!! My pink living room curtains are finished, and oh my gosh, I absolutely love them.

Pink. After all of the other options I’ve tried in this room, I never would have thought that pink would be THE color that would be my favorite.

living room with pink draperies

As you know, I broke my own cardinal rule when it comes to draperies. And of course, that one rule is to never, ever, EVER use quilting or garment fabric for draperies. Only decorator fabric of an appropriate weight should be used for draperies.

living room with pink draperies

And yet, when I was looking for drapery fabric for my living room, this is the fabric that I absolutely loved — a stretchy suiting fabric that is wholly and completely inappropriate for draperies. But I was like a dog with a bone, and couldn’t let it go. I was sure I could make it work.

living room with pink draperies

I tried two different ways to add a backing to the fabric to stabilize it and make it more appropriate for making lined draperies. First, I tried a heat-activated spray adhesive to add a thin cotton drapery lining to the back, but the adhesive wasn’t strong enough and the lining just came right off. Then I tried iron-on interfacing, but that left areas that looked like air bubbles under the face fabric.

As it turns out, the fabric is just perfect and has such a beautiful drape to it all by itself. And since it’s a suiting fabric, it’s pretty thick. It’s not like curtains made out of stretchy t-shirt fabric. I still used buckram in the header just like I always do so that the pleats keep their shape and don’t sag, but the rest of the curtain is completely unlined.

living room with pink draperies

I haven’t hemmed the curtains yet because, quite honestly, I’m not quite sure how I want to do that. I generally like my draperies to hang just a fraction of an inch above the floor. I don’t like them to break on the floor at all.

But with this fabric being stretchy, I’m pretty sure I could hem them so that they’re the perfect length now, and then in a month, they’ll be breaking on the floor. So for now, I just turned the excess fabric under at the bottom so that they kind of billow at the bottom. I generally dislike that look, but this fabric seems to be changing a lot of rules for me.

living room with pink draperies

I’m so excited to get this room finished now! The chairs that I have in here now won’t stay in here. I just swapped them out because the other ones look so awful, and these look somewhat decent. But these will go back in the music room (and eventually be reupholstered), and the others will be reupholstered for this room.

living room with pink draperies

I’ll also be making a long, skinny coffee table, but I’ve decided to forgo the sofa table that I had talked about making to go between the sofa and the windows. I like that area open like it is now.

living room with pink draperies

And hopefully very soon I’ll be able to take the sticky sheets off of the arms of the sofa. I bought the cats some awesome scratcher/lounger things that they seem to love, and they’ve left the sofa alone for now. They love taking naps on it, but haven’t scratched on it. Fingers crossed that they’ll continue to show no interest in scratching the sofa when I take those sticky sheets off.

Anyway, I’m one step closer to a finished living room! It’s not quite there yet, but it’s getting there!

You Might Also Like...

77 Comments

Leave a Comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Carol
    November 20, 2019 at 9:50 am

    Those curtains look amazing with the rug!!!

    • Reply To This Comment ↓
      Pamela Pulkrabek
      November 20, 2019 at 12:41 pm

      I agree! I have this rug in my bedroom, and totally love it. There are so many color options yet it is so subdued. And being a pink girl, I will definitely being bringing that in at some point after seeing this.

      • Reply To This Comment ↓
        Sherry
        November 22, 2019 at 11:20 am

        I absolutely love those pick drapes. The entire room is fabulous now. I know what a hassle that room has been for you since the first wall colour. It was worth waiting for!

    • Reply To This Comment ↓
      SHEILA
      December 3, 2019 at 4:34 am

      Wow! I would’nt have chosen pink either but the curtains look amazing!! Great job!

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Katie
    November 20, 2019 at 10:00 am

    I LOVE the curtains! The color is beautiful on its own but it somehow reads as kind of a soft neutral in the room and doesn’t compete at all. And the ends do look great billowing on the floor, you could just leave them until you get tired of that look! Well done!

    • Reply To This Comment ↓
      Vicky
      November 20, 2019 at 1:56 pm

      Absolutely gorgeous draperies. Love, love, love the color in that room, especially paired with your beautuful rug. They are truly elegant.

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Dina C
    November 20, 2019 at 10:15 am

    They turned out beautiful. I’m about to make my first real drapes. I’ve sewn panels together before, and I made curtains years ago. This time I hoping for a professional finished look. 😬They are for my living and dining rooms. The yardage is expensive since I need so much. I’m hoping I don’t mess up.

    • Reply To This Comment ↓
      Cindy Hays
      November 20, 2019 at 11:41 am

      Sorry I put this reply on someone else

      November 20, 2019 at 11:38 am
      If you plan to learn to do pleats you can practice on a your needed width of your fabric for your window but only about 8 to 10 inches deep fabric. You could use any drapery fabric scrap to learn on. Then on the other hand I think they have tape that will do all of that pleating for you now.

      • Reply To This Comment ↓
        Barbara
        November 20, 2019 at 3:04 pm

        Great answer Cindy.
        When I made actual pleats for the first time, without the pleating tape, I was amazed they worked out perfectly. Usually I redo drapes a couple of times because I want perfection. I got lucky. But working with a short piece of fabric is such a brilliant idea to test out your skills.

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Tiffany
    November 20, 2019 at 10:29 am

    I love the softness of this pink, and puddling them plays right into that soft feeling. They are a great counterpoint to all the bold colors in your home.

    • Reply To This Comment ↓
      Cindy Hays
      November 20, 2019 at 11:38 am

      If you plan to learn to do pleats you can practice on a your needed width of your fabric for your window but only about 8 to 10 inches deep fabric. You could use any drapery fabric scrap to learn on. Then on the other hand I think they have tape that will do all of that pleating for you now.

    • Reply To This Comment ↓
      Pat
      November 21, 2019 at 11:56 am

      I agree. This room is a needed change…calm and relaxed

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Jennifer
    November 20, 2019 at 10:41 am

    OMG!! I love the curtains! I think they look beautiful just the way they are, puddled on the floor a bit. Love the room!!

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Becky J
    November 20, 2019 at 10:47 am

    They are beautiful and such a compliment to the rest of the room. I like them puddled (is that a real word?) too.

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Carol Fraley
    November 20, 2019 at 10:48 am

    Love the drapes!!!

    • Reply To This Comment ↓
      Diane
      November 20, 2019 at 11:47 am

      The drapes are perfect. I have to say that I love the blue chairs in there too. They pick up the fireplace and the whole room is very soft, cosy and inviting. Magazine ready!

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Peggy
    November 20, 2019 at 11:00 am

    Pink is not a color I gravitate towards, but these are perfect in your living room.

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Brenda Pawloski
    November 20, 2019 at 11:07 am

    I was concerned about the fabric but I’m learning to never bet against Kristi! They add such light to the room and look so good with the teal fireplace. The suiting texture has to have something to do with that. I agree with your decision to forgo the sofa table. Maybe shop for the perfect floor/reading lamp to place between the sofa and the window and furnish reading light? Also, I’d advise not to worry about pink curtains showing from the street if they are drawn. Just let your roller shades down before you draw the pink drapes. Me, I like my drapes to be drawable and then never draw them!

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Rebecca
    November 20, 2019 at 11:13 am

    Your curtains remind me of a lovely vintage Chanel Suit. I am drooling 💕

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Jane
    November 20, 2019 at 11:14 am

    That looks just beautiful! Love all the projects that you’ve been working on during the last few months, though I haven’t been commenting!

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    dian Iron Feather
    November 20, 2019 at 11:14 am

    Your living room is truly beautiful. I should be envious, but I’m just plain jealous! I mean, seriously??? Even your cats match!! LOL!

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Mary
    November 20, 2019 at 11:15 am

    They turned out beautiful!!

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Deb
    November 20, 2019 at 11:16 am

    LOVE!

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Dawn
    November 20, 2019 at 11:18 am

    Your curtains turned out AMAZING!! The color is perfect in that room. It is all coming together the way it should 🙂 I love the curtains billowing on the floor. I, too, am not usually a fan, but these make the room look so sophisticated!!!

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Terri Urbaniak
    November 20, 2019 at 11:27 am

    They are just beautiful, so soft and velvety looking. Good for you for sticking with it!

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Lori
    November 20, 2019 at 11:31 am

    Would you be interested in selling me the previous panels you made for your livingroom? My email is [email protected] if you are interested.

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Connie
    November 20, 2019 at 11:38 am

    Kristi, you make a great case for breaking rules. The curtains are gorgeous and the pink is fabulously PERFECT for the room. The pink really pulls the color from the rug and from your artwork over the fireplace. Just a note on puddling the drapes as they are now, I had drapes that puddled once. My kitties decided that the puddles made a perfect place to nap.
    Oh, speaking of kitties, who is the cutie in the photo? Did I miss a new addition? I guess I’m just used to Peeve photo bombing you shots.

    • Reply To This Comment ↓
      Michelle B
      November 20, 2019 at 3:25 pm

      That is Felicity Smoke.. 🙂

    • Reply To This Comment ↓
      Kristi
      November 20, 2019 at 11:20 pm

      Yes, that’s Felicity Smoke. 🙂 She came to us from my sister just over a year ago, and she’s just now coming around and wanting to be around us and let us pet her and love on her. So you’ll probably start seeing her in more pictures.

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Val from UK
    November 20, 2019 at 11:39 am

    Breaking the rules works well sometimes. 🙂 One of the best living rooms I’ve ever seen in person had curtains made from bed linen fabric. Love your living room!

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Janae
    November 20, 2019 at 11:39 am

    Is there a reason to leave the space between the couch and windows? I’ve always lived in smaller spaces and we have had to bump the couch against the windows every time. Not sure if there was a decorating “rule” against that.

    • Reply To This Comment ↓
      Kristi
      November 20, 2019 at 11:35 pm

      Yes, I want the sofa and chairs centered on the fireplace. Since the chairs have to be pulled away from the wall to leave access into the kitchen, I pulled the sofa away from the wall to balance out the chairs around the fireplace.

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Irene Morin
    November 20, 2019 at 11:41 am

    I made the leap to pink curtains in my living room about a year ago and I don’t regret it at all! Yours are amazing as well so way to go on those! Keep up the great work and soon your living room will be complete and just as you’ve envisioned it! Good luck!

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Theresa
    November 20, 2019 at 11:47 am

    The pink, while definitely still a color, reads as much more neutral than the purple and is a better balance to the other items in the room.

    I’m also still floored by the change in scale with the bigger rug and bigger couch.

    And, I’m still loving the new layout!

    Great job! It’ll be hard to concentrate on other things. I’m sure you’re itching to finish this up now!

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Danielle
    November 20, 2019 at 11:49 am

    This whole room is amazing. I actually dont use curtains in my house (very rural with great views.) I would be very inclined for these though. Great job. You show us to be persistent and really go for what your vision is. Thank you.

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Jeannie
    November 20, 2019 at 11:50 am

    LOVE! Your room is beautiful. I like the sightly puddled look for someone else but I don’t want to fuss with them every time I vacuum. (Golden retriever sheds a LOT!)

    I love watching all your nifty ideas come to life.

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Cindy Hays
    November 20, 2019 at 11:54 am

    My number one rule is to never say “I will never” I have learned eat those words many times.
    The pink drapes are stunning. I ordered that rug in the only size they had left which was 7 by 7 was so disappointed. Yours has so much beautiful color mine was flat and dull. Size makes a difference because it changes the print . Yours is much prettier in this larger size., The softness of this room just draws you in and makes you want to stay . You definitely got it right this time.

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Gilmer Gal
    November 20, 2019 at 11:55 am

    This is great! Light and airy and a very comfortable feel. I wonder that, instead of making a coffee table to crowd that space between the chairs and couch, you could just turn your rug and use end tables with lamps? You would have the walk space behind the chair area instead of a partial part of the rug. Either way, I have no doubt it will turn out just right for you.

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Vanessa B Maddox
    November 20, 2019 at 12:00 pm

    Such a pretty room. The pink makes me smile. 🙂

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Jeannie
    November 20, 2019 at 12:16 pm

    Love love love your curtains. They turned out perfect! My question to you is about the sticky things on your sofa! It sounds like a brilliant product and just what I desperately need!! What is the name of it and please please please….where did you buy it?

    • Reply To This Comment ↓
      Kristi
      November 20, 2019 at 11:42 pm

      I found them on Amazon! Here is my affiliate link for the exact ones I got. https://amzn.to/2O7zK7l

      They are VERY sticky, and when I went to take one off, I panicked because it wasn’t coming off. I finally decided to use my hair dryer to warm it up a bit, and it came right off with no problem and no damage to the fabric.

      They really work! The cats tried scratching once, hated the feel of the sticky pad, and never tried scratching again.

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Michele
    November 20, 2019 at 12:20 pm

    Wowza! Those drapes are stunning with teal mantle, the sofa, rug, etc. It is very elegant yet warm and inviting. I love the “unexpected” color. I do have a suggestion. The matchstick blinds – have you considered, or would you consider toning them down a bit? Not sure how to accomplish that, but the rest of the room is so bold yet harmonious, and somehow now the blinds stand out a bit too much. Of course with the Texas sun, you need those blinds. Just a little food for thought.

    • Reply To This Comment ↓
      Kristi
      November 20, 2019 at 11:44 pm

      I’ll probably just leave them. Right now, everything in the room looks pretty soft, but I still have a few bold color items to add. The finished room will be less calm and serene, and more colorful and bold.

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Heather Gillett
    November 20, 2019 at 12:52 pm

    LOVE the curtains, I have to ask, does this suiting fabric have 4 way stretch? usually only width stretch in most wovens. ;-D

    • Reply To This Comment ↓
      Kristi
      November 20, 2019 at 11:50 pm

      Yep, this one stretches every way possible. 😄 I’m not too concerned because the fabric is pretty thick and substantial. My mom was very concerned that I had purchased fabric with stretch to it for curtains, but when she saw (and felt it) in person, she said she thought it would be just fine. I tend to agree. But I do wonder if it’s going to stretch vertically just a bit after hanging there for a while. It may not, since the fabric is pretty thick, but I just don’t know.

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Alta Craig
    November 20, 2019 at 12:55 pm

    Another home run, Kristi! I’m a “pink” girl myself, but I would never have thought to use that color in a living room. A bedroom, of course, but you’ve broken that rule very successfully. The room is looking just beautiful. Onward and Upward!

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Barb
    November 20, 2019 at 1:22 pm

    I was watching the video of your L.R with the purple drape. There is such a difference in the brightness of the room with the pink drapes. Well done!

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Kay
    November 20, 2019 at 1:31 pm

    Gorgeous pink drapes! I like that you take chances. So impressed.

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Sue
    November 20, 2019 at 2:10 pm

    I am no generally a fan of pink but those draperies go perfectly with everything in the room and give it a lot of light and depth. I really, really like them. The room looks wonderful and a small coffee table might finish it ‘just right’!

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Eileen
    November 20, 2019 at 2:10 pm

    This is such an elegant look and doesn’t fight with the rest of the room. Just lovely.

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Marianne in Mo.
    November 20, 2019 at 3:58 pm

    Love the pink! I can see why you were like a dog with a bone – that shade of pink is lovely. The drape is nice too. Is it a knit? Doesn’t seem to be a woven. But yes, I would let them hang for at least a month before hemming, if you can keep the kitties away from them! I too like the blue chairs in the room also, but I know you have other ideas, so I’m going to withhold opinions on the rest until it’s finished.

    • Reply To This Comment ↓
      Kristi
      November 20, 2019 at 11:57 pm

      It’s a polyester suiting fabric, but not like the 1970s leisure suit stuff. 😄 This one has a beautiful brushed finish to it.

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Eileen from Texas
    November 20, 2019 at 4:21 pm

    Kristi, how beautiful! You did it! A milestone achieved. I still can’t believe that this is a stretch material. If I had tried to do that, I definitely would have had weird bunching at the seams.

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Winnie
    November 20, 2019 at 5:08 pm

    I would also like more info on the ‘sticky sheets’ used on the sofa. (And *LOVE* the pick drapes).

    • Reply To This Comment ↓
      Kristi
      November 20, 2019 at 11:59 pm

      They’re basically big sheets of double-sided sticky tape. Here is my affiliate link for the exact ones I got. https://amzn.to/2O7zK7l

      They are VERY sticky, and when I went to take one off, I panicked because it wasn’t coming off. I finally decided to use my hair dryer to warm it up a bit, and it came right off with no problem and no damage to the fabric.

      They really work! The cats tried scratching once, hated the feel of the sticky pad, and never tried scratching again.

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Joni
    November 20, 2019 at 5:48 pm

    Hi Kristi! I love your new drapes. I never would have thought of pink…and I’m a “pink” girl! Thank you so much for going there. I’m wondering where you got your curtain rods? I’m having trouble finding a really long one. Suggestions would be appreciated. Also, Happy Thanksgiving to you.

    • Reply To This Comment ↓
      Kristi
      November 21, 2019 at 12:02 am

      I had trouble with that, too! I found so many pretty brass curtain rods online, but none of them were wide enough. I ended up buying some simple black 1-inch rods and brackets (all together in one package) at Lowe’s that extend up to 144 inches, and then spray painting them with RustOleum Vintage Gold spray paint. It worked great! My panels are just for looks, so I’ll never be sliding the rings on the rods. If I were actually going to be drawing the curtains closed on a regular basis, the spray paint wouldn’t be the best option, and I’d still be searching for a brass rod that’s long enough.

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Pamela
    November 20, 2019 at 6:14 pm

    I love the hand the fabric has, looks almost like velvet. Your sewing skills are excellent. The pleats are beautifully executed. My semi-industrial machine finally broke so I’m just not going to do pleats on my last set of draperies, sigh. My regular machine can’t really get thru the buckrum. I agree leaving the hem undone until you see how they hang for a while. Did you love having your sewing table for this project?

    • Reply To This Comment ↓
      Kristi
      November 21, 2019 at 12:09 am

      Oh my gosh, my huge table was such a game changer! It was a DREAM to be able to spread out so much fabric and not have to crawl around on the floor!

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Terri
    November 20, 2019 at 7:32 pm

    I’m super curious to see how the curtains look together with the entryway! Any pictures with both??

    • Reply To This Comment ↓
      Kristi
      November 21, 2019 at 12:03 am

      I’ll see if I can get some wide angle pictures in the next couple of days. 🙂

      • Reply To This Comment ↓
        Terri
        November 21, 2019 at 12:16 am

        Ahh thank you! I am soooo in love with the console table you made and your entry is so gorgeous I can’t wait to see everything all together!

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Dolores
    November 20, 2019 at 8:13 pm

    Everything looks great! Maybe you should rethink the table behind the couch. Your kitties will love it!

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Mary Ellen
    November 20, 2019 at 8:18 pm

    Love the drapes! You did a great job!

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Ellen Shook
    November 20, 2019 at 8:57 pm

    SinceI hate too-short curtains that don’t kiss the floor and/or preferably puddle, I love these curtains! Didn’t you have a table in here before?? I rather like the blue chairs as they are, but I don’t live here, so — you do you.

    • Reply To This Comment ↓
      Kristi
      November 21, 2019 at 12:09 am

      Do you mean a dining table? There was a time back in 2016 (I think) when I tried to turn the room into a dining room. Needless to say, that didn’t work out.

    • Reply To This Comment ↓
      BeckiB
      November 21, 2019 at 3:40 pm

      I must admit, when I saw the pic of the single panel, I thought the pink was going to be awful, but they are a soft, soothing addition. I like the blue chairs too. The dimensions/shape seem to suit the room. Maybe re-upholster those for the living room, and use the other ones in the music room, since, I think, you had planned to re-upholster the blue for the music room.

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Carol
    November 21, 2019 at 12:47 am

    A totally side question: Where did you find the sticky sheets on the sofa to deter the cats and the scratchy things they now use instead of the furniture! Your living rooms looks fabulous!

    • Reply To This Comment ↓
      Kristi
      November 21, 2019 at 8:54 am

      I found them on Amazon, of course! 😀 Here is my affiliate link for the exact ones I got. https://amzn.to/2O7zK7l

      They are VERY sticky, and when I went to take one off, I panicked because it wasn’t coming off. I finally decided to use my hair dryer to warm it up a bit, and it came right off with no problem and no damage to the fabric.

      They really work! The cats tried scratching once, hated the feel of the sticky pad, and never tried scratching again.

      And here’s my affiliate link for the scratcher/lounger things I got them. They absolutely LOVE these things. I’ll walk into the room and see them snoozing on them. https://amzn.to/35oySRy

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Becky
    November 21, 2019 at 8:25 am

    OMG so lovely, and I am not a pink person, at all, But those curtains made me smile. They are absolutely perfect in the room. So excited to see the reupholstered chairs in there (honestly so in love with your fabric choices for the chairs)!!!

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Cindy
    November 21, 2019 at 8:39 am

    Wow! Those curtains are what dreams are made of, they are stunning. Side note, what sticky sheets did you use to keep the cats from scratching?

    • Reply To This Comment ↓
      Kristi
      November 21, 2019 at 8:50 am

      Here is my affiliate link for the exact ones I got. https://amzn.to/2O7zK7l

      They are VERY sticky, and when I went to take one off, I panicked because it wasn’t coming off. I finally decided to use my hair dryer to warm it up a bit, and it came right off with no problem and no damage to the fabric.

      They really work! The cats tried scratching once, hated the feel of the sticky pad, and never tried scratching again.

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    oah
    November 21, 2019 at 9:02 am

    You mentioned making a long skinny coffee table what will you do for end tables? If you like this floating look I think your idea with a sofa table will look great but I think you just need a small round coffee table or ottoman with tray. I bet you could do a great acrylic painting on the bottom of a try.

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    MaeBelleMary
    November 21, 2019 at 11:05 am

    BEAUTIFUL!!!!

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Judy
    November 21, 2019 at 11:57 am

    Just love it!

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Bonnie Mann
    November 21, 2019 at 12:59 pm

    I absolutely love the way all of the colors have come together in your living room.