No More Overpriced Curtains: The More Affordable Way To Cover Windows

We may receive a commission on purchases made from links.

Curtains are one of those finishing details that can pull a room together, bringing oft-needed warmth, character, and refinement. Sheer, textured curtains are a popular pick for their soft, airy look and casually crinkled aesthetic, but these don't necessarily come cheap. For a rather standard-sized panel, you can expect to spend over $60, and likely closer to $100. A cheaper alternative, that also offers a distinctive visual, is to repurpose a cheesecloth table runner as a curtain.

In a TikTok video, creator aimeekriskros shows just how high-end this type of window treatment can look. The cheesecloth material give the curtains a particularly loose, gauzy texture that feels relaxed and organic. This DIY is great for floor-to-ceiling curtains since the light material feels very elegant. Plus, these runners tend to come in long lengths for a much more affordable price than extra-long curtains. For example, the Socomi Cheesecloth Table Runner comes in a range of colors and measures 35 inches wide by 120 inches long. One panel costs $9 on Amazon. You will probably need several, depending on the size of the window, but these runners come in multi-packs at a discount. The largest bulk package includes 15 pieces for $50, offering a lot more fabric than a pair of similar curtains, for a cheaper price.

You can use other table runners as curtain panels, repurposing finds made of fun materials or with eye-catching patterns. Cheesecloth runners aren't the only option; they just offer a certain look. Using ceiling curtain tracks, aimeekriskros creates a statement-making backdrop with these runners. A product like the 3- to 6-foot Jos & Haz Ceiling Curtain Track, for under $65 on Amazon, is a great choice for this project since it comes with curtain clips, which you can use to hold just about any type of runner. Alternatively, a TikTok video from theemercedesb shows a similar project using a curtain rod and clips, like the Amzseven Curtain Rings with Clips 40 pack for $10 on Amazon. Renters can consider using methods to hang window treatments without drilling, like tension rods.

@aimeekriskros

Curtains hack! Linked in my bio! Buzzing with the way this turned out! Now to add some more bits to the room to bring it all to life! #curtainshack #bedroomcurtains #bedroomdecor #diyhomeprojects #diyhome

♬ BAD BUNNY INSTRUMENTAL – ferran ñorres

Table runners can be quite long. If you don't need all that length, you can cut and shorten the runner, using hemming tape to create a no-sew hem. If you're working with a cheesecloth runner, just be sure to keep the iron on a low-heat setting so you don't iron out the crinkled weave.

The sheerness of cheesecloth fabric gives this curtain a graceful appearance that suits warm minimalist, Japandi, Scandinavian, and similarly light and relaxed design styles. If you need more coverage, you can also combine this idea with an easy design trick that makes curtains look high-end: using a double curtain rod. Something like the Kamanina Double Curtain Rod or Umbra Twilight Double Curtain Rod, each under $55 on Amazon, lets you have the pretty sheer layer, plus a more practical blackout or privacy curtain on top.