How to Make DIY Curtain Rods for Less than $10

DIY curtain rods that looks good and barely cost any money to make! They truly are the cheapest (but also one of the coolest imo) DIY curtain rod ideas out there.

I got a question about how I made my DIY wood curtain rods, after sharing this guest bedroom / home office makeover. And actually, many people commented about it who came through on the show house tour as well.

I hadn’t thought much about sharing how I made it before because I just threw it together last-minute. But when I was asked about it again, I decided to share a quick tutorial because it is probably the most affordable DIY curtain rod you could possibly have. And I’m all about saving money where you can, especially if it still looks cute / cool in the end.

Have you seen how much curtains rods cost right now? INSANE. The cheapest one I found that looked like decent quality was almost $100! And that was for the smallest size. WHAT?! That’s a lot of money for a stick that holds fabric. Lol.

My curtain rod costs less than $10 to make – even cheaper than the crappiest version you could buy at a discount store. And definitely the cheapest DIY curtain rod I’ve seen so far… When I was researching for this post, I found a site that said they had made the ‘cheapest DIY curtain rods ever’ and the cost was $18. My version is close to half that price….so I guess that makes my project the cheapest curtain rod ever? 😉

More important than the price though, is that I actually love the simple design, feels minimal and organic. Click through if you’re curious to make your own…

Materials for DIY Wood Curtain Rods

To make your own, you’ll only need a handful of items…

• wooden dowel rod 
• leather scraps OR a piece of leather strap (preferably one inch wide – length will vary)
• super fine sandpaper
• level
• hammer and 2 nails
• scissors or sharp blade
• clear coat (optional)

The process is nearly identical to the hanging DIY wall organizer I made a while back. But the measurements are a little different.

So I’ll share everything below just in case.

Steps for Making DIY Curtain Rods (under $10)

Step 1: Choosing a dowel rod.

Choose a dowel rod that is slightly longer than your window. For example, the window in the photo example is 40 inches and I used a 48 inch dowel rod.

You can get round dowels like this in lengths up to 96 inches – like this one I found at Home Depot.

It’s a tiny bit more expensive – almost $10 for a 96 inch piece as opposed to $4, but still very affordable.

48 inches long is the most common length you’ll find in stores though, so  keep that in mind.

Step 2: Sanding the dowel.

Sand the dowel rod using a super fine sandpaper to make sure the dowel is as smooth as possible, so the curtain can glide over the rod as easily as possible.

Add a clear coat with a paint brush or rag (if desired). Personally, I skipped the clear coat.

Step 3: Cut the leather.

Cut the leather strips into two equal pieces – you want each piece to wrap fully around the dowel PLUS at least two extra inches on each end.

So, for example, if your leather wraps around the dowel rod in 3 inches, then you’d add 2 inches additional inches on each end, for a total of 7 inches for each strap.

Step 4: Measure and mark off.

Measure where you want the leather straps to be nailed into the wall. Keep in mind that the straps will be nailed in higher than where the curtain itself will rest.

I found it most helpful to thread the curtain onto the rod and then make a mark on the wall from where the rod in on the wall when the curtain is just barely touching the ground below.

Then measure up from there for the nail hole / leather straps.

Step 5: Hammer nail through leather and hang curtain.

Next, you can opt to punch a hole in each piece of leather where your nail will go.

OR skip this step and hammer straight through the leather into the wall.

Hammer the leather into the wall, while the leather straps are attached to the dowel rod. Then thread the curtain onto the dowel rod and thread the curtain rod through the leather straps.

*For heavier curtains, you may need extra support, like using drywall anchors. So keep that in mind. My curtain is very thin and lightweight, so I didn’t have any issues with just using nails.

Customize these Curtain Rods

Another thing I love about this project (aside from the fact that it only takes 15 minutes or so to make) is that you can completely customize the length of these to fit windows that aren’t standard sizes. 

For additional customization, you could spray paint the dowel rods a color…or even stain them (the leather can be stained as well, actually).

You could even wrap the dowel rod in gold leaf or metallic vinyl. Lots of options!

What else can I make with wooden dowels like these?

• I used a similar method for creating a DIY wall organizer that turned out pretty cool. And is great for hanging backpacks, hats, coats, handbags, etc.
• My DIY blanket ladder is a great way to store decor items, while looking cute.
• I made wall pegs for our small stairway landing area.
• I often use them for hanging artwork and other wall hangings. 

For more DIY wall organizer inspo, here are a few things you might like…

I hope your enjoyed my wooden DIY curtain rods as a creative way to update your home decor on a budget. Would you give this project a try in your home?