Saturday, May 2, 2009

Examiner.com

"Decorating with drop cloth drapes"
Examiner.com
April 27, 9:13 PM


Photo: The Lettered Cottage


Drop cloths may be the new decorating rage.
The price of curtains ranges dramatically, and depending on how many windows you have to cover, it can be a big expense.
A thrifty solution is using painter's canvas
drop cloths as curtains. That is what Layla Palmer of The Lettered Cottage did. Now if I hadn't shared that those were drop cloths in the photo...would you have known?

⇒ Each drop cloth was a mere $9.99 and measures 6 feet wide by 9 feet tall.

⇒ All four sides come pre-hemmed, so unless you need to alter the height, they are ready-to-hang.

⇒ Wash and dry before hanging. Ironing is optional.

⇒ Easy to customize by adding trim to the edges.

What else you could do with a drop cloth? Table cloth, picnic blanket, or car blanket for those times when you have to change a tire or sit on the lawn to watch a child's soccer game.
Drop cloths can be found at your local hardware and big box stores (see list below).

If you enjoyed this article...may I suggest:
10 uses for orphan sheets.

Send your thrifty shopping and decorating tips to thriftyshopping@hotmail.com.

For more info:
The Lettered Cottage
Lowe's
Home Depot
Ace Hardware


Author: Renee Christensen

Renee Christensen is an Examiner from Minneapolis. You can see Renee's articles on Renee's Home Page.

25 comments:

  1. These are gorgeous. I love the heft and the texture. Wish I had some windows to cover right now!

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  2. Congrats! I've seen many articles & photos of drapecloths being used over the past couple months. It's the NEW decorating must-do.

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  3. I'm going to use a drop cloth to cover up the storage unit in our garage. No matter how I try to organize it, the shelves always look cluttered and messy; so, I'm going to hang yonder drop cloth in front. Voila, no mess!

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  4. I'm totally going to Lowe's to buy some today, by the way. :)

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  5. Way to go- I love the idea-
    I'm going to run out to Home Depot and get some- because they run out! =)
    Love your ideas- We just bought a tiny second house that I plan to redo using just what I have or on the cheap- your ideas are so stylist but something that's within my budget!
    It's always a happy day when I visit your blog-
    Thanks for the help-

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  6. Awesome! I'm hanging my drop cloths today. I was able to score some incredible curtain panels while out yard saling today so now I am able to embelish my drop cloths today too.

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  7. Layla, so glad you are getting kudos in the paper and they did a write up on it. LOL,heres a thought, now I am wandering if the price of drop cloths will go up because we are all rushing out to our Home Depot stores. I sure hope not.

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  8. Oh yeah! I love that your greatness was further shared!

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  9. I love your ideas in this blog and I love the idea of the drop cloths, with one caveat: Since they are heavy,they're going to filter out a lot of light.

    I was going to suggest ways to use old sheets, but then I saw that you already had that covered! :-)

    Please show us other ways to use our orphan objects. Because of you I will not sell/garage sale my lamps that line my garage.

    Thank so much for your creativity and inspiration ........

    Lorna in Southern California
    http://lornacheyenne.blogspot.com

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  10. Do you think drop cloths could be dyed? I'm just wondering . . .

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  11. Holy Hanna......will be buying some dropcloths quite soon and they will have a home in my front living room.
    Thanks for the great tip girl.

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  12. So glad I went and bought some the other day when you first posted it. I have heard some people say they bleached theirs ??? Is that possible?

    Hmmm

    Congrats on getting the kudos!

    Christie

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  13. Brilliant. Thanks a bunch. (Lynn from For Love...what a fabulous idea.

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  14. Congrats! Now, can you teach me how to market my site and art? I believe that is where your real talent lies!
    www.TheOldPostRoadBLOG.blogspot.com

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  15. ...love this idea. i really like the naturalness...is that a word? i seem to be on a roll of creating new verbiage today. anyway, i am going to use this for my jewelry display! xo, mickey

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  16. Layla, I went out and bought some for my windows after reading your blog. After showing my daughter, she bought some for her windows in her living area. Then a friend bought one to use as a shower curtain. I have some chairs I want to slip cover and I figured I could use drop cloths for that too. I hope the Lowe's and Home Depots don't catch on!! They'll double the price!

    Thanks for the great tip!

    Toni

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  17. Layla, thanks for the PR...you must be well connected because today I was the number 1 Home and Living examiner in the country!

    Renee

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  18. Might have to do this in the den! Love it! Congrats on the awesome write-up on examiner.com!

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  19. I had been looking for fabric to use to cover a storage area in an unfinished space in my apartment and after your great idea, I found it.

    I hung the drop cloths on a high tension wire, it worked perfect.

    http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3352/3497943941_d0d3c8f0ea.jpg

    http://asteriahanover.blogspot.com/2009/04/curtain-up.html

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  20. Very cool Layla...you are everywhere!

    ~Misti

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  21. One note on the drop cloths - I was surprised to find that the two 6x9 canvas drop cloths I purchased at Lowes on Saturday were actually 2 joined pieces of canvas (unlike the cloths I had purchased in the past). Do check them before you throw them in the wash!

    Best,

    Nate

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  22. Wonderful idea! I am going to get some drop cloths for my DH's office. Can you tell me where you got the rings and rod from? I love it!

    Deb

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  23. This is such a great tip, I'm so excited to use it for my living room! Thanks!!!

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  24. Does anyone have any tips for ironing these? Mine are incredibly wrinkled out of the dryer. It's taking me FOREVER to iron them.

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Kevin and Layla Palmer

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