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:

Anna Whiston-Donaldson said...

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

Unknown said...

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

Lynn Kellan said...

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!

Amber Filkins said...

Congrats! You are worthy!

Amber Filkins said...

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

Teresa said...

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-

Mandi @ Sweetly Home said...

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.

Cheryl said...

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.

Decor To Adore said...

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

Patsy said...

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

Torey said...

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

Katy said...

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.

crazy train said...

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

Denise Vakili Fine Art said...

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

Trish @TheOldPostRoad said...

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

Mickey (Michel) Johnson said...

...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

Anonymous said...

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

Cottage Lifestyle said...

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

Tara said...

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

Jessica @ Decor Adventures said...

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

Misti of Studio M Designs said...

Very cool Layla...you are everywhere!

~Misti

Anonymous said...

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

Deb said...

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

Daly Essentials said...

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

Anonymous said...

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