One Simple Thing Decorating Idea: Embellish Draperies With Ribbon
Do you want a stylish home, but you’re short on time and money?
Don’t fret – I’ve got good news…you don’t need either one! You’ll be amazed how doing this one simple thing will elevate and add style to any room.
Let’s face it, between cooking, housekeeping, church, jobs, and keeping up with our families, we’re all short on time. Even when there is time, there may not be much leftover energy or budget.
But we all still love to be able to freshen up our homes – right???
Pay attention because this is where it gets good!
You don’t have to completely redecorate a room to give it a fresh look.
There is an endless variety of single, simple changes that you can make around your home to give it the updated, freshened-up look that you’re craving!
Today’s One Simple Thing has to do with draperies, which are one of the most eye-catching things in every room.
I believe they are the jewelry in a room. It’s hard to walk into any room and not notice windows, especially if there are some sort of window treatments.
Why not take advantage of the “real estate” on those oh-so-noticeable draperies and add a custom detail, such as trim?
And bonus! This trick works well with any design style – from traditional to contemporary and everything in between.
Many interior designers add embroidered or plain trim to draperies to give them a high-end custom look. But those types of trim are generally not budget friendly.
You can keep the cost down and still get the high-end designer look by using something as simple as grosgrain ribbon. The wider the width of the ribbon, the more noticeable it will be.
You don’t need to know how to sew to add ribbon to draperies. An iron and some iron-on tape will do the trick.
TIP: When using iron-on tape to add ribbon to a drapery edge, run it down both sides of the ribbon – not just down the center.
My top picks:
- 1/2 to 2″ Grosgrain Ribbon – multiple colors
- 1 ½”Grosgrain Ribbon – multiple colors
- 1″ Grosgrain Ribbon – multiple colors
- Ultra Hold Iron-On Tape
Look at a few examples how plain white draperies come to life when colorful ribbon is added.
Run two rows of narrow grosgrain ribbon along the edge for greater impact.
DRAPE STYLE
The edge of draperies isn’t the only place you can add trim. The multiple rows of ribbon on the bottom of this drapery panel is very eye-catching.
In case you hadn’t noticed, ribbon trim isn’t just reserved for white draperies!
Adding ribbon to the leading edge of drapery panels is a fabulous way to highlight one the colors in a print fabric.
A contrast ribbon color along the edges can be used to tie together other colors in a room.
Tie a valance and draperies together by using the same grosgrain ribbon trim on both the valance and the draperies, like this example from Susan at Between Naps On The Porch.
You can use ribbon to create a classic Greek Key pattern that will never go out of style. For an excellent tutorial (with a video), Click HERE.
If you’re going to create some type of a design, I recommend using ribbon that is 1″ wide or less instead of wider ribbon.
Following the same general directions as the Greek key tutorial, you could also do a fretwork design.
Use your creativity and have some fun! For an added accent, this person put a button at the intersection where the ribbon crisscrosses.
Have you tried this idea with any of your window treatments?
You are speaking my language! I love a quick fix that adds interest and color. 😉
~ Ashley
Me too, Ashley. I’m all about quick and easy. Have a great day!
I embellished my inexpensive Ikea drapes with pretty trim…the trim costs a lot more than the drapes 🙂 . . but all in all, still a bargain…
Is this permanent? Or easy to take off?
This would be permanent.
These days it is a wonderful way to elevate plain curtains with a low cost!