Craft Techniques Enhance Store-Bought Home Decor

With a few inexpensive trims or some clever crafting, standard store-bought curtains can go from simply so-so to oh-so-sophisticated.

Lazy daisy

Sheer bows and ribbon daisies give a plain pique panel a fresh, whimsical look. A simple but playful rod adds to the updated style. Pulling the curtain to one side and draping it over the bracket softens the scene and lets in more light. Use an iron to press the rod pocket smooth, then sew on ribbon loops. Because the loops lengthen the curtain, you can hang the rod a little higher, which makes the window appear larger and more open. Some trims don't stand up well to cleaning; if necessary, remove the ribbons and daisies before machine-washing the curtain.

Buttons and rows

Slouchy muslin drapes snap to attention with crisp, tailored styling when you add a black ribbon border and matching buttons. Coordinate the style of the ribbon and buttons to the feel of the curtain--grosgrain ribbon and simple flat-finish buttons for casual textured panels like the one above, or satin ribbons and shiny buttons for a brocade or polished cotton. This simple trim works best on plain or very lightly patterned fabrics. Fuse or glue the ribbons to the curtain around all but the top edge. Use a fade-out fabric marker and ruler to help keep the lines straight. Stitch a button to the base of each tab. If the panels will be laundered often, sew the ribbon in place.

On the ball

Ball fringe and silver grommets--two '60s-era favorites that recently have been revived in the fashion world--have moved into home decor. Here, they add a playful bounce to ordinary tinted sheers. This type of rod treatment--a heavy-gauge wire suspended between ball brackets--is fun and functional: The wire allows the grommets to slide easily back and forth; the ball brackets are a subtle repetition of the fringe motif. To polish off the look, silver-toned tiebacks also have ball finials. Mounting the tiebacks on the diagonal gives the sheer a gentle swagged shape that shows off the fringe to its best advantage. When attaching heavy trim, sewing works better than gluing or fusing. Align the edge of the braid with the edge of the curtain, then machine-stitch down the middle of the braid.

Put a stamp on it

Perfectly fine becomes perfectly fantastic when crinkle-textured sheers are stamped with a subtle floral design. A band of the same color trims the swag, giving the curtain panels and window a visual frame. For the best results, use a stamp and stamp pad specifically designed for fabrics---the stamps are a deeper cut and the ink is permanent. Always prewash and dry the fabrics; do not use fabric softener or stain-repelling detergent. Place kraft paper under the fabric to absorb excess ink, changing the paper as you move the fabric. To form the swag's border stripe, tape off the outer inch of the swag panel. Place the swag over kraft paper and press the stamp pad directly onto the fabric to transfer the color, letting it look mottled and hand-painted.