16 DIY Kitchen Window Treatments for an Easy Refresh

Add a pop of color or pattern to basic cordless roller shades with a sample pot of paint. To get the look of this preppy pink window treatment, simply outline your design (here, a two-inch-wide rectangle) with painters tape, then brush on your favorite color. Let dry completely on a flat surface before hanging up.

If your kitchen window is too wide or narrow to accommodate standard window treatment dimensions, consider customizing your own. Bamboo blinds can be cut to size with a little handiwork. You'll need a few basic tools, like E6000 permanent adhesive glue, a utility knife, and a permanent marker to mark your dimensions, and an afternoon to create these custom window treatments.

Installing a window treatment doesn't have to put an end to the light. Look for a bright, semi-see-through fabric, like this classic blue-and-white-striped swatch, and fit it to a basic roller shade. When glued in place, the kitchen window covering adds style without leaving your room dark.

For a cheap window treatment idea, utilize wood dowels and your favorite fabric to fashion a DIY Roman shade. This kitchen window treatment does require sewing and hand-stitching, but the results are well worth it. Double-layered fabric provides extra light-blocking and privacy when needed.

Add adorable farmhouse charm to your kitchen with easy DIY shutters. They only require four steps to make. After cutting all the required lumber to size, simply screw together, fill any holes, and attach hardware. Pair the kitchen window treatment with other farmhouse accents, like fresh flowers, greens, and colorful linens, to complete the look.

Decoupage medium takes the place of a sewing machine in these easy no-sew curtains. You'll need a faux-wood blind cut to the size of your window, plus thick upholstery fabric a little bigger than the blind. Simply remove some slats, attach the fabric, and in minutes you'll have a stylish kitchen window shade.

Update basic cafe curtains with tassels or pom-pom trim for an easy DIY update. Purchase individual string tassels or tassel trim and simply hot-glue in place along the edge of your curtains. Make sure to apply to the back hem of your kitchen curtains for a crisp, clean look.

Dress up plain kitchen curtains with the Japanese version of tie-dye: shibori. Start by mixing an indigo dye kit in a large bucket according to package directions. Then use a combination of rubber bands and wooden blocks to fold up curtain panels. Place panels in the dye mixture—the longer they're left in the dye, the deeper the blue will be. Remove from bucket and let dry. Wash before hanging.

Make use of old leather belts with this fun DIY kitchen window treatment. Take a large swatch of fabric—we used two yards of a heavy-duty linen—and hem the edges. Attach a 1-inch square dowel at one end with a staple gun. This is the top of the shade. Take a leather belt and staple the non-buckled end to the square dowel, about 5 inches in from the edge. Flip the shade over and attach a large gold tack, also 5 inches from the edge. Repeat on the other side. Hang the dowel at the top of the window sill, then loop the belts up and around, hanging the buckles on the tacks.

Put your art skills to the test with this free-handed curtain upgrade. Press the curtain and hang it on a vertical surface, like a tall outdoor fence or wall, with a piece of protective plastic behind it. Apply a few pieces of painters tape inches from the bottom, then spray-paint below the tape to create a solid border. Remove tape, then spray loops across the fabric graffiti-style.

Make these kitchen café curtains in just a few minutes. Press desired tea towels, scarves, or hemmed fabric with an iron, then attach to a rod with ring curtain clips. A tension rod works best for this project as you'll need to adjust the rod's height depending on the towels' length, and width to fit the window frame.

Don't let stylish coasters gather dust on your coffee table. Put them to work with this pretty curtain tieback project. Remove any rubber feet or pads from the coaster with a putty knife, then adhere it to a metal curtain tieback with a high-strength multipurpose epoxy. Let dry. Install tieback with a wall anchor and drill, then pull back kitchen curtains.

Transform a store-bought Roman shade with painters tape and a few well-placed lines. Unroll the shade and find the center point of the fabric. Use a triangle shape (we used an artist's triangle) and pencil to trace lines onto the fabric. Double-check the stripes are level with a straightedge, then adhere painters tape to the lines, and brush on fabric paint. Let dry, remove tape, and install the kitchen window shade according to the manufacturer's instructions.

A valance adds charm to any kitchen without sacrificing window space. Make your own by cutting a 2x4 to the width of the window. Trim a piece of fabric to be 6 inches longer and 4 inches taller than the desired length. Hem the bottom, then wrap fabric around the wood and staple into place. Attach the 2x4 with screws or L brackets. Another option? Cut fabric to the length of your window, then use fusible tape to fashion a loop at the top and a faux hem at the bottom. Slide the DIY kitchen window treatment onto a curtain rod to finish.

Fusible tape and a few well-placed tension rods are the secret to this sneaky no-sew Roman shade. Get the look by cutting fabric 1 inch wider and 4 inches longer than the window you wish to cover. Attach fusible tape on the sides and bottom of the fabric to "hem" with ½-inch seams. Repeat on the top, except increase seam size to 1-inch to make room for a dowel. Mount the dowel, then place tension rods in the window frame at random intervals. Drape the fabric over the rods to mimic a Roman shade's curves.

Perk up standard curtains with a playful fabric edge. This no-sew window treatment project is as easy as it gets. Adhere fabric strips to the bottom edge of your curtain with fusible tape. Try this trick on existing curtains, or add to store-bought treatments before hanging.