Conduit Curtain Rods That Look Like the Real Thing!

Why spend a fortune on curtain rods & finials? Check out how to make DIY curtain rods for ANY window length!

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I saved over $500 by learning how to make curtain rods out of inexpensive electrical conduit. In this step-by-step tutorial, I share an easy way to make finials out of furniture knobs giving you endless style options!  By saving so much on curtain rods, you can put more of your budget toward more exciting aspects of your home decor!

This process will show you how to make the perfect curtain rod for every window in your home whether you have small windows or you need your own extra large curtain rods for larger windows.

How to Hang Curtain Rods Cheaply

When we moved into our house, the previous owner’s curtains looked like something out of a 1960 Sears catalog and they had to go.  Knowing I had 16 windows to buy curtain hardware for, I realized that curtain hardware and window treatments would be one of our biggest expenses.

Since I wanted to spend more money on curtains, paint, and accessories, I decided to figure out a way to make my own DIY custom curtain rods.

We moved into this house a few years ago knowing we had a LOT of projects ahead.  Every room was crying out for a makeover, but honestly, I wouldn’t have it any other way as I enjoyed several DIY projects in our last home.  Making curtain rods was another opportunity to put our own touch on a house we love so much.

The most expensive curtain rods online were the ones for extra-long windows. However, this DIY curtain rod project allows you to make long curtain rods for the same price as short ones!

What Can I Use Instead of a Curtain Rod? – The Best DIY Curtain Rod Options

When making DIY custom rods, there are a few different alternatives to curtain rods you buy in a store. Options include electrical conduit, black steel pipe, wooden dowels, and also PVC pipe. 

I decided against the wooden dowel rods because they are three times the cost of conduit and PVC and they also don’t come in longer lengths for long curtain rods.

When it comes to electrical conduit versus PVC, I chose the conduit because although they are both cheap and come in long lengths, PVC requires more brackets.  That’s because the PVC is much less rigid and can sag easily – not a look you want.

Black plumbing pipe rods are a great idea if you want an industrial look but it’s pretty heavy and more expensive than electrical conduit.

Electrical Conduit Curtain Rod

Electrical conduit and wood rods are the better options overall but wood dowels can sometimes look cheap. Electrical conduit can easily mimic the look of custom curtains for a very low cost.

The beauty of making DIY curtain rods out of electrical conduit is that you also gain the professional look of custom curtain rods!

How to Make Easy DIY Curtain Rods – Supplies

• Electrical Conduit – You can find it at your local hardware store (I used ½ inch which is actually ¾ in. in diameter).
• Cabinet Knobs – These Round Glass Cabinet Knobs are my favorite and remember you can spray paint the whole knob or just the base in any color! 
• Pipe Cutter – This is what I use as my curtain rod cutter and it’s incredibly easy to use!  Just put the pipe cutter where you want to make the cut, tighten it and spin it around until the piece falls off.
• Rustoleum Universal Spray Paint in Oil-Rubbed Bronze – This is my absolute favorite spray paint and it comes in any color, whether you want copper, black, gold, satin nickel curtain rods, or my favorite, oil-rubbed bronze!
• Curtain Brackets – These perfectly fit the electrical conduit we are using in this tutorial.
• Drywall Anchors and Screws
• Electrical Tape
• Super Glue with Ultra Gel Control
• Hot Glue (optional)
• Rod Connectors for Bay Window Rods (optional)- This one provides a seamless look with the size of the conduit we are using!
• My Best Spray Painting Tips – Check out the form at the end of this post for a free spray painting checklist to give you a flawless finish with spray paint every time

RELATED: How to Transform Your Home Decor with Spray Paint

As you get your shopping list together, be sure to check out my blog post on DIY Pinch Pleat Curtains where I show you how to make your own curtain rings that are almost free!

 

How to Make Cheap Curtain Rods That Look High-End – The Process

Step 1: Get the Right Electrical Conduit for Your DIY Curtain Rods

First, go to the electrical section in your favorite home improvement store for electrical conduit.  As I said, I had considered wood dowels, but you would see the wood grain when it was spray painted.  PVC was another option, but it was too flexible, which is why the electrical conduit was a perfect choice.

Electrical conduit is my new best friend.  Not only is it durable, and easy to cut, but it is also extremely cheap.

A 10’ piece of 1/2” electrical conduit will run you less than $4.00!  Compare to the Amazon Basics Curtain Rods of the same size that will run you almost $30 each and that’s just for a basic rod.  These will look just like Restoration Hardware’s basic rods that will cost almost $200.

It’s a good idea to only pick conduit that is straight as some can be a little bent.

I found curtain rod brackets at Amazon but you can also find them at Home Depot.  Make sure your bracket will fit your rod diameter.  These worked nicely with the ½” conduit.

Step 2: The Easiest Way to Hang Curtains – Finding the Right Height and Width

Before you buy your new curtains, there are some size options to consider:

How to Determine the Best Width for Curtains

You don’t want the length of your rod to be the same or even close to the same as the width of your window alone.  We want the curtains to accentuate the window and make it look larger than it really is while letting in as much light as possible!

In other words, you want the inside edge of the curtain to just barely cover the inside of the window frame or edge.  This gives the illusion of a MUCH larger window.

In several cases, I extended my rods over a foot on each side of my windows.  I did this to make the windows look larger than they actually are and to allow more light in!

Notice how tiny this window is but it looks so much larger when I extended the curtains out as far as they would go.

No one would be able to guess how small these windows actually are!

How to Determine the Best Length for Curtains

I like to hang my curtains so they are 4 to 6 inches from the ceiling.  Measure away from the ceiling and make a small mark with your pencil there. 

Should Curtains Hang All The Way To The Floor?

Now you want to install your curtain rod brackets at the width you decided on earlier and at this height.

Hemming Curtains for the Perfect Height For Your Window

In determining the length of my curtains, I like to add approximately 4 inches to this length (from the rod to the floor)  because I will actually hang up my curtains on the rod, pin them to the correct length of 1/2″ off the ground and then hem them.

I know what you are thinking, my friend.  It sounds like a lot of extra work to rehem curtains but for me, it is easier than the possibility of making a lot of extra holes in the wall trying to get the brackets to be the right height for the rod. Oftentimes when I get curtains, one end is longer than the other but this method customizes my curtain to my window. 

Finding Curtains at the Perfect Height (NO-Hem Option)

If you don’t want to go to the trouble of hemming your new curtains, I get it. Fortunately, since writing this post, I have found some curtains online that are sold in SEVERAL height options instead of the standard two. Check them out here:

CURTAINS IN SEVERAL HEIGHT OPTIONS

To recap: Measure from 4-6 inches from the ceiling and install your brackets.  Next, measure from the rod to 1/2 inch off the floor. Buy curtains at the link above or buy curtains that are longer than you can pin and hem to the exact height. (If you don’t sew, use this hem tape!)

For example, I bought 110″ curtains from Target which was much easier and cheaper than making them from scratch or getting them custom-made.

This method is the one sure-fire way to get your curtains the right length without adding a lot of screw holes in the wall because of misplaced brackets.  Plus you have professional-looking curtains that don’t cost much money!

Here are the three different curtains I bought for this project!

Step 3: The Best Curtain Rod Cutter for Making Easy Curtain Rods

Mark the new rod size with a pencil so you know where to cut.  To cut the rod, you simply tighten the pipe cutter so the round blade is in line with the line you marked. 

The Best Curtain Rod Cutter (Pipe Cutter)

Tighten it just enough that you can still rotate it around the rod with some tension.  Keep rotating the pipe cutter around the rod until it gets loose again, tighten slightly, and continue to spin it.  Do this until the groove in the rod is deep enough that the end pops off at the cut.  It might take a minute or two but I promise it works!

Be sure to check around to see if you can borrow a pipe cutter.  They are not very expensive but I bought one for myself, only to find out my husband already had one and my dad had two.  Woopsie!

 

Step 4: How to Make Unique DIY Curtain Rod Finials Out of Furniture Knobs

Now it’s time to work on the knobs!  For the windows in the kitchen and living room, I wanted the look of these round glass finials at Restoration Hardware but wasn’t about to pay $80 a pair, especially when I would need so many.   So, I stumbled upon these 30mm Glass Cabinet Knobs for just over $1 each.  Jackpot!

Superglue the head of the screw to the bottom of the knob.

I applied an ample amount of super glue and used an empty egg carton to hold them in place as they dried.  As they dry, you will see some white residue from the glue on the base of the knob but the paint will cover that.   Let the finials dry for 48 hours to be on the safe side.

 

DIY Curtain Rod End Caps

Instead of finials, you can make DIY Curtain rod end caps by buying PVC end caps and spray painting them.  Just super glue them onto the ends and no one will know you made them yourself.

Step 5: Painting DIY Curtain Rods

We saved this step until now so we didn’t ruin the paint finish when cutting the rod or gluing the knobs.

My favorite spray paint for curtain hardware is Rustoleum Oil Rubbed Bronze (click here for the current price).  It’s very forgiving but read the information on the back about recoat times.

At the same time, you paint your rods, you will also want to spray paint your finials (cabinet knobs) and any other hardware.

Be sure to shake the can of spray paint and spray in several very light coats to get the best finish possible: My Best Spray Painting Tips and Tricks

DIY Glass Curtain Rod Finials – To get the look of the Restoration Hardware Glass Ball Finials, you want to tape off the round glass portion with painter’s tape, before spray painting.

DIY Oil-Rubbed Bronze Finials – For solid oil-rubbed bronze finials, you will spray paint the entire thing.  No one will be able to tell that part of it is metal and the rest of the finial is glass.  Once it’s spray-painted, the whole finial and rod will look like dark bronze.  To get my best spray painting tips to get a flawless finish every time, fill out the form below!

If I had to do this over again, I would have painted the brackets too so they are exactly the same color.

Free Spray Painting Tips & Tricks

To get my free tips on spray painting anything, fill out the form below to get the free checklist and access to my free printable library:

Step 6:  How to Make Cheap Curtain Rods Out of Electrical Conduit – Installation

After the paint has have dried overnight, I wrapped electrical tape around the screw so it would fit snugly into the end of the conduit.  Be sure to wrap at least 2 rows of tape around the screw.  This will take some trial and error as you find the right amount of tape so the finial end fits.  You want a  snug enough fit so that the finial stays in place.

I just kept adding tape until it was tight enough. Secure it with hot glue if that helps.

Hang your brackets and rods and you are ready to add your curtains!!!

Here are the rods I made when I made over our master bedroom in Master Bedroom Makeover in Sherwin Williams Silver Strand.

After attaching the finials to the rods, I hung my curtains.  I repeated this project for all 16 windows in our house and estimate that I saved a minimum of $500 if I bought all Target curtain rods. 

Can you imagine how much I would have saved at a high-end store like Pottery Barn or Restoration Hardware?  I’m willing to bet you can’t tell the difference between my glass finials and the ones at Restoration Hardware below.

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It’s hard to believe that each curtain rod with brackets and finials cost me about $10.

To see how I made my own DIY Curtain Rings and also made pinch pleats the EASY way, check out my post How to Add Pinch Pleats to Store-Bought Curtains.

How to Make DIY Curtain Rods For Bay Windows and Sliding DOors

How to Make A Conduit Curtain Rod For A Bay Window

To make a custom curtain rod for a bay window, you don’t have to fork out the high cost of custom bay window curtain hardware.  Instead, cut the electrical conduit into three different sections according to the length of each window.   

Then you will join each rod with this connector here.  To ensure the end of the connector fits into the curtain rod, you are going to wrap the end with electrical tape as you did above.

Once your brackets are installed and you are sure everything is cut to the right size and fits properly, you can spray paint your connectors to match the rods.

DIY Curtain Rods for Sliding Glass Doors

To continue the look of the long curtains in our living room, I used the same process above to make some curtains for our french doors.  This would also work well for sliding glass doors, where you want to ensure privacy but don’t want the look of verticle blinds.

FAQ’s: DIY Curtain Rod Finials and Easy Curtain Rods Out of Electrical Conduit

How Do You Make a Curtain Rod Longer?

Because the electrical conduit comes in lengths up to 10 feet and sometimes longer, you have a lot of options for extra long curtain rods.  You just want to make sure to add enough brackets as any curtain rod will sag without enough support in the middle.

How to Extend a Curtain Rod That is TOO Short

If you have an existing curtain rod that is too short and needs extending, it will be easy to cut a piece of electrical conduit and spray paint it to the color of your existing brackets and finials.  For less than $4 you now have a longer curtain rod that fits with your existing style.

DIY Corner Curtain Rods

If you have corner windows and need an easy solution for DIY corner curtain rods, use the same connector as I used in the bay window instructions but only cut two pieces of conduit.  Now you will hang them so that there are three curtains (one on each side and one in the middle with your connector in the middle.  It is best to use 4 brackets (two on each wall) and use rings for your curtains since you are using the connector.

DIY Double Curtain Rods

If you like the look of sheers behind your curtains, you will want to make a DIY double curtain rod which is just as easy as making a single.  You will just cut double the pieces of conduit and need double the finials but for brackets, you will use these double brackets that will work well with the 1/2″ conduit.

When Do Curtain Rods Need a Center Support?

A curtain rod needs center support if the curtain rod is over 6 feet long.  If you feel like you will see some sag, even for curtain rods less than 6 feet, go ahead and add a center support.  It is better to add one to be on the safe side than to not add one and risk the conduit sagging.  Fortunately, the electrical conduit is very rigid, unlike PVC pipe which almost always needs a center support.

How To Make Curtains for Doors

To make curtains for doors, follow the same steps above, I used the same tutorial to make curtains on rings for my French doors and after 5 years, the paint is not scraped off the rod – even though it’s pulled open and close every day.

What are alternatives to curtain rod brackets?

For unique alternatives to traditional brackets, try checking a local thrift store for the cheapest options for vintage and wood brackets.  You can also add a little style with leather straps.

What are other attractive Diy curtain rod ideas?

There are some more fun alternatives to traditional curtain rods that don’t cost much money.  You can use tree branches as opposed to wood curtain rods for a rustic look but know you will not have perfect curtain rods and the first side of your curtain panels might be longer than the other.

Copper curtain rods can give you a unique look to industrial pope curtain rods but copper pipes can be cost-prohibitive.  A great option is to use the process in this blog post but paint them with copper spray paint.

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The Perfect Way to Make DIY Conduit Curtain Rods

By making your own curtain rods with inexpensive materials, not only do you save a lot of money on new curtain rods but it’s a great way to express your own style with any window size. The best part is that it doesn’t take much time even if you are making hardware for lots of windows!

Traditional curtain rods can be hundreds of dollars but by making your own diy curtain rods, gorgeous-looking windows are no longer a pipe dream! Good luck and let me know if you have any questions in the comments section!

Blessings,

 

 

 

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