DIY black and white checkered curtains
You guys all know how much I love black and white patterns as well as coming up with affordable ways to DIY designer looks, especially curtains since they tend to be very pricey. A while ago I spotted fabulous modern black and white designer checkered curtains and immediately decided to come up with a way to make my own version of those black and white checkered curtains for our home using Ikea Merete curtains.
You can also check out my DIY marbled watercolor curtains, black and white painted curtains, and DIY horizontal striped curtains if today’s pattern isn’t your thing.
DIY black and white checkered curtains
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I came across the below photo on Instagram. I love the mix!
The above room is just so so good for many different reasons but those curtains gave me a lightbulb moment. And I knew right away that I had to recreate them. I also have this old Target box that looks the same way on a small scale.
It took me about a day to think of a way to create the look the best way. If I hadn’t had the curtain rod and curtains already, I would have definitely gone with the black rods and pleated curtains as well but I already had my West Elm rod and Ikea Merete curtains.
I also had some heat transfer vinyl left and knew it would fit the bill. It’s awesome that these are DIY black and white checkered curtains where no paint is needed. Not having to wait for the paint to dry or to watch out for spills.
Materials needed
- heat transfer vinyl like THIS one which I used (about 3 boxes)
- cutting mat
- craft knife
- pencil
- iron
- metal ruler
- wax paper
- cardboard (5″ square)
- painters tape
- prewashed and ironed curtains (I used Ikea Merete curtains)
If you don’t feel like making your own someone else is now offering curtains like this on Etsy HERE.
{UPDATE: Check out this post HERE about where you can buy checkered fabric like this now if you don’t want to make your own.
And I posted about my favorite back and white curtains HERE if you just want to buy a finished product}
DIY black and white checkered curtain instructions:
Click on the triangle below to see my video tutorial or read below for more details. I think the video gives you a good understanding of how I made the curtains though.
Using iron-on vinyl to make fabric pattern
Start out by making your cardboard template which I cut into a 5-inch square with 1.25-inch cutouts on all 4 corners as shown in my video.
Then cut all the heat transfer vinyl into 1.25-inch squares. In the video, I’m not using the method that I’m showing my next two photos.
Well since the video, I figured out a way to cut the squares faster and more efficiently from the heat transfer after making the first panel. If you tape it to the cutting mat with the painter’s tape and just cut it that way into squares, you can knock it out in no time. The second panel was done quickly while I watched Netflix and happily crafted away.
The cutting mat makes cutting the squares a lot easier too since you can use the grid as a guideline.
Spacing the vinyl squares on the curtains
The above-mentioned cardboard cheat template helped so much with laying out the pattern on the curtains. Again. the cardboard cross is in a 5″ square and the heat transfer squares are 1.25″ on all 4 corners.
I started laying out the squares on the top of the curtains where the grommets are with the help of that cardboard square. That way you can make sure that the vinyl squares are placed nicely around the curtain grommets.
Ironing on the heat transfer vinyl
Make sure to keep the shiny side of the heat transfer facing up when placing the vinyl squares. Press the iron down firmly for a while (read your specific heat transfer instructions first and proceed accordingly), peel the shiny side off, if you messed up you can still remove it by peeling it off (which I’m showing at the end of my video too). If it is the way you want it, you can put the wax paper over the squares and press the iron down firmly to set the squares into the fabric.
Peel off the vinyl squares backing when they are firmly ironed in place.
After a while, I started to eyeball a lot of the squares and it worked great. It doesn’t have to be totally perfect because nobody can tell when they hang up. The second panel went way faster than the first one.
I’m hooked now and these curtains for my entire downstairs.
Photos of finished curtains
Here is a current view of our dining room followed by some older photos.
If you are wondering about our gorgeous new vinyl plank flooring then you can find out more about why I chose Karndean vinyl plank flooring in my recent blog post.
These curtains aren’t the only project in my house using a pattern with black squares. Check out our powder room with a geometric black and white stenciled wall.
My hallway cross wall isn’t in our house anymore but I still love how it used to look.
These curtains aren’t the only project in my house using a pattern with black squares. Check out our powder room with a geometric black and white stenciled wall.
Tschüß,
This so cool and you did an awesome job on the video! 🙂
Thanks so much Whitney, I was amazed at what my iPhone can do because that’s all I used for the video 😉 First timer here.
these are incredible, but i know i would not last on this project- i have the attention span of – squirrel! i am sorry what was i saying?
They look amazing and loved watching the video! Your entire room is beautiful!!
Thank you
These are amazing. Your video was perfect. I love how these came out.
Julia, these are so perfect! I absolutely love the way you mix black and white patterns – you are a master! And the video is adorable too!
Haha thanks Brynne
Well. I LOVE the way to curtains came out, but seriously – the video?!?! How is it that good for your first one?! The music, the camera angle, your shirt…everything was so, so good. Nice work!!!
😉 Thanks 😉
What an amazing job Julia. The curtain is stunning and I loved the video too. Congrats!
Thanks so so much
Very, very clever!!
xo
Patty
Thanks so much Patty
Wow you are brilliant. Such a wonderful idea and your video is so clear. I would take a day to do what you finished in just a minute.
Thanks Sheryll. And yes the heat transfer is washable. It’s made for t-shirt and fabric applications which means it is washable.
I forgot to ask where to get that great iron on tape. Also is it washable? If you said, I could have missed it. I was so caught up in the pics.
This is genius! I loved the video, too!
Thank you Angelica
so cool! And I love that there’s no paint….I would end up with black paint all over the place if I tried to do something like this with paint 😉
Yeah paint wouldn’t be good for this project
Yes! Totally amazing! I don’t think I could have stuck through the whole project but I love the outcome! Also, that painting! Did I miss you posting about it?
I was obsessed with finishing it and Netflix makes the time pass fast. I actually really enjoyed the project. I’m strange. And I think I only posted about the project on Instagram 😉
The painting I mean
I love how it turned out! I will probably use this technique on roman shades. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks, I was thinking about doing that too for my bathroom
LOVE!!!!!!! What a great idea!
XO Ellen from Ask Away
Thank you so much Ellen
Those are fabulous! Pretty labor intensive, but totally worth it! They are perfect in your space.
Once I got the hang of it, it went pretty quickly actually and you don’t have to wait for them to dry which I always had to do previously which cuts the time too.
This is too cool! I absolutely love it!
Thanks so so much Kyla
oh gosh yes that wallpaper would make the curtains so much better. I feel like I need more classic elements now like my chaise to blanche those curtains and crosses out
They look so good, Julia! I admire your patience!!!
Thanks Brandi. It’s strange what I have patience for and what not 😉
Julia, this is really amazing! Your creativity knows no bounds! Seriously, I just love these drapes. I’m not sure I will ever make them but your video makes me believe I can! You are a star! Who thinks like you do? You see something and are able to copy it and pull the whole thing off! Can’t say this is my favorite post b/c I love so much of what you do but this is unreal and up there in my favorite ones!
Lv, Kathleen
Thanks so so much again Kathleen for being so sweet and your sweet email. Clearly made my day.
Oh my goodness, you did such a great job! These look so, so good. 🙂
Here’s an odd question – I have the same blank curtains from IKEA, would you consider making them for me? I’d obviously pay you but you’d do such a better job than me!
If not, no worries!
Hi Kenna, they took a really long time to make and would end up being way too expensive if someone paid me to make them 😉 but I’m so glad you like them.
these curtains look so good! you are one patient lady!
Sometimes I am patient, thanks 😉
Oh you are TOO clever!! I absolutely love that graphic pop they add – phenomenal job and your video was great!! xxx
Thanks now I’m obsessed with making more. Just have to find the time to do it 😉
This is so good!! They look so beautiful and graphic! I bet they look even better with all the black and white you have already DIY’d. Absolutely incredible Julia. Also you’re styling and these photos are spot on!
You are seriously awesome! I WANT these!!! Wish I had time to make them but reality is I don’t. Wonder if I can pay you 😉
I don’t really have the time to make them either but I pretend I do and then I get it done. Thank you 😉