Thrifted Drapery 201: Panels
By Kristin Wiens Keyes
Here we combined four preloved panels and two new panels from West Elm to dress three windows in our client's guest bedroom.
This series assumes you already have Drapery 101 on lock. You already know to hang the panels high and wide, and you already know they should fall between just above the floor and a bit of pooling. You’ve tried dressing your windows before with some success. Now you’re ready to level up your window game and to do so with a secondhand first approach.
In this series, I’ll teach you how to create a fully professional look for your windows using preloved panels. In this post, I’ll tell you what to look for and what to avoid when shopping for panels on Facebook Marketplace and other secondhand markets.
Figure out if you need double or single panels. Most single panels are around 50” wide, and two of them generously cover a standard window size. If your window width exceeds 50” wide, it’s time to consider two double panels. Most people have a window in their home that requires more than 50” of drapery - often a front window in a living or dining space. Double panels are typically around 100” wide and are sold by a handful of major retailers and are harder to find than single panels. The bottom line: You don’t want to put single panels on a big window. At worst, you’ll end up with panels that don’t close all the way, and at best you’ll end up with panels that barely close all the way but look insubstantial on either side of your window.
Find a seamstress. The big secret here is that the double panels sold at Pottery Barn, Restoration Hardware, etc. are actually just two single panels sewn together. If you can find someone to do this or learn to do this yourself, voila! you can create your own double panels.
Look for sets. There are plenty of people selling preloved drapery panels on Facebook Marketplace. You might get lucky and find someone who is selling several panels. We recently found a set of six single Pottery Barn panels still in the packaging. We combined two sets of two panels to create double panels for a large window and used the remaining two single panels for a smaller window in the same room.
Consider “Frankenstein-ing” new and preloved panels together. Many of the panels for sale on Facebook Marketplace are still available from major retailers. If you need six panels for your project and only find four, see if you can buy the additional two panels new. It’s not as awesome as thrifting all of them, but it’s still a secondhand first approach.
Pitfalls to avoid: There are plenty of ways for your thrifted drapery projects to go south. (And I speak from experience. Sigh…)
Shrunken panels: If the original owner washed their drapery panels, chances are the panels are no longer the original length - even if they didn’t put them in the dryer. You can ask the seller if they’ve been washed, but you should still bring a tape measure when you meet up with them. It can be tedious to unfold each panel and measure it, but doing so will prevent frustration later.
Dirty or stained panels: Look for stains or dirt. Maybe you can live with a few small spots, especially if the panels will be behind furniture, but you should know what you’re getting into. Also, it’s hard to launder drapery panels without shrinking them (see above), so it’s easiest to find preloved panels that already meet your standard of cleanliness.
Sun damage: Most drapery panels eventually get some sun damage. Again, some fading might be ok with you, but unfold each panel to check, and know what you’re buying.
Now go get out there! Get yourself some pretty windows, reduce your carbon footprint, and save some cash. You got this.
— Kristin
