Thrifted Drapery 202: the hardware
By Kristin Wiens Keyes
Our Hart Ave Project in East Nashville features our favorite Pottery Barn drapery rod and rings
Ok. I wish it wasn’t true, but drapery hardware is one of the things we end up buying new for most projects. (The other is rug pads, but that’s a post for another day.) I have successfully combined thrifted hardware and matching new hardware for exactly one client project, so it’s certainly worth a quick look around Facebook Marketplace, but in general, you’re probably buying new here.
So what should you buy? We love a French Return style hardware set. The no-finial look is very current but also very classic, and using drapery rings is an elevated experience for sure. (I mean no one thinks tugging at panels without rings is technically correct, right? We’ve all done it, but we all sort of know in our hearts that it’s a hack.)
So, without further ado, here are our go-to hardware picks. Both are French Return style, are available in multiple finishes, and have coordinating rings.
Pottery Barn Hidden Connection Room Darkening Curtain Rod: I have no idea why they don’t just call this French Return, but it’s French Return. We love this rod because it’s available in several lengths and two diameters. We use the larger diameter for heavier panels (e.g. lined panels or double width panels) and the smaller diameter for lighter panels (e.g. unlined panels or single width panels).
Ballard French Return Drapery Hardware: Ah this name is so much better! This rod is smaller, more delicate, and very pretty. It’s also inexpensive. The sizing options are more limited, however, so we only use this one for projects where all the windows are relatively small.
Other pro tips:
When in doubt, get the longer rod. If you’re choosing between a larger or smaller rod, get the larger rod. When these rods are stretched to their max length, they tend to get unstable or sag in the middle. For example, let’s say your window is 60” wide. You know you need a rod that’s 72” long because you want 6 extra inches on either side of the window. If your choices for rod size are 60-108” or 48-88”, you should choose the 60-108” rod.
Use drapery pins! Many new panels from major retailers come with their own drapery pins, but many do not, and thrifted drapery panels rarely have pins. Don’t worry! If your panels don’t have pins, you can purchase something like this on Amazon and add your own. You literally just stab them into the inside layer of fabric. Make a plan before you start stabbing though: Decide how many rings you want to use and map out where to place the pins. It helps me to draw out a plan on paper before I begin.
That’s all for now, friends. Enjoy that fancy French Return feeling:)
-Kristin
