How to Hide Wood Paneling With Curtains

Measure the width of the wall you wish to cover with the tape measure and multiply this measurement by three for the fullness in the curtains. Measure the height of the wall and add 5 inches for hems and the rod pocket at the top of the curtains.

Purchase fabric for the curtains according to your measurements. For example, if the fabric is 45 inches wide and your wall is 8 feet high and 12 feet long, you will need about 10 panels of fabric with each panel about 3 yards long.

Cut the fabric into panels that are 5 inches longer than the height of the wall. Lay one panel flat with the right side facing up and so the top and bottom edges are oriented at top and bottom. Place another panel over it with the wrong side facing up, matching corners and edges. Stitch the two panels together along the right side edge using a 1/2-inch seam allowance. Repeat the same process to sew each panel together.

Turn under the left edge of the joined curtains 1/2 inch and press the edge. Stitch along the fold to hem the edge of the curtains. Repeat the same process along the right edge of the curtains.

Turn under the bottom edge of the joined curtains 1/2 inch and press the edge. Turn the bottom edge under another 1/2 inch and press again. Stitch along the fold to hem the bottom edge of the curtains.

Turn under the top edge of the joined curtains 1/2 inch and press the edge. Stitch along the folded edge to hem the raw edge. Turn under the top edge 2.5 inches and press the fold. Stitch along the inside fold to create the rod pocket.

Position the cafe rod brackets along the top edge of the wall and make marks through the mounting pieces with the pencil where you must drive the screws to mount the brackets. Position brackets about every 6 to 8 feet along the wall.

Drill pilot holes at the mounting marks you made. Position the brackets over the pilot holes and screw in the screws with the screwdriver to mount the brackets.

Purchase a length of 1/2-inch diameter PVC pipe that matches the straight width of the wall (without tripling). If you need more than one piece of PVC pipe, join the pieces with connectors.

Slide the curtains onto the PVC pipe. Adjust the fabric along the pipe to make it even. Hang the curtains by resting the PVC pipe on the cafe rod brackets.