Some people choosing a patterned daybed might keep window treatments neutral—breezy white curtains, for example. Others will pull a color from the bedding and match the panels to that tone. Because this room is Clara’s new space and we love layered patterns and color in children’s rooms, we headed to our favorite local fabric outlet to see what she would pick. Naturally, Clara chose a print that caught her eye.
She explored a few bolder options—a bright orange floral, a dark purple plaid—but ultimately pointed to a fabric with navy and white in it. Those colors help balance all the pink and red in the room, and the print has a very subtle, softened chevron-like texture that echoes the daybed blanket. The price was reasonable, and there was a store-wide sale, so we bought a little over ten yards to make four extra-long panels. After the discount, each panel worked out to roughly $25.
When we returned home and Clara napped, I unrolled the fabric and cut the four panels. My measuring method is straightforward: decide the finished length you want (for example, 89″) and add two inches total for hems, so each panel started at 91″ and was hemmed to 89″. I prefer hanging curtains with rod clips, which adds a bit of length, so mounting the rod just below the ceiling achieves the tall, airy look I like. I also used the full bolt width for each panel to minimize cutting and keep the curtains full and thick.
I cut one panel first and used it as a template for the remaining three so all four panels matched exactly. For hemming I used heavy-duty hem tape and an iron. Over the years hem tape (I use Heat N Bond) has held up well and can be washed, so it’s an easy, polished-feeling alternative to sewing. In my experience hem-taped hems often look straighter than my sewn stitches, since following a tape line with an iron is simpler than keeping a sewing line perfectly even. Tip: always wash your fabric before cutting and hemming so it’s pre-shrunk and ready to hang.
We already had curtain rods and ring clips, so we just reinstalled them after painting the room. A handy trick for mounting the rod brackets is to fold a small piece of painter’s tape under the drill hole so the tape protrudes like a little ledge; it catches the drilling dust and keeps things tidier. For extra security—especially in a kid’s room where a child might hang on the curtains—we used plastic wall anchors so the rod brackets are firmly supported. In our experience, if a kid pulls on the curtains the fabric will release from the ring clip before the entire rod comes crashing down, which is safer all around.
The panels read more navy than black in person, and we plan to introduce more navy accents—frames, pillows, maybe a light fixture or ottoman—to link the curtains with the rug and daybed. That will help the curtains feel intentional rather than random and pull the whole room together.
Hanging tip: clip the rod rings to the curtain and have someone hold the panels up at varying heights until you like how they hang. Mark the wall and then install the brackets at that height. Using the actual curtains when you set rod height is more accurate than trying to calculate the perfect length and account for ring clips and rod diameter. This method avoids multiple re-hangings and gives a cleaner final look.
We made sure the curtains almost touch the floor but don’t puddle, which keeps them cleaner and gives them a fuller, loopier drape. The room still feels a little sparse—we’ll add a kids’ table, an ottoman to break up the pink in the rug, lots of playful art, and a new light fixture. Other items on our to-do list include refacing or painting a dresser, painting the play chairs a bright happy color, converting a cluttered closet into a clothes closet or reading nook, and installing crown molding to finish the space.
Kids’ rooms are so much fun to design because you can experiment with color and pattern. Letting a child help choose fabric or paint often leads to unexpected and delightful results. Have you made curtains for a kid’s room or let your child help pick textiles? If you haven’t tried the clip-the-curtains-to-the-rod-first trick, give it a try—saving the guesswork usually pays off.
Note: Clara’s candid decorating decisions continue to be a highlight around our house—she’s often the inspiration for playful, layered rooms that feel both personal and livable.
- paint the room (done)
- repurpose a side table into a kids’ play table (done)
- bring in a secondhand dresser (acquired)
- make and hang curtains (done)
- add a rug (done)
- hang art and a few three-dimensional pieces
- install a new light fixture
- refinish or paint the dresser
- paint the play chairs a bright color
- convert the cluttered closet into a closet/reading nook
- add crown molding
- add accessories: pillows, toy storage, and finishing touches