steal this idea: extra-long conduit curtain rod
We love our big living room windows, but we wanted to be able to block the sometimes-blinding setting sun. However, we also wanted to hang the curtains wide enough to maximize our view. Just one problem: our windows are 118″wide, and the longest readily available curtain rods we could find only went to 120″. Lucky for me, I have an observant (and handy) husband. He’d seen metal conduit used as curtain rods, so we decided to investigate that section of the hardware store. Turned out that 10′lengths of 3/4″metal conduit could be had for just $3.99 each. With the help of a hacksaw, a few conduit hangers, and less than an hour of work, we now have a 152.5″curtain rod. It’s a bit industrial, but that’s perfect for us. –Mary T. Read on for photos and instructions!
You will need:
Enough conduit to combine for your desired curtain rod length
A hacksaw to cut excess length from metal conduit (much easier than it may sound)
Conduit connector(s) to join conduit into one rod
Drill to pre-drill holes for screws
Conduit clamps and screws to attach conduit to wall or ceiling (use a stud finder or use anchor screws)
1. Measure your window and decide how long you want your curtain rod to be — Long enough to completely expose the window? Or shorter, so that curtains overlap the window frame?
2. Visit the electrical section of your local hardware store and choose your conduit. We used 3/4″metal as it was substantial enough without being so thick the curtain wouldn’t fit on it. (If you’re using curtain loops or hangers, be sure to know their diameter so you don’t get conduit that’s too thick.) We chose two 10′ lengths of conduit to give us enough length to pull the curtains completely off the windows. We used a hacksaw to cut down each piece to identical lengths.
3. Use a conduit connector to join the two pieces. We chose a very simple version; you’ll find several varieties at the hardware store and you can get a more heavy-industrial look if you’re into that. This particular connector was attached with just a screwdriver.
4. Mark where you want your conduit to connect to your wall or ceiling — we opted to connect to the ceiling for maximum curtain height — and drill holes for your screws. We used anchor screws to add stability.
5. Screw conduit clamps into the pre-drilled holes.
6. Slide in conduit. Slide your curtains onto the conduit. Tighten screws on the conduit clamps. (The above clamp is fitted over the conduit connector in the middle of the rod.)
7. Step back and admire!
Told you we got a lot of late-afternoon sun. (The edges of the windows are exposed on purpose; the curtains are actually plenty wide enough to cover the windows. We just wanted to block the most blinding rays and still let in a little light.)
March 25th, 2008 at 6:10 am
[...] 25, 2008 I saw this idea to make your own curtain rod from metal conduit over at shelterrific. I only wish I’d seen it before I went and bought the run of the mill curtain rod I have from [...]
March 25th, 2008 at 5:38 pm
neat idea! Love your curtains, where are they from?
March 25th, 2008 at 6:06 pm
Excellent job! Glad you ran the note about the side areas that weren’t covered. I was a little worried about those areas but I see your point. You handy husband makes quite the hand model!
March 25th, 2008 at 7:24 pm
Ha, ha — Tiffany, Dave thanks you.
Pencils, the curtains are from Ikea! I love them, too, and am so happy I had an excuse to buy them. The name is Hedda and here they are:
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/10117486
March 26th, 2008 at 1:00 pm
*sigh*…wish I had seen this before I spent a boatload of $$$ on my boring curtain rods for my living room.
March 28th, 2008 at 12:45 am
Instead of using regular fabric for curtain, try using Indian saris – they are lovely, long enough for floor to ceiling and cheap!
March 28th, 2008 at 4:08 pm
i LOVE it. i wish i would have seen this back when i lived in my “city apartment” with wall to wall (to the ceiling) windows. THIS would have given me a real reason to break out the hammer drill for those pesky concrete ceilings
fabulous work!
April 3rd, 2008 at 5:34 pm
why is it that when I read your blog in googlereader, I get this terrible long list of with links to prescription drugs on some feeds? it’s just so sad, can you please help!?!? seems like someone is hijacking your feed or something.
April 3rd, 2008 at 7:08 pm
Lynda, I’ll let Angela know. We did have our site hacked a couple weeks ago, and this could be left over from that. Thanks for the heads up.
April 22nd, 2008 at 1:27 pm
Thank you for this idea! If you see my blog, I’m currently in the middle of a redesign of my condo. I need extra extra long curtain rods. – But your idea might just solve the problem.
Thank you again!
May 21st, 2008 at 12:37 pm
I need a curtain rod for about 25 ft, i don’t want a raw conduit pipe look, I want to pull the curtains, which will screen the sun during the summer, off to either side of the windows. So i’m thinking one center support? Any ideas?
June 24th, 2008 at 8:54 pm
Thank you so much for posting your “how to” guide!!! I was thinking something like this might work for the loft space my husband and I are buying but hadn’t figure out how to do it.
You just saved us so much money on custom made curatin rods!!!!
July 8th, 2008 at 5:30 am
[...] against painting our living room and dining room shades of blue and gray. Despite our efforts with colorful curtains and art, our walls are simply too gray for Seattle. When it’s overcast outside, which is [...]
July 24th, 2008 at 9:40 pm
This is amazing, I have been looking ALL over for a curtain rod that is affordable and big enough. Thanks for sharing … now I just have to find curtains that are long enough.
July 27th, 2008 at 7:31 am
Absolutely love this idea! We live in a converted loft that once was a marble factory. We are in the unit that has what used to be the loading dock door, which is now a huge comercial window in our living room – 150 x 160. This is the perfect solution for us. Thanks for all the details and instructions. Looking forward to seeing the finished product.
July 28th, 2008 at 5:03 am
[...] huge commercial window in our living room – 150 x 160. This is the perfect solution for us.” Click here to see step-by-step instructions for a clever window treatment [...]
August 1st, 2008 at 10:56 am
I saw your idea on HGTV and was considering it for my husband’s new football room but I need to get around a little curve for a corner window in addition to 128″ of a long span. I’m gonna give it a try. I know it will be gorgous. Thanks a bunch.
September 2nd, 2008 at 4:58 pm
Thanks for posting this idea! I just hung some new curtains, the rods are adjustable and unfortunately too narrow for the set screws in the brackets to hold them so they slide when we move the curtains. I think we can use the conduit connectors to hold the rods at the length we want AND to screw the set screws into!
I like your curtains too, they are FUN
December 10th, 2008 at 8:55 am
I have been searching for curtain rods for our living room windows that measure 180″ I hated everything i found. but, this i like. Thank you , Thank you, Thank you!!!
January 10th, 2009 at 8:02 pm
Thank you for this! Such a winning idea! ♛
March 6th, 2009 at 12:45 am
Great photos and instructions! I’ve always wanted to try this but I wasn’t sure how to get the curtains on and off without having to unscrew everything every time I needed to wash them. I guess I could put drapery clips onto the conduit before installing them. Then I would just unclip the fabric. How did you deal with this dilemma? Kudos to you!!!
March 25th, 2009 at 7:31 am
I just installed a conduit rod over the weekend. This is such a brilliant idea and so budget friendly too! I haven’t hung the curtains yet (I’m sewing them myself), but the rod seems to work like a charm…
Thanks!
May 4th, 2009 at 10:33 am
Love this! Curios as to the drilling into the ceiling? I’ve never done it -drill into the ceiling – and am curious as to what drill bit you needed to use for it? Was it tough to drill into it? Mine feel pretty solid (like cement/concrete or something).
May 4th, 2009 at 2:51 pm
Nell, most importantly you should wear eye protection since there will obviously be dust / debris that will occur. As far as the size of drill bit, start with a small one to make a pilot hole…maybe a 1/8 inch bit. This way, if you don’t have a stud finder or you want to place the brackets as evenly as possible to the ends of the rods, you’ll still have the option of just the screw or a toggle bolt.
If while drilling with the small bit, it feels as if you don’t drill through the ceiling, you’ve probably hit a stud and for that particular hole you can go with just a screw. In this scenario, use a drill bit that is smaller than the threaded portion of the screw. If while drilling the hole it feels like you do go through, then you’ll need a toggle bolt. We used a 1/8″ X 2″ toggle bolt for heavy duty hollow wall. If you need to use these, the size of the drill bit should be slightly larger than the hinged portion of the toggle bolt. You’ll be able to find these at any hardware store. You could probably ask someone at the store what size bit to use. I hope this helps.
July 4th, 2009 at 5:57 pm
I LOVE YOU! I found this idea and LOVE it http://www.bhg.com/decorating/window-treatments/basics/window-treatments-for-sliding–french-doors/;jsessionid=IWCKZWUEI4KPBQFIBQ4SCZQ?page=2
BUT… could not for the life of me figure out how I was going to get a curtain rod that long. You have answered my prayers. It will be covered up by a piece of crown moulding so it doesnt matter what it looks like- though yours is very cute. Also- if anyone else wants to do this… Put the conduit brackets on the wall with the head of the screw facing down- so that if and when you decide to change the curtains you can just unscrew it, take the rod down and are then able to put it back up. The crown moulding will have to be mounted away from the wall for you to be able to get the curtain rod up and down- or put the crown moulding on a bracket system.
AGAIN! THANK YOU!
July 18th, 2009 at 4:33 pm
[...] Again, affordable options were limited and I searched for an alternative. I ran across this great DIY project from Shelterrific, where they used an electrical conduit as a curtain rod. As they suggested, I [...]
July 25th, 2009 at 10:55 am
Thank you for this awesome idea! I’ve been looking for extra long curtain rods everywhere and to no avail. This will be perfect for the two 10 foot windows in my classroom to hang the curtains on! The price is perfect for teachers who want to do a lot on a small budget.
August 2nd, 2009 at 2:07 pm
I missed the note on what to do about the exposed ends. Any advice? Really need for a 15′ wall of windows.
September 28th, 2009 at 11:48 am
This idea was great! I recently used it for a client and painted the conduit a golden bronze color. I also used a wooden dowel about 3 inches long that fit just inside the conduit to join the rods together above the center of the window with a more streamline look. I glued the wood piece inside one of the rods so they can easily be disconnected if you want to wash the curtains, etc. I used some beautiful finials from west elm for the ends of the rods. I connected them by drilling a small hole into the same size wooden dowels as the one used for the center. They fit nice and snug and look very professional!
December 14th, 2009 at 12:38 pm
Fantastic idea! I was looking for a rod to section off part of the basement for the kids’ playroom (11 feet) and this will work. You probably could also use those plastic wrap around covers for the shower curtain rods to cover up the metal pole.