We’ve lived here for 5 years. The house had plantation shutters when we moved in so I didn’t need to rush with drapes in the bedroom. Nevertheless, drapes in the bedroom were on “the-list”.
But I needed to wait.
Wait until I could afford the steep price for the perfect fabric, lining, and rods and of course I’d have to pay someone to sew, because if I use expensive fabric, I’d never trust my elementary sewing skills.
So year after year…I waited.
Creating a sense of place – of home, inside those four walls where we live, is a desire that most of us share. But some of us…me included, have a critical eye for detail. And it’s that over-attention to detail, that can get in the way of creating a home, by keeping us stuck while we wait for perfect.
Over time, the waiting went from this:
“I can’t wait to have drapes done for this room, I’m thinking solid fabric with a pattern on the bottom…”
To this:
“I am never going to be able to justify spending so much money on drapes for this room- and it feels so unfinished without them…ahhhhhh, I’m going to shut the door.”
Waiting for perfect had definitely thrown me into a negative rut.
Since I really dislike being in a negative rut, a few weeks ago, I decided that I wouldn’t wait any longer for those elusive perfect drapes.
I did what The Nester would call: “window mistreatment“.
I put up drop cloths.
***Lots of emails about my chair-source at the end of post***
You heard me.
I. Put. Up. Drop. Cloths.
Because, seriously…
Waiting for perfect is highly overrated.
It’s overrated because waiting for perfect can be exhausting and truthfully, it can take a toll on the very heart of you.
One day you might turn around and realize that every time you walk into one room or another, you feel annoyed.
Why not think outside the perfect-box? What can you do right now, even if your budget is zero, to give that room a sense of home? (*I’m going to give some zero-budget nesting ideas soon)
But waiting for perfect doesn’t just apply to decorating…waiting for perfect runs deep…
What if every time you get dressed to go out to dinner, you stand in the mirror and berate yourself until you end up wishing you could just put on your yoga pants and stay home.
Why not give that woman in the mirror, made in God’s image a break. Stop the negative verbiage and say something outloud that is true like:
Thank you for creating me and for knowing my anxious ways and for giving me peace and joy in this moment…
And then, there’s that sinister comparison side of waiting for perfect-because no matter what we do, someone else is doing it better, for instance:
When someone tells you you’re doing a great job at work, you force a smile while the mentally comparing yourself to your coworkers who after all, are doing a much better job.
Why not breathe in that compliment? Enjoy it. If the voice in your head screams that your coworker is doing the job better than you, thank God for the gifts He’s given that coworker and move on.
Anybody else relate to this?
Because while you may cringe at the thought of using drop cloths as curtains, there might be other areas of your home and/or life where you could use a creative alternative to perfect...just a thought.
xo
Oh, and in case you might consider using drop cloths as curtains, here’s how I did it!
(Click on photo see where to buy)
(there are affiliate links to the rod and clips that I purchased from Amazon)
*I used 4 of these canvas drop cloths from Home Depot at under $11.00 each…
***Make sure you get the drop cloths from the same store at the same time! The different lots are a slightly different color***
*Satin Nickel Curtain Rod (long enough to go past your windows a few inches)
Click on photo for buying option
*
Click on photo for buying option
***I got 2" rings but should have gotten smaller- the 2" rings work but they seem a little big!***
First I put the drop cloths in the wash on hot and added bleach- then tumble dried.
Immediately, I hung them to keep them from wrinkling- I didn’t have to iron them, just smoothed out some of the wrinkled places. 
Drop cloths aren’t perfectly hemmed- to keep from having to cut and hem them, I simply folded over the top edge when needed before clipping-
(In some places the top edge isn’t folded over at all, at other places (where the curtain was longer), the top edge is folded over before clipping. This doesn’t show at the top and ensures that the edge along the bottom is even-it takes a little time, but I stood on a ladder and carefully placed every clip while checking the bottom hem-)
These simple canvas drop cloths were the answer for my bedroom windows. I’m happy with them and every time I walk into this room, I’m reminded that waiting for perfect in any area of life is highly overrated.
Source for the cute chair: Slipcovered Tristan Chair HERE
Love them, such a pretty room. They look amazing.
You utterly amazing me.
Not just with the drop cloths–which are gorgeous, but with the way this post went deep. It’s how I approach writing sometimes–afraid to try b/c it might not be perfect, then when I do write, being overly critical.
Trying to do things perfectly puts us in analysis paralysis!
Julie, analysis paralysis….yes that’s it! xo
Lovely!
Robin,
I have two quotes that I heard years ago that have ALWAYS stayed with me and both fit with your beautiful post today.
“Contentment ends when comparison begins.”
“There is no perfection on this side of Glory!”
Love you, sweet friend.
Tawn
Thanks for sharing your thoughts and projects. Good advice.
Thank you for this post. It wasn’t just about the drop cloth curtains,but what you did say regarding , comparison. By the way the curtains turned out lovely! You have a beautiful room.
The curtains look lovely, Robin. But, the comparison was even better. When you asked the question, “Anybody else relate to this?”, I was raising my hand high! I am always comparing myself and home to others because I am a perfectionist. And, you are so right that having or being perfect is so very over-rated.
I love this quote: No one is perfect…that’s why pencils have erasers.
Have a wonderful day, dear friend. xxxooo
What a great post!!! Love the way the curtains look!!! Waiting for “Perfect” is so VERY OVER-RATED!!!!
Love the look. I just hemmed 18 curtains for a friend. She got them from ikea. They are just like yours but have the rings in them. They also use drop clothes instead of slip covers on sofas. Also the spiritual message is awesome
Love it Robin! Thanks Going to try it !
I came across this beautiful picture while looking at “Plum Doodles” site.. I love the thrifty~ness of the curtains but my eye goes straight to the picture above the bed.. Did you do that also?
Hi Rosemary! So happy to meet you…that is an antique mirror behind the bed! It’s really pretty in person too although it really is super old and has lots of imperfections 🙂 ox
Tears reading this post. Thank you!!
This is brilliant on so many levels! And that is a gorgeous bedroom! Thank you. 🙂
I like the drop cloths! I have been using them too to recover different pieces of furniture. I’m glad you didn’t wait any longer!
My own heart and home needed these wise and kind words. Thank you being vulnerable. And for the tip!
I have had drop cloth curtain panels trhoughout my French cottage for 6 years now!
Never tire of them, a must is to hot wash about 3 times and hot dryer they continue to shrink time and time again a and again. I had taken and oust sewed up a cuff 4″ so I could slide them on a pole rod, using oak closet rods from Home Depot which ended up much less then buying ready made curtain rods. Eyelet brackets I had a welder make me up from cutting and old pipe. I wanted nothing to feel really new.
Love that you shared the drop cloth elegance, yes! I find rural rustic elegance in them, giving a home all the right kind of rightness!!
Enjoy your found perfect!
See you soon.
Doré
Love these curtains! I use dropcloths all the time for home decor projects. Thanks for sharing at Merry Monday!
Hi Robin – Your drapes are lovely. Drop cloth is a favorite of mine. It has a wonderful texture to it that is hard to find in other fabrics. I agree with you that perfection is highly overrated. It’s the imperfections that give things character and style, and in my mind beauty.
I love drop cloth projects and these are gorgeous! I can’t believe you didn’t even have to iron them. They look so good. Glad you didn’t wait any longer!
Thanks so much Michelle xo
Wow! What a great idea! And I am right there with you…I feel like I have been waiting for perfect for the last two years in my new home! Thank you for the inspiration to move forward and for the awesome drop cloth curtains! #HomeMattersParty
Wonderful sweet, deep post, and a beautiful room! Oh my goodness, so similar to the vision for my master when we move next month. If only I could find a bed similar to yours! Its gorgeous!!
This is exactly the message I needed to hear today, thank you. And the curtains and the whole rooms are lovely!!
Just bought drop cloths for this very purpose at WalMart for $9!! You can look through them and get the creamy-beige ones as I did, or the more white ones. Didn’t know you could bleach them, nice tidbit to add to my deco tips. I have bought the pewter grommets (also from WalMart for about $7) and am going to make grommet curtains – they are so absolutely easy with the Dritz Curtain Grommets, they simply snap together. Can’t wait to get them up. You can make two panels from one drop cloth since they are 6’X9′ or one long one for a larger window.
Your imperfect draperies are PERFECT in my book!!
Linda, I LOVE the grommet idea!!! I may just try that sometime! ox
Really? You are killing me with your gorgeous home. Each time I think I got my home nice, I take a look at your beautiful place and get to working at changing things. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for showing us your lovely home and how to make varies items.
Robin! I too am cursed with perfectionism and waiting waiting waiting. I love what you have done here in your bedroom! Way to go! I actually have a drop cloth purchased from Home Depot that I was going to make a slipcover with. Ha!!! Still in bag. I love your tip about washing it first and I will use it one day!!! I have found the naughty alternative to sewing called stitch witchery, iron on fusing tape/glue! I just started blogging myself. I so enjoyed yours! I too believe in peace about ourselves only God can give. Blessings of peace to you too.