I tried the bowl-of-water trick too, but I kept bumping into it at night—guess my sleepwalking self isn’t a fan of extra humidity. Ended up switching to a small humidifier made from recycled plastic, which honestly works better for me. For curtains, I actually repurposed an old tablecloth once... not the prettiest, but it blocked out more light than I expected and felt way less wasteful than buying new. Anyone else notice how thrifted fabrics just have more character?
For curtains, I actually repurposed an old tablecloth once... not the prettiest, but it blocked out more light than I expected and felt way less wasteful than buying new.
I’ve actually tried the tablecloth-as-curtain trick too, and I have to agree—thrifted fabrics just seem to have a story behind them. There’s something about the texture and weight that feels different from new stuff. I do wonder, though, if anyone else finds that older fabrics sometimes let in more drafts? Maybe it’s just my old windows, but I ended up doubling up with a second layer. Still, way cheaper than blackout curtains and definitely less wasteful.
I’ve done the same thing with old bedsheets—turned them into curtains for a guest room. The fabric was a bit thin, so I actually stitched two together, kind of like you did. It’s funny, I thought it would look super makeshift, but once they were up, it just felt cozy and intentional. I do think older fabrics can be drafty, especially if they’ve been washed a ton and lost some density. But honestly, I’d rather layer up than buy those stiff, plasticky blackout curtains. Plus, it’s way more satisfying to give something a second life than toss it. Sometimes the patterns are a little wild, but that just adds character, right?
Funny, I did something similar with a set of vintage pillowcases that had this faded blue floral pattern—honestly, not my style at all, but I couldn’t bring myself to toss them. Ended up patchworking them into a sort of Roman shade for the laundry room window. It’s not perfect, but it does the job and adds a little quirk to the space. I totally get what you mean about the fabric being thin though. I tried doubling up too, but there’s still a bit of a draft in winter.
I’ve noticed older fabrics seem to breathe better than new synthetics, even if they’re not as dense. There’s something about the way light filters through them that feels softer, less harsh than store-bought curtains. The patterns can be wild—mine look like they belong in a grandma’s cottage—but honestly, it’s grown on me. Sometimes those “imperfections” end up making a space feel more lived-in and real.
I do wonder if there’s a trick to adding weight or insulation without losing that softness... maybe some kind of liner? Haven’t figured it out yet, but for now, I’ll take the character over plastic any day.
Vintage pillowcases as Roman shades—love that. It’s funny how those “grandma’s cottage” patterns start to feel right at home after a while. I totally agree with this bit:
Sometimes those “imperfections” end up making a space feel more lived-in and real.
Honestly, I think the quest for perfection in home stuff is overrated. As for adding weight, have you tried old flannel shirts as a liner? They’re soft, they insulate surprisingly well, and you still keep that cozy vibe. Not sure it’s THE solution, but it beats stiff plastic backing any day.
