DIY Industrial Pipe Curtain Rods {Boys Room Update}

| | |

This post may contain affiliate links for your convenience. Read my full disclosure policy here.

these DIY industrial style curtain rods are a cinch to make, and way cheaper than the West Elm version. Get the tutorial at www.makinglemonadeblog.com! #DIY #knockoff #curtains

By now, I’m pretty sure you know just how much I love the modern and fun home decor from West Elm– so when I found their Industrial Pipe Curtain Rods I had a decision to make. I could drive to the mall, buy the curtain rods, be home and have them set up in about 2 hours. HOWEVER. I could also drive to Home Depot, grab the materials, DIY the heck out of them, and have everything finished in about 3 hours and for $100 less. Guess which idea won?

These DIY industrial style pipe curtain rods are a cinch to make, and way cheaper than the West Elm version. Get the tutorial at www.makinglemonadeblog.com! #DIY #knockoff #curtains

Oh yes, I got my DIY on by figuring out how to make the galvinized pipe curtain rods all by myself– well, with a tiny helper in tow. HINT: It’s easier than you think.

(The curtain rods, not the tiny DIY helper in Home Depot. That part is challenging.)

These DIY industrial style pipe curtain rods are a cinch to make, and way cheaper than the West Elm version. Get the tutorial at www.makinglemonadeblog.com! #DIY #knockoff #curtains
Bee “assists” the Home Depot worker who cut and threaded the pipe for free

via @MakingLemonade on Instagram

The materials cost about $90 total for two curtain rods, which is less than what ONE of the West Elm curtain rods would cost! And if you can find floor flanges for less than $10 each grab them, because that’s where it really added up for me. Here’s what you’ll need to get started for EACH curtain rod– all can be found in the plumbing section of your hardware store. Don’t be intimidated– I stood there for 30 minutes putting parts together until I figured out how to make it work but you can just bookmark this page and take it along as your shopping list and get the parts in minutes flat.

These DIY industrial style pipe curtain rods are a cinch to make, and way cheaper than the West Elm version. Get the tutorial at www.makinglemonadeblog.com! #DIY #knockoff #curtains

Materials for DIY Industrial Style Pipe Curtain Rods

  • galvanized pipe cut to desired length (make sure it’s longer than your window’s width, with room to allow for the threaded ends) and threaded on both sides (Home Depot will do this for FREE! Just ask!)
  • two 1/2 inch floor flanges
  • two 1/2 inch 90 degree elbows
  • two 1/2″ X 2 1/2″ inch nipples (I know, I know… tee hee…)

Here’s a diagram so you know what you’re looking for– make sure to get TWO of everything but the pipe for each curtain rod!

These DIY industrial style pipe curtain rods are a cinch to make, and way cheaper than the West Elm version. Get the tutorial at www.makinglemonadeblog.com! #DIY #knockoff #curtains

How to Make DIY Pipe Curtain Rods

1. These parts are MESSY, so I’d highly recommend cleaning them first. I used good ol’ TSP, a fantastic cleaner for the DIY-er.

these DIY industrial style curtain rods are a cinch to make, and way cheaper than the West Elm version. Get the tutorial at www.makinglemonadeblog.com! #DIY #knockoff #curtains

2. Then, start putting parts together! Sung to the tune of “Dem Bones“: The floor flange connected to the nipple. The nipple connected to the elbow. The elbow connected to the pipe rod. And then start all over again…… (I’ve clearly spent too much time as a teacher. Ahem.)

These DIY industrial style pipe curtain rods are a cinch to make, and way cheaper than the West Elm version. Get the tutorial at www.makinglemonadeblog.com! #DIY #knockoff #curtains

These DIY industrial style pipe curtain rods are a cinch to make, and way cheaper than the West Elm version. Get the tutorial at www.makinglemonadeblog.com! #DIY #knockoff #curtains
note that I didn’t clean this one off first; I quickly learned my lesson and cleaned the parts for the second one before assembling!

3. The next step is optional, but I feel it puts a finishing touch that works nicely in my son’s room. I spray painted the finished curtain rod with Oil Rubbed Bronze spraypaint and let it dry.

4. Since the entire unit will be attached to the wall, you’ll need to load your curtains and/or curtain rings on first, THEN hang. This is kinda a two-person job, unless you ask your husband to hold it then run out of the room to check on the kids and come back 3 minutes later and see your husband is STILL holding it. At that point, it becomes a one-person job because someone is maaaaaaaaaad….

These DIY industrial style pipe curtain rods are a cinch to make, and way cheaper than the West Elm version. Get the tutorial at www.makinglemonadeblog.com! #DIY #knockoff #curtains

5. The curtain rod will be HEAVY, plus there’s the added weight of the curtains, so be sure to use anchors in the drywall.  Mark where the screws will go, screw in the anchors, put the rod in, and then add in the screws. I was being lazy and used silver screws (it’s ‘industrial style, okay?) but here’s a re-enactment if you aren’t super lazy and match the screws to the rest of the curtain rod:

These DIY industrial style pipe curtain rods are a cinch to make, and way cheaper than the West Elm version. Get the tutorial at www.makinglemonadeblog.com! #DIY #knockoff #curtains

Gorgeous, right?! I busted out my photo editing skillz for that shot. Here’s how it really looks, totes ‘industrial’, right?:

These DIY industrial style pipe curtain rods are a cinch to make, and way cheaper than the West Elm version. Get the tutorial at www.makinglemonadeblog.com! #DIY #knockoff #curtains

6. You’re done. Celebrate your easy DIY victory and go spend the money on something else you love at West Elm like this Pyramid Jute Rug I’m crushing on right now! Or sit in the chair in front of the curtain and read train books with your Bee.

These DIY industrial style pipe curtain rods are a cinch to make, and way cheaper than the West Elm version. Get the tutorial at www.makinglemonadeblog.com! #DIY #knockoff #curtains

The best part of the entire process was that my son LOVED the rods. We were tired of his old valances and the blackout shades needed to be replaced, so this easy little boys room update made a world of difference that even my picky lil’ buddy loves. We added a few more updates and I can’t wait to share them as his fourth birthday approaches! Do you see the special touch on the wall? Bee came up with that idea!

These DIY industrial style pipe curtain rods are a cinch to make, and way cheaper than the West Elm version. Get the tutorial at www.makinglemonadeblog.com! #DIY #knockoff #curtains

I mean really, wasn’t it just yesterday he looked like this sitting in his baby boy nautical nursery at just a few months old?

I swear he’s looking around the room forming opinions and dreaming of the day we turn it out in ‘industrial style’.

baby boy nursery ideas

Excuse my while I go shed a tear over my growing boy and the room updates we’re working on together. I’ll tell you what– this boy has OPINIONS and I’m enjoying the end results!

These DIY industrial style pipe curtain rods are a cinch to make, and way cheaper than the West Elm version. Get the tutorial at www.makinglemonadeblog.com! #DIY #knockoff #curtains

More room updates coming soon– the world’s easiest curtains, a boys’ room gallery wall, and that special wall decoration that’s a train lovers dream come true. Stay tuned!

What do you think– was an extra hour to DIY them worth the savings? Would you have kept them silver or spraypainted them an even bolder color?

{if you like the industrial style curtain rods, it would mean the world if you’d share them using the share buttons below or hovering over the image to pin it!}

these DIY industrial style curtain rods are a cinch to make, and way cheaper than the West Elm version. Get the tutorial at www.makinglemonadeblog.com! #DIY #knockoff #curtains

Share This Post With Friends!
Share on pinterest
Pinterest
Share on facebook
Facebook
Share on twitter
Twitter
Share on email
Email
Share on print
Print

Similar Posts