THE POPLAR COTTAGE

When my sister spotted our kitchen café curtains in the background of a FaceTime call, she immediately texted me a link to a look-a-like set she’d been eyeing - for $400 a pair. Eeek! I laughed and told her ours were handmade (thanks, Mom!) and cost way less, around $50 a window. She couldn’t believe it.

Truth is, café curtains don’t need a designer price tag to bring softness, texture, and warmth to a kitchen. I’d even go so far to say that they often look better when they’re a little homespun. Today I’m breaking down our café curtain budget, fabric, and hardware sources, plus a few no-sew alternatives so anyone can get this cozy, layered look without spending a fortune (or pulling out a sewing machine ;).

DIY café curtains in a cozy cottage kitchen for privacy and soft light

cafe curtain fabric, bench cushion (in Olefin brown), butcher block, knobs (unlaquered brass)

Why Café Curtains are having a moment

Café curtains have quietly been one of our favorite old-house design details for years. From the pleated set in the Farmhouse primary bathroom to the Morris-print panels in the pantry, they’re just so pretty. Plus…

Practical: privacy without blocking all the natural light
Easy to install: just a rod, some fabric, and a few clips
Affordable: even with a nice fabric, they’re a fraction of the cost of most window treatments
Timeless: they add a vintage-inspired charm that works with nearly any style, from cottage to modern farmhouse

👉 If you want a step-by-step tutorial for sewing and hanging café curtains, start with our full DIY Café Curtain Guide.

How We Made Ours (on a budget)

For the Poplar Cottage kitchen, we used a block-print linen fabric handmade in India (Etsy is the BEST resource for fabric!). It’s thick enough to give us privacy at night but still lets light pour in during the day. My mom sewed them to fit our windows exactly, and I hung them with small brass café clips on a slim brass rod. Everything was ordered online and made at home.

Here’s what we used:

Fabric - hand block printed linen, 58” wide

Café clips - we typically use 3/4 rings

Mounting brackets - these are for inside mount, like our’s

Brass rod - 3/8” OD tubes fit inside mounting brackets - look at your local hardware store if Amazon is out!

Block print linen café curtains on brass rod and clips

Budget café curtain tutorial - linen fabric with brass clips

Hanging café curtains with brass clips and rod

Budget breakdown

For under $55, these curtains look every bit as good as designer sets (if I do say so myself ;). They’re custom-fit to our windows and made with the exact fabric we wanted. Here’s the budget breakdown (note that all the hardware was actually leftover from previous projects but I dug back through my receipts and shared what we paid for them!).

Fabric - 2/3 yard per window - $24

Brass rod (3 ft) $8

Mounting brackets $10

Brass café clips (qty 14) $12

Total $54 (or just $24 in our case since all the hardware was leftover from a previous project)

Cottage kitchen window treatment ideas — linen café curtains

Handmade café curtains under $50 — Poplar Cottage kitchen

Design Note: The Coziest Kitchen Upgrade

My sister doesn’t actually need curtains for privacy - she just wants to soften her all-white kitchen. And that’s exactly what café curtains do so well. After a decade of stark, minimalist kitchens, many of us are craving something cozier, more personal, and a little more English cottage.

A simple set of café curtains can add instant warmth, soften hard surfaces like marble, tile, and stainless steel, and bring in texture, color, and/or pattern in a subtle way. And all without requiring any renovations whatsoever. That’s what makes café curtains a great option for renters, old-house owners, or anyone looking for a light kitchen refresh on a budget.

No-Sew and Budget-Friendly Alternatives

If you don’t sew (or just don’t want to), here are a few easy ways to get the look:

Tea Towels: Two matching linen or cotton towels + brass clips = instant charm.
Napkins: finished napkins make a great option for small windows
Vintage Linens: Repurpose old handkerchiefs or light embroidered fabric for a soft, layered look.

Pro tip: When you hang anything from a thin rod and brass clips, it looks more polished :)