Easy DIY Outdoor Curtain Rod for Very Little Money
If you’ve been wanting to hang outdoor curtains on your patio but don’t want to spend a fortune on specialty hardware, this DIY outdoor curtain rod is the perfect solution.
I posted how I made these Outdoor Curtains for less than $10 per panel and the response from all of you was overwhelming! I'm so glad that you love them as much as I do.
And of course, once you make them... you need a way to hang them. 🙂
This DIY Outdoor Curtain Rod is super simple, inexpensive, and perfect for outdoor use - plus it won't rust.
Before we could hang our curtains, though, we had to tackle one small problem… the very dirty patio cover they were going on.
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Cleaning The Patio Before Hanging Outdoor Curtains
When we started talking about creating an outdoor living room, I honestly couldn't imagine relaxing under something that looked this dirty. I dreaded the idea of repainting the entire thing, so I decided to try an easier solution first.
I rented a power washer from my local equipment rental store. Then I put on my scuzzies and made it rain!!!
I don't know what it is about power washing, but it's instant gratification watching all that filth rinse away! Take a look at what a difference it made!
It's by no means perfect now - it could still use a fresh coat of paint someday - but since we plan to eventually replace this structure with a solid roof, a deep cleaning will certainly do for now.
And yes... by the end I was completely drenched and yesterday's mascara was running down my face. 😂
But totally worth it!
Once everything was clean, I was ready to get going on my DIY Outdoor Curtain Rods!
Why Conduit Works Great for Outdoor Curtain Rods
If you're looking for a cheap outdoor curtain rod idea, electrical conduit is a fantastic option.
Here's why:
- It’s very inexpensive
- It’s extremely sturdy
- It won’t rust outdoors
- It’s available at almost every hardware store
- It can be cut to custom lengths
Most traditional curtain rods aren’t designed for outdoor exposure, but conduit holds up really well in patio and pergola spaces.
Supplies For a DIY Outdoor Curtain Rod
This post contains affiliate links for your convenience. Read the full disclosure.
I purchased my supplies at Home Depot, and here's a little tip that saves time:
You can order your supplies at HomeDepot.com and pick them up in the store.
If you hate wandering the aisles trying to track down materials (like I do!), you can select your supplies online, and they'll gather everything for you and have it ready to pick up. How cool is that?
You will need
- ¾ inch electrical conduit pipe. It's about $10 for 10 feet and it won't rust, which makes it perfect for outside.
- ¾ inch steel pipe hangers. Sold in a 5 pack for about $5 and are really easy to drill into your patio cover to hold your rod.
- 1 inch curtain rod clips
The best part is you can take your conduit pipe over to the Home Depot plumbing aisle and they will cut it for you right in the store if you need different lengths! (I used the whole 10 feet for my two full width curtains and then I had one piece cut for two shorter rods).
How to install The DIY outdoor curtain rod
Installing the rods is very straightforward.
Obviously the placement of your curtain rod will depend on your patio cover, but with mine we have two beams, so we decided to hide the rod between the beams.
Step 1: Attach the pipe hangers
On the short curtain rods, we attached the pipe hangers directly to the main beams of the patio cover.
For the longer rods, we attached the hangers a few inches in from one of the top slats so the curtains would hang exactly where we wanted them.
Step 2: Insert the curtain rod
Once the hangers were secured, we simply slid the conduit pipe through them.
Because the pipe is solid steel, it holds the weight of outdoor curtains without sagging.
Step 3: Attach curtain clips
Then we placed curtain rod clips along the rod and clipped the curtains onto them.
This setup makes it really easy to:
- remove the curtains for winter
- wash them
- swap them out seasonally
Why Outdoor Curtains Are Worth It
Outdoor curtains do more than just look pretty.
They can:
- create shade on hot afternoons
- add privacy from neighbors
- soften hard patio structures
- make your patio feel like a true outdoor living room
Combined with an inexpensive diy outdoor curtain rod like this, they’re one of the best budget upgrades you can make to a patio or pergola.
Easy DIY Outdoor Curtains Using Drop Cloths
If you’re ready to complete the project, be sure to check out the tutorial where I show how to make the outdoor curtains themselves for under $10 per panel.
👉 Read the full tutorial here:
Easy DIY Outdoor Curtains Using Drop Cloths
These drop cloth curtains pair perfectly with the DIY outdoor curtain rod in this post and are one of the easiest ways to create a cozy outdoor space on a budget.
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Frequently Asked Questions - DIY Outdoor Curtain Rod
Will conduit hold a heavy outdoor curtain?
Yes! Conduit is very strong and easily supports large outdoor curtains. Even wide patio spans are usually no problem.
Can I attach the rod to a metal pergola?
If your pergola is metal you may need a slightly different mounting bracket designed for metal framing. This post might help you!
How long are the curtains and how many panels did you use?
Head on over to my DIY Outdoor Curtain post and get the details on length and panels plus a supplies list with a link to everything you'll need for your curtains.
Can I attach the rod to the side of a porch beam?
Possibly - but standard pipe hangers are designed to attach from above. You may need an angled bracket or different mounting hardware to attach from the side.
