DIY Acrylic Rod UPDATE

DIY Acrylic Rod UPDATE

diy acrylic rod

Without a doubt, one of my most popular DIY’s ever has been my acrylic rods.  Well, they are DIY-ish, but more importantly, they are timeless, fabulous, and affordable.  You can find the original post that started it all here, and if you do use the tutorial, make sure you say “hey” to my buddy, Kipp, and tell him I sent you.  I don’t get a commission or anything (although I should, ha), but he has always been kind to me and provided awesome customer service to all of you who have called.  (as you have told me)

UPDATE:  Kipp’s contact info!  He works for Nationwide Plastics in Dallas, and they will cut, polish the ends of your rods (if desired) AND ship the rods straight to your door.  They are open Monday through Friday 8-5, and his number is 214.239.3870.  Just call and ask for Kipp.

My living room has gone through a number of changes since I first posted the rod tutorial nearly two years ago.  And yes, I’m going to post the full room eventually, but I am still tying up a few loose ends before I photograph it.  You can see in the photo below from a couple of years ago that my rods have changed a bit.  Plus the paint color, curtain fabric, and hardware are different.  : )

Then…

AStoriedStyle-DIYAcrylicRod6

Now…

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West Elm no longer sells the rod brackets separate from their rods, so that part of my previous tutorial is void, but I think I have found a better option.  These brackets from Restoration Hardware are AWESOME, and they are usually on sale.  They have an unlacquered, brass-with-patina look to them – not too antique brass, and not too pink, and they have just the right amount of shine.  I have used them in several projects now, for myself and others, and they are a winner every time.

restoration hardware

restoration hardware

 

You can purchase the brackets with a square back or a round back, and in two different sizes, medium and large.  Please note the medium size bracket will hold an 1 1/4″ acrylic rod, and the large size bracket will hold an 1 3/4″ acrylic rod.  I like the thicker rods so I ordered the large size for my living room.

AStoriedStyle.com

 I also ditched the end brackets when I changed the hardware and had Kipp polish the ends of the acrylic for me.  I think it looks really nice and helps you notice the rod and hardware more.  Although I still like the end caps in some settings, I prefer the simplicity of the polished ends in my living room.

AStoriedStyle.com

Another change you will notice is the center support on the rods.  My rods are six feet long now (I ordered longer rods and moved the old ones to my little girl’s closet, oo-la-la!), and even though the cellcast rods are super strong, I think if you have rods longer than four feet, you need to order a center support so the rods do not sag, especially if you have heavy drapery.  You can find the central supports I use here.

AStoriedStyle.com

I wasn’t wild about my old rings because they were not smooth, and I wanted something a bit more streamlined.  I found these on Overstock and ordered them to give it a whirl, and they worked perfectly!  Seriously, these match the hardware to a tee, and I love the color and scale of them.  They have a little grommet on the bottom, and you just slide your drapery hook into them.  Not to mention, drapery rings can be super expensive, so these are a great price for what you are getting.

Historical-Gold-Fixed-Metal-Grommet-Rings-Set-of-7-P14204451

AStoriedStyle.com

So there you have it, DIY acrylic rod update.  Still loving them – they add such a quiet elegance to a room.

Next post will have more living room updates!

Also, if you have used my acrylic rod tutorial, could you please send me a photo?  I would love to see what you have done!  I’m always so grateful when people send me images of an idea they have gotten from my site and made it their own.  I would love to do some sort of “round-up” of your acrylic rod designs at some point!  So shoot them over!  They do not need to be fancy pictures by the way.  : )  Please send them to submissions @astoriedstyle .com.  Thank you!!

Written by Grace

31 Comments
  • Julie
    Posted at 12:02h, 29 May Reply

    Grace, Will the acrylic rods yellow overtime?

    • Grace
      Posted at 12:06h, 29 May Reply

      Hey Julie, I don’t think so. The cellcast acrylic is supposed to hold its color way better than the extruded acrylic. I have seen no yellowing or color change whatsoever. Just sparkly prettiness. 🙂 xoxo G

      PS – I love you. 🙂

      • Julie
        Posted at 12:20h, 29 May Reply

        Thanks Grace!! LOVE you!! I’m beginning to think drapes for our living room, and I’m leaning toward doing something just like the acrylic rods you wrote about. I just need to locate someone here in town that sells the product 🙂

        • Grace
          Posted at 12:50h, 29 May Reply

          Julie, call Kipp! He will send them right to your door! Plus cut and polish them, it’s awesome. 🙂 xoxo

          PS – these would look fab in your living room!

          • Grace
            Posted at 12:53h, 29 May

            I’m updating the post with Kipp’s contact info right now.

  • Alison
    Posted at 12:53h, 29 May Reply

    I am so glad you posted this. I have been meaning to do this ever since I saw the first entry. I even bought the same (but in silver) hardware from Restoration Hardware! All I need to do now is buy the rod and have my curtains made (I am going to have a seamstress alter ones I bought from Target).

    Thank you for the kick in the butt!

    • Grace
      Posted at 13:07h, 29 May Reply

      Hey Alison, you are so welcome! I’m sure they are going to look great! I think I’m going to use the silver in a bedroom project I’m working on! Give Kipp a call, and get to the seamstress. 🙂 And don’t forget to send me a photo! G

  • Kristie
    Posted at 13:17h, 29 May Reply

    Grace, I always enjoy your posts! So interesting, thoughtful and refined. Thanks for sharing about these again! Question for you: How would these work on windows wider than 8 feet? I would love to do this in my kitchen but the windows are just over 8 feet. Is there a way to join two lengths together? If the kitchen wouldn’t work I would put them in my family room – but again the windows are wide and I would need about 10 feet of rods. ?? They would work in my husband’s home office too – although I wouldn’t get to enjoy them everyday there and that would be such a shame. 🙁

    Would love to hear your thoughts and thanks so much in advance!!

    • Grace
      Posted at 17:13h, 10 June Reply

      What a nice comment, Kristie! I’m so sorry I am just now replying. I have joined rods longer than eight feet a couple of times now, and they have looked great! It is very easy to do if you want to use the hardware in this post:

      http://www.astoriedstyle.com/index.php/2013/04/diy-tutorial-acryliclucite-drapery-rods-with-plumbing-hardware/

      But if you want to use the Restoration Hardware brackets, it is possible to do too by ordering two eight foot lengths and then cutting them to size with a saw. Then you rest the ends of your rods together as close as possible in the center bracket, and voila, a longer-than-eight-foot rod. I did this in my entryway although I haven’t posted it yet. I did a little mini makeover in there. If you know your exact measurements, and I mean exact, you can get Kipp to polish the ends and cut both rods to size for you. Hope this helps! Please let me know if you need anything else!

      Thanks so much for reading and for your comment.

      xo, G

  • Miriam
    Posted at 16:09h, 29 May Reply

    Thanks for all the detailed info! I would like to of something like this for a shower curtain rod in my bathroom wit brackets hanging from the ceiling. Can these brackets be used for a ceiling mount? Any suggestions? Thanks so much!!

    • Grace
      Posted at 17:14h, 10 June Reply

      Miriam, I LOVE brackets hung from the ceiling. So cool and different – I have actually been wanting to do this somewhere for awhile now and haven’t found the right space. You can use the brackets for a ceiling mount – just make sure of your ceiling material to determine correct hardware. Good luck! Send me a pic! G

  • Nancy
    Posted at 07:46h, 30 May Reply

    Grace, I pinned your tutorial on acrylic rods with plumbing hardware on Pinterest a year ago, and it has been repinned 192 times! I was going to do the acrylic rods at our beach house , but I got lazy and just bought black rods at Home Goods. I’m helping my sister redecorate her house and am definitely going to suggest this to her. I’ll send pics if she agrees to it!!

    • Grace
      Posted at 17:16h, 10 June Reply

      Nancy, so awesome, thank you so much! I wish I was more of a pinner, but alas, I am not. Someday maybe…so thanks for doing it for me. 🙂 Yes, definitely tell your sister and send me pics! xo, G

  • Jana Bek
    Posted at 09:04h, 05 June Reply

    Love this DIY & thank you for being so specific with the details – hugely appreciated! Cannot wait to do this!! XO jana

    • Grace
      Posted at 17:16h, 10 June Reply

      Jana, thank you so much! I’m so glad you like them, I’m sure they will look great! I’d love to see a picture when you are done! xo, G

  • Dianne
    Posted at 16:20h, 01 July Reply

    Hi Grace, I read this post and most of the comments but I couldn’t find the answer to my question. How do you keep the rods from moving when you open and close the curtains? It just looks like the brackets that hold the rod are big enough for the rods to easily move.

    Thanks,
    Dianne

    • Grace
      Posted at 20:49h, 01 July Reply

      Hey Diane, great question. The brackets actually have a screw that holds the rod tight so they do not move! I have never had any trouble. Let me know if you have any more questions. Thanks for reading! G

  • Linda
    Posted at 00:47h, 25 August Reply

    Hi Grace, You are so gifted and so generous with your talent! Thanks to the terrific details in this set of posts on the lucite rods, I am going to try my first DIY on the curtains in my Mom’s room (she is also 80 something, like your grandma Mitchell, but lives with us… wonderful post about the patio make-over, BTW!). I am not a design talent at all, and need some help on a few basics. Room size is 11′ X 14′, with a 4′ by six foot window on the 11 foot side. Ceilings are 8′. Q#1: Should I use a single 8′ rod? This will result in about 1 foot on either side of the window for the stack-back (the curtains will be opened and closed with a wand of some sort every day. It will also leave about 1.5′ feet on empty wall on either side of the curtains. The material is a pale, textured ivory and the wall are a close match ivory too. Will those empty 1.5 feet on both sides of the curtain “chop” this small room up? Q#2: Do you know if Kipp’s 2′ rod will fit inside the RH Large bracket? I am worried that the small screw touching the rod approach is not firm enough to stand up to daily usee. Q#3. Ours is a simple ranch home, with no crown molding. I want to use the brass hardware you just recommended RH, virtually flush with the ceiling. I also need to hang sheers behind the curtains for daytime privacy so I need a double rod bracket. The RH double bracket in the style you recommend comes with a brass rod for the sheer curtains. Will that look odd with a lucite rod in the front? Or should I use a smaller version of the single bracket and mount it just inside of the large single bracket? Thank you for your help. I will post pics (eventually) if everything comes out well. Gratefully, Linda

    • Grace
      Posted at 13:39h, 22 September Reply

      Linda, I am so sorry I am just now answering you. I try SO hard to answer every comment, but sometimes a few will slip through the cracks – I’m glad I caught this! You are a sweet daughter to be making your Mother’s room beautiful! Okay, in answer to your first question, I do not think the room will be too choppy with the wall showing. I think the eight foot rod would look great, although make sure you get the center support bracket from RH. I do not think the 2″ rod would fit in the large bracket as it is supposed to hold 1 1 3/4″ rod. But for what it’s worth, I have never had any trouble with the screw holding just fine. If it were me, I would scrap the sheers and try a roman shade. I think two rods may look funny together, and the beauty of the acrylic rods is how they fade with just a bit of sparkle. I wrote about the bamboo shades from Lowes, and they come in tons of widths that they will cut for you custom for free! See them here:

      http://www.astoriedstyle.com/index.php/2014/04/the-best-most-affordable-bamboo-shades/

      Hope that helps! Let me know if you need anything else! xo, G

  • Maren
    Posted at 22:31h, 25 September Reply

    My situation is similar Kristie’s where I will need to combine two rods. I’m planning to use the Restoration Hardware brackets but have a question about the center supports. Would you recommend using an additional end bracket in the center instead of a center support (with open top) to help hide the seam where the rods are butted up?

    Thanks for the inspiration and I can’t wait to call Kipp myself!

  • Emely
    Posted at 07:23h, 28 October Reply

    Hi!
    Do you know if they ship worldwide? I live in Sweden and I can’t find any to by over here. I love your blog btw!

    Regards,
    Emely

    • Grace
      Posted at 17:13h, 03 November Reply

      Hi Emely, I don’t! I actually just tried to call Kipp, and they are closed for the day, but I will call him tomorrow and get back to you! Thanks for reading. xo

    • Grace
      Posted at 10:06h, 07 November Reply

      Hi Emely, I talked with Kipp yesterday, and they DO ship internationally. I thought it may be tricky to catch him on the phone because of your time difference, so he gave me his email. Please feel free to email him your order at kwalden @ nwplastics.com.

      Hope that helps! Send me photos when you are done! xo

  • Paula
    Posted at 22:32h, 07 November Reply

    Hi Grace,
    Love this idea! I am wanting to use acrylic rod for a shower rod. Any ideas on
    brass brackets to mount it wall to wall? Thanks!

  • Laura W
    Posted at 14:01h, 12 November Reply

    LOVE THE BLOG. Besides the gorgeous RH brackets, have you found any others that will accommodate the 1 1/2″ rod?

    THANKS!

  • lauren
    Posted at 19:31h, 14 December Reply

    awesome!!! this is perfect, thank you!

  • Kelly
    Posted at 16:00h, 25 March Reply

    I started to do acrylic rods in my bedroom, but the designer who’s helping me cautioned against it for my bedroom, since I’d be opening and closing the drapes every day. She said they’d quickly get scratched up, and than these would be better in a room where the drapes weren’t actually functional. What do you think? Have yours scratched up from use?

    Thanks@

  • Deb
    Posted at 19:47h, 22 May Reply

    These are Wonderful! I have a bathtub/shower that is “inset” in a wall…. It is white all the way around the tub & shower… I painted the wall around it a beautiful, cheery green color…. I purchased Shower curtain in a Cream color… I do NOT want any of the white of the tub/shower to show when the shower curtain is closed.

    Do you think a rod could be made that could go fairly tight to the ceiling of the soffet ? I am wondering how it could be connected tightly to the ceiling & wall.

  • Julie
    Posted at 13:07h, 30 June Reply

    Do you know where I might purchase inexpensive acrylic curtain rod brackets ?

  • Daisy
    Posted at 09:47h, 22 July Reply

    Hi Grace
    love love this article. Came about it through pinterest! Really love the square acrylic rod with the gold square hardware rings. Before I call Kipp any idea on where I can get the square rings and hardware to mount the rod? I don’t mind spray painting a few non traditional items to get the look…

    Thanks a bunch!
    Daisy

  • Anonymous
    Posted at 14:50h, 15 November Reply

    I like the way that looks! I wonder if you could use miracle wands for drapery wands there (www.themiraclewand.com). You could paint a dowel to match, maybe a gold or yellow?

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