MATERIALS NEEDED TO MAKE DIY WOOD CURTAIN RODS:
2 (or more) of these wood brackets
1 1/4″ wood dowel cut to your desired width (1-2′ wider than your window)
1 1/2 to 2″ hole saw
cordless drill
medium grit sandpaper
stainless steel wire brush
Minwax Special Walnut stain
light warm gray chalk paint (I used Annie Sloan Cream and Paris Gray)
dark wax (I used Annie Sloan)
(optional) dowel screws
HOW TO MAKE RESTORATION HARDWARE INSPIRED WOODEN CURTAIN RODS:
step 1: measure to drill your hole

Measuring corbels- Maison de Pax

step 2: using your hole saw, cut out a semicircle from each bracket
A hole saw works by first drilling the center drill bit to hold it in place, and then the surrounding blade connects to cut. Therefore, you will drill into the wood just below the edge and actually be cutting slightly more than half a circle, if that makes sense.

Creating corbels- Maison de Pax
step 3: sand any rough edges from the cut
You can use an electric sander or sand by hand. Just get rid of the major rough edges.

step 4: beat up your brackets
Use a hammer, screwdriver, or any other heavy object to distress your brackets (superficially only! don’t compromise their strength).

Sanding curtain corbels- Maison de Pax
step 5: stain your brackets
Paint or wipe on the Special Walnut stain and wipe off the excess.

step 6: create grain in your brackets using the stainless steel brush
Run the wire brush vigorously up and down on both sides of your bracket. You are essential trying to create wood grain, so some waves are a good idea. However, strong pressure (enough to dig into the wood) is most important. I found it was easiest to make an impression in the wood if it was a little softer, so I did this before the stain was fully dry.

step 7: dry brush using your light warm gray paint
Once the stain is fully dry, take your light gray warm paint (I made mine by mixing two colors together)…

Paint swatches for a rustic finish- Maison de Pax
And dry brush a layer on the brackets. To dry brush, just touch a tiny bit of paint to the tips of the ends of your brush and lightly brush the wood. I like to use small, natural bristle brushes for this. See how the paint begins to reveal the distressing and “grain” even more?

Rustic finish on corbels- Maison de Pax
step 8: wax liberally with dark wax
This is where your “grain” really appears. When your paint is dry, apply the wax liberally and rub with a cloth until it has the desired look.

Staining Corbels- Maison de Pax
Here you can see the progress of the finish: stained, dry brushed, waxed.

Rustic paint finishes on corbels- Maison de Pax
step 9: prepare your poles
Follow the same steps (minus the distressing – I didn’t want to damage my poles): stain, wire brush, dry brush, and wax.

curtain rod
step 10: hang your brackets

step 11 (if your windows are too wide for your dowels): connect dowels using dowel screws
As always, predrill your holes. For the record, you can buy dowels by the foot, but it’s usually more expensive than the precut ones. And if you do need to connect some, be sure you put the seam where a bracket will be. This will both hide any imperfections and support your joint.

Hang your curtains and you’re all set!

HangZhou FengHao Aluminium co.,Ltd. is one of the Chinese Curtain Rod Supplier. Welcome to your come and supply!