It’s time for another big update and this time its in the form of curtains! I didn’t realize I’d be so overwhelmed when I finally got the curtains up but it was really an indescribable feeling. Keep reading to learn how I did so you can, too. Oh, and of course, see how huge of a difference curtains make!
Volkswagen Buses can be separated into two types – the Westfalia or “westy” and the tin top. The Westfalie is the pop-top camper van that is fully outfitted as a camper. It originally came with a table, a couch that pulled out into a bed (I think), and cabinets on cabinets. The roof also popped up so that you could stand at the built in sink. More topically – it had curtains. The tin top, well, didn’t have any of that. In my opinion, however, much cuter. Yes, they sell conversion kits. Yes, I could retrofit all of the cabinetry. But at the end of the day, the models were made for different things. That meant I really got to start from scratch, including retrofitting curtains for her.
Because I get to make it up as I go, I obviously needed to add curtains for privacy if I’m going to sleep in LuLu. LuLu didn’t originally have curtains, though, so I had to figure out how to retrofit them. Check out this post for almost 2 years ago to see how I made my own curtains.
Skipping over my abandoned ideas, I decided that when I cladded the ceiling it would come down far enough that I could use it as a base to screw the curtain wire into. The cedar planks were not thick enough, and I didn’t really like the raw edge of the tongue-and-groove, so I decided to find some trim that I could attach and serve as an anchor point. And that’s exactly what I did!
It worked like a dream. If you have a tin top and you’re interested in retrofitting curtains in yours, I’ll include the exact measurements at the very end.
First of all, I decided to use lattice as my trim. I wanted rounded edges initially, but I didn’t want to wait or special order, so I decided to just go with what they had available. On the other side of the project, I honestly don’t think one option is right or a better option than the other. I cut two lengths for each side because a single piece was not long enough. I also cut one to go above the back window. Its important to note – if I would’ve hung my curtains from the ceiling, they would’ve landed on my face while sleeping.
To mount the trim, I used hard as nails adhesive and the worlds smallest nails. Typically, you want your screw or nail to go through the top board and about halfway to 3/4 of the way into the board beneath it. I got the shortest nails I could find at the hardware store and they were pretty much the exact length of the width of the boards. I placed nails about every 7 inches along the way (no, I did not measure). Struggling with hammering them? My friend and LuLu follower, Tim, suggested holding the nail with a metal bobby pin. It worked great, just don’t lose the bobby pin!
Early on in the planning process, I decided curtain wire was my best option for retrofitting curtains in LuLu. It’s very similar (the same?) to what you’ll find in a westy. You can find it a lot of places, but its important to search for “curtain wire”. It took me awhile to find it when I didn’t know what to look for. Its a long spring inside of a plastic coating so its pretty stretchy. To make sure I was using it right, I watched this video.
To mount your curtain wire, first you need to measure the length your curtains are covering. Make sure its at least a couple inches shorter than the space its covering. This will prevent sagging. Also, you’re going to want to use good wire cutters to cut it to the right length. I tried using a pair I had laying around and it actually damaged them without successfully cutting the wire.
Then, you’ll take an eyelet with a screw on the end (usually included) and screw it into each end of your wire. The wire is now prepared to be hung.
Next, on each end of the space you’ll be hanging the wire, you’re going to screw in a hook. Best practice is to make a pilot hole in the wood, so either drill or use a nail to make a hole (I used a nail). Screw it in.
In this application, I decided to mount the wire the full length of the back of the van and put a supportive hook in the middle for a total of three hooks.
Finally, you’ll need to string your curtains onto the wire. Once they are strung, you’ll put one eyelet on one hook. Then, you’ll stretch it and loop it over the other hook. Place the wire in any supporting hooks along the way, and adjust your curtains. I’ve now successfully finished retrofitting curtains in my VW tin top!
Voila! What was just a van with a bed is now a cozy home. All thanks to some curtains.
Final Measurements:
4 – 48″ lath to complete the passenger and driver side (2 each)
37.5″ lath to complete the rear hatch
Here’s a look at both sides complete (the rear hatch took some extra steps and that will be a separate post).
That’s a wrap and another project in the books! I couldn’t be happier and honestly, for such a small project overall the feeling of getting the curtains up was indescribable. It really made a difference with LuLu feeling like a home instead of a car.
Cheers!
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