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TikTok creator Birdie Wood demonstrated turning chindi rag rugs into a colorful window covering by cutting the fabric into strips and tying them to a rod. The rugs she used cost $5 each at Five Below, according to Hunker, though the project’s finished cost and performance as a curtain were not reported.
TikTok creator Birdie Wood demonstrated a DIY window covering made from chindi rag rugs, cutting the rugs into fabric strips and tying them to a curtain rod. Hunker reported that Wood found the rugs at Five Below for $5 each, presenting the project as an inexpensive, colorful alternative to conventional curtains.
A chindi rug is a type of rag rug made from strips of scrap fabric. In the project shown by Wood, the rug’s binding strings are cut so the woven material separates into individual strips. Those pieces are then looped or tied over a rod, forming a loose, flowing covering. Hunker noted that the rugs’ varied fabrics can reveal colors and patterns that are less visible when the material is woven into a rug.
The amount of material and the window size will affect how many rugs are needed. Hunker said one rug can cover a substantial area once its fabric is opened into strips, but it did not provide measurements or a tested estimate for window coverage. The basic supplies are a rug, a curtain rod and sharp scissors; the project also takes time and patience to separate the strips.
There are several ways to adapt the design. The strips can be cut to a chosen length, tied together if they are too short, or arranged in a shorter valance or a mix of lengths. They can be knotted or looped around a rod, attached with clips, or secured to a horizontal band of fabric so they move as one piece. Hunker also described styling options such as braiding strands, bunching them with ribbon or adding beads.
A Low-Cost Alternative to Curtains
The idea offers renters and homeowners a way to make a custom window treatment from inexpensive materials, particularly if they already have a suitable rod. At the reported $5 per rug, the raw material may cost less than many ready-made treatments, though the total price depends on the number of rugs and any additional supplies. Hunker also cited a $10 online chindi rug as another example; those prices are examples in the report, not a guarantee of current availability or cost.
The aesthetic is part of the trade-off. The mixed colors, textures and patterns may suit bohemian or maximalist rooms, but could be less appropriate for spaces that call for a uniform or minimal look. The loose strips create a decorative effect rather than a conventional, smooth curtain. The source does not establish whether the DIY treatment provides privacy, blocks sunlight or insulates a room, so those functions should not be assumed.
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How the Rug Becomes Fabric Strips
The project repurposes a floor covering rather than using fabric sold specifically for curtains. Hunker’s report describes chindi rugs as originating in India and made from assorted scrap-fabric strips. In the rug, the material is held in tight sections by binding strings; removing those strings releases the fabric for hanging.
Wood’s demonstration is one example of a broader do-it-yourself approach to window decor, but the source does not give a publication date for her TikTok post or report sales, audience response or independent testing. Hunker included a shopping disclosure stating it may receive a commission on purchases made through links. That disclosure applies to its product links and does not independently verify the creator’s costs.
“She found her rag rugs at Five Below for $5 each.”
— Hunker’s report on the project
Privacy and Light Blocking Are Unreported
The source does not report how much privacy or light control the strips provide, whether the covering has been tested over time, or how it performs in different window sizes. It also gives no dimensions for Wood’s rug or the finished treatment, so readers cannot use the report to calculate exact coverage or material costs. The date of the original TikTok demonstration is not specified, and the cited store and online prices may change.
Because the design hangs loose strips rather than a continuous panel, it may not function like standard curtains. The article presents it as a decorative alternative, not as a tested replacement for treatments designed to block light or provide full privacy.
Measure Before Cutting the Rug
Anyone considering the project can first measure the window and decide whether the goal is a full-length treatment, a shorter valance or a layered arrangement. The rug should be checked for how its strips are bound before cutting; once the binding is removed, the source offers no instructions for restoring the rug to its original form. A sample section can help gauge the fabric’s colors, strip length and appearance before the rest is separated.
Readers would need to check current rug prices and select a hanging method that suits the rod and the weight of the fabric. If the covering is intended to provide privacy or control sunlight, the source leaves those needs unresolved; a separate, purpose-made shade or curtain may be required. No further project update or testing was provided in the report.
Key Questions
What is a chindi rug?
A chindi rug is a rag rug made from strips of scrap fabric. In this project, removing the strings that bind the material releases the strips for use as a window decoration.
How much did the rugs in the demonstration cost?
Hunker reported that Birdie Wood found the rugs at Five Below for $5 each. That is the reported price at the time of her purchase, not a guarantee of current pricing.
What supplies does the project require?
The basic materials are a chindi rug, a curtain rod and sharp scissors. Depending on the design, curtain clips, ribbon or other materials may also be used.
Will a rug-strip covering block light or provide privacy?
The report does not test or specify light blocking or privacy performance. It describes the result as a decorative window covering, so it should not be assumed to work like a conventional curtain or shade.
Source: hunker.com
