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Hanging a curtain on a door can be both practical and beautiful. If it’s a door with windows, you can add curtains for privacy and style. This is an ingenious curtain hack that’ll keep your home warmer for less in winter, while blocking out sunlight in warmer months. You might also want to hang a curtain in front of a wooden door without a window, as a way to make a room cozier and more cohesive. Whatever the reason, there is a simple hack that allows you to hang curtains on a wooden door without drilling holes. The key is using some over-the-door hook hangers.

Generally, hanging a curtain rod above a door involves the same steps you would use above a window: Drilling holes and hanging the curtain rod, then threading the drapes or curtains through the rod via grommets or a rod pocket. There are adhesive curtain rod holders from brands like JHCJHC, but even these can leave sticky residue or damage paint. If you’re a renter or simply don’t want to deal with any damage, this no-drill, no-adhesive hack comes in handy. It’s an easy setup that’s also super affordable. 

The idea is to secure something like these individual Fyy over-the-door hooks directly onto a door to support a curtain rod. You can also use a hanger set with six hooks from Dollar Tree for only $1.25 instead of individual hooks. When choosing a hanger type, what matters most is that it will fit in the space between your door and doorframe without causing damage. This depends on the thickness of the hooks and how tight your doorframe is. 

Simply place the hangers over the door, close it, and then place the curtain rod over the hooks. In the video above, the user made a beautiful DIY curtain rod with cardboard. You can do the same, or buy an adjustable tension curtain rod from Ginbel Direct. These are made to hold themselves between two walls thanks to tension, but they can also be hung onto hooks as you would with regular curtain rods. Another simple alternative is to skip the curtain rod altogether and instead buy a curtain with built-in grommets. Hook the grommets directly onto the hangers, grouping a few together to create pleats and a nice draping effect. 

If using a curtain rod, grommets are a great option for this hack. This is because they allow you to connect the hooks directly to the rod. A curtain with a rod pocket would not work as well, since it would completely cover the rod and make it more difficult to attach to the hooks. 

The great thing about this hack is that, because you’re attaching the curtain directly to the door rather than the wall, you can use it more easily. No need to move the curtain to the side before opening and closing the door; instead, the curtain moves with the door every time. To make this work smoothly, make sure to choose a curtain panel that’s thin and shorter than the door. That way, there won’t be too much extra fabric piling up on the floor or bunched up on the sides, which could get caught in the door when using it.