Sassy Uses for Sarongs

Photo: Steve Weaver

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Got a room or area you need to sex up on the cheap? These things are readily available on the road, inexpensive and super versatile. Read on for a list of simple ideas to get rolling with them at your house in less than an hour.

Curtains. 

Hang them from a traditional curtain rod with steel ring clips, drape them as curtain toppers, or if you really want to go beachy, use an empty tikki torch stick as your curtain rod and work around that. Cheap and sassy. Gotta love it.

Gift wrap.

Great for larger gifts, and this idea requires no scotch tape or neat corner folding. Wrap it up around the top and secure it with a scrunchy or roll up the gift in the middle of the sarong lengthwise and knot off the ends. Easy breezy.

Towels.

Personally, this is only one of the many ways I use them when traveling, but I don’t see any reason why these wouldn’t work in a traditional home, particularly one short on shelf space. The quick dry factor has always been a selling point for me.

Table cloths.  

Whipping up something ethnic for dinner tonight? Drape one of these on the table with some black dishes and a funky candle holder. Throw in some international music and you’ll have a snazzy evening on a shoestring.

Shower curtains. 

Depending on the size of the sarong, you might be able to get by with just one outside your plastic liner if you have a shower stall. For a bathtub, you might need to stitch or clip a few together lengthways.  Really fun if you want your spa bathroom to have a slight beach theme.  

Play blankets for infants and small children.

Toss one on the grass or floor to provide a clean place to play.

Ugly furniture cover ups. 

Drape one over a vertically oriented bargain basement footlocker for a great accent table. I once used two of them together and covered them with the Persian style throw cloths for a sort of buffet type of table. Nobody knew. Bonus?  You can discreetly store winter clothing or other supplies when you are short on space. Need a few more design on a dime ideas? Reupholster some dining room chair or stool cushions with some funky ethnic sarongs, or drape a few around for furniture accents and lightweight throws.

Pillow covers. 

Got a body pillow that’s looking a little blah? Take a lead from the gift wrap idea above and wrap one in a sarong lengthwise.

Bedspread.

If you don’t want to sew, a twin size will be the way you go here. Particularly fun as an accent overthrow piece, or folded and placed over the foot of the bed.

Wall hangings.

While I’ve seen other people use this with success, I’ve always been more of an ethnic carpets on my walls kind of girl. However, if it works for you, go for it.

There you are. First time apartment dwellers, artists with budget work studios, beach cottage owners and dorm room divas should all find these ideas helpful. At least those who like tropical or ethnic elements in their living spaces. As always, I’m open to more suggestions. So pop me a line!