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Use real tennis balls when making your sports curtain rod.Curtain rods are an important feature in a room, but are often overlooked when it comes to decorating. A sports-themed curtain rod immediately attracts attention as the eyes of those who enter the space are drawn to this distinctive feature. Making your own sports curtain rod allows you to customize its exact look and feel. The curtain rods make a whimsical addition to a child's bedroom or sports-themed location.Difficulty:Moderately EasyInstructions Things You'll NeedCurtain rod mounting hardwareMeasuring tapeWooden dowelSawAcrylic paintEnd pieces in the form of ballsDrillUrethane glue1

Install the curtain rod mounting hardware on the area surrounding the window and measure the width between the two pieces of hardware. Add 6 inches to this measurement.

Purchase a long wooden dowel that has at least a 1 inch diameter, which will support the weight of anything from lightweight to heavy curtains. If you prefer the look of a thicker curtain rod, obtain one with a larger diameter.

Cut the wooden dowel with a saw to the appropriate length, which is the length between the mounting hardware plus the 6 extra inches.

Paint the wooden dowel with acrylic paint to match the rest of the room decor or to go with the team colors of the sport you'll represent on the rod.

Decide on the type of finials, or end pieces, you want for the curtain rod. Real baseballs, golf balls, tennis balls and hockey pucks are usable, but for sports with larger balls, opt for a mini-version.

Drill a hole into two baseballs, golf balls or hockey pucks. Use scissors to pierce a hole in a tennis ball or mini volleyball, football, soccer ball or other type of equipment. Make the holes the right size to fit over the ends of the dowel you chose.

Fill the hole of one ball with urethane glue and stick it onto the dowel. Allow it to dry before threading the curtains onto the rod. Glue the other ball on or just stick it into place if you want to remove the curtains easily.

Some sporting equipment makes a natural curtain rod. If the size of the window is right, you won't have to do any work. Simply install appropriately-sized mounting hardware and thread the curtain over a golf club, hockey stick, lacrosse stick or fishing pole.