Just wondering what curtains everyone is using under their layout tables and what rods they use. Favorite sources?
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Velcro strips.....
You can see a Velcro strip in the lower right corner...
Peter
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Our club has the same curtains as Peter.
Black landscape fabric works for me
we use black cloth that a member sewed a loop in the top for a pvc pipe as the rod.
I took a slightly different approach. I did not use any curtain rods or pleated the curtains. I used a felt material and simply stapled them to the frame of the table below the finished outer frame. For info I also used this same inner frame to "carry" all my electrical wires and connections for easy access. I cut the felt in about 40" sections that included about a 2" overlap (would now have made it about 4" overlap. This gives me easy access to the plastic storage bins stacked 2 high below the train layout for household (not train) storage. 
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They are typically called tablet skirts.
I use Trade Show curtains on my garage layout. They come in almost any color, almost any length, don't wrinkle and are extremely fire resistant. I like curtains because I use plastic bins under my layout for storage and curtains leave really easy access. I staple the tops of the curtains (with pleats) to a 1/4" x 2" strip of wood and crew the whole section under the facia.
My future plans include curtains along the entire back side of the layout to cover up the open storage cabinets.
Chris Sheldon
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Below explains how I made my skirting and used thumb tacks to hold it up.
Post 37
Layout Skirting
When the layout was moved to the new train/media/audio room 5 years ago it was put on legs at 35 inches above the floor. This height was found to be good for operating and viewing from standing or sitting on a stool. Since the train room does not have a closet or storage room the space below the train layout is used for storage of LP records, spare stereo gear, etc. This makes for a messy looking area. It was decided to make a cloth skirt to hide the mess.
Some dark inexpensive material was purchased at Jo Ann’s or another cloth store. Enough was purchased to make skirt for the whole perimeter around the layout. Skirting was made for the most visible ends of the “L” and the sides where the control panels are. It was not made at this time for the less visible sides facing the two walls with the train shelves. This also provides easier access to the boxes of LP records stored under the layout.
The skirt is made using simple panels 6 inches wide with 2 inch pleats. A 5 inch hem was sewn on the bottom and a 1 inch hem was sewn on the top. The skirt was held to back side off the 1x6 base boards around the layout with thumb tacks or push pins. The skirt is sized to hang about ½ inch off of the carpet. It was made in panels large enough to cover each straight side or end with about 2 feet extra to overlap and not leave any gaps. Believe it or not I sewed the skirt with my wife’s help threading the sewing machine.
This is from my post on OGR Forum below:
https://ogrforum.com/...ra-027-layout?page=4
Charlie
Charlie,
Very nice. Glad to know you are multi-talented. Your choice of blue blends in well. On my last layout, I had purchased the skirting fabric from Woolworth's! I avoided the sewing with Velcro strips.
Tom
Skirts don't only help with hiding the mess under the layout, but also help to cut down on noise coming out from under the layout.
MO985,
Does that Accordion pleat Table Skirt come in different colors or is black the only color it is available in?
PCRR/Dave
I have three problems around my layout, one is dressing it up, two is shelf space to display my trains and three I must provide access to our heater and laundry rooms. Notice the drop leaf in the up position.I decided to build shelves that are made of 1 X 8 pine boards equiped with four 360 degree rollers so I can move them with ease.
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Fireone was the only person that realized that the skirt should be fire retardent if used in a public venue,that is what our Club Layout uses.
Mikey
I have a black one, 20' long, pleated, 30" tall with velcro if anyone needs one. It was on my switching layout before I moved. Just contact me thru my email in my profile.
clem k posted:Black landscape fabric works for me
That's what I plan to use. I need something more economical than anything ready made. I haven't measured, but it'll probably take somewhere around 150'.
TURTLE2, I like the way you picked a color that matches your carpet. At quick glance it looks magical, like the layout grew up out of the floor. I like that and will do the same.
I used black landscaping mat material for my last one. This was never meant to be permanent so I simply staple-gunned it on. It made a huge difference in the general look.
I really like the skirting! Lots of great ideas for material and nice workmanship posted here! I showed it to my wife.... She dont like it .. go figure............ : )
Jim
MO985,
Thanks much, looks like I will be investing in some Red and some Hunter Green Pleated Skirting in the near future, for the Christmas season layouts Thanks much for the advise and it's at a reasonable cost. I still like my old 50's child like Brick look, however the pleated skirting is nice and classy stuff. Will make the layout real nice especially at Christmas time.
I saved your purchase post to order
Thanks again,
PCRR/Dave
Purchased table skirt FYI: They are all made about 29 1/2" high. For some layouts that may be too tall or too short.
They work great on our modular layout that we put on folding tables.
I don't have a photo but I have been using Lionel trains or similar fabric I have found on line or at the fabric store. I don't sew but I use a hot melt glue to cuff it to the right length.
Traded painting my mother in laws kitchen for her making me an entire layout skirt. (I think I got the better end of the deal) Each panel is about 6 feet long (8ft real length so it isn't completely straight) I then slide the panels over 3/4 inch pvc pipe and attached that side of the layout using J hooks. I panted the pvc pipe black so when I slide a panel open you wouldn't see the white pipe as much.
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