I still use a simple set up along the lines of what you are thinking about frequently even though I have both Tungsten track lighting and four good flash heads available. But there are pros and cons to this you should be aware of.

If you plan on working in color you are going to have to get some blue bulbs (from a photo equipment supplier) or you will not get a decent color balance. If you are going to doing B&W then it doesn't really matter. These bulbs are not cheap, and their effective life span for color work is relatively short. I would suggest you try 250 watt and 500 watt bulbs.

These also get very hot! Subsequently, the fixture needs to be rated to handle this power. Otherwise you run the chance of a variety electical hazard problems. Using a rheostat (dimmer switch) will help with control intensity, but again it has to be rated to handle the power of high wattage bulbs. I never bothered with one for non-tungsten hot lights because you can control intensity simply by moving the light a little farther away.

The variety of materials you can use for backdrops is basically up to your imagination. Good sources for things like old drapes and curtains are places like Rescue Mission and Salvation Army stores.

Sounds like you should have some fun. Just make sure you get stuff that will not cause saftey problems and go for it...