Shopping for and hanging curtains generally is a daunting job. There are such a lot of little issues to consider with a view to get that just-right finish end result. After lately hanging drapes in our bed room, you guys despatched a ton of questions my means. How excessive ought to I grasp my curtains? How broad ought to my curtains be? What about curtain rods?
As we speak I’m answering your mostly requested questions on curtains & drapes! Let’s get to it, beginning with the query I get probably the most (and what will get tousled probably the most too!)… how excessive to hold curtains (put up contains affiliate hyperlinks; full disclosure assertion obtainable {right here}.
Be aware: I’m going to make use of the phrases “curtains” and “drapes” interchangeably on this put up – whereas traditionally there are variations between the 2, the phrases are sometimes used interchangeably these days, and all the things I discuss in at present’s put up applies to each 😉.
How Excessive to Hold Curtains
Hold your curtains excessive and broad! Hanging your curtains greater makes your home windows look bigger, so don’t make the error of placing your rod solely an inch or two above your window trim. Precisely how excessive must you grasp your curtains? In most eventualities, it appears greatest to hold your curtain rod ½ to ⅔ of the space between the highest of your window trim and your ceiling (or crown molding, you probably have it).
In the lounge of our present house, the space between the window body and crown molding is about 19″. Utilizing the ½ – ⅔ rule, I ought to grasp the rod between 9.5-12.5″ above the window body. I ended up hanging my rod someplace within the center at about 11.5″ up.
Why did I select this actual top? It was the cheaper strategy to go! Hanging my rod proper at 11.5″ allowed me to make use of customary 108″ lengthy curtains as an alternative of getting to go along with a customized size (which is considerably dearer).
In our present bed room, we have now 9′ ceilings and tall home windows that go away solely about 7″ of wall area between the highest of the window body and the crown molding. Sadly, regardless of the place I positioned my rod in that 7″ hole, none of the usual curtain size choices had been going to work so I knew I’d need to go along with customized size curtains. I ended up placing my rod 4 inches above the window and ordering curtains that had been simply lengthy sufficient to graze the carpet when hung at that top:
Room sources: Round blush lamps | Nightstands | Nightstand knobs | Upholstered bed (Zuma White cloth) | Cover – not obtainable | Gray quilt | Gray & white dragon pillows | White drapes – customary sizes {here}, customized sizes {here} | Floor lamp | Upholstered chair | Chandelier
You possibly can see extra pics of our bed room in my current put up on bed room lamps.
So now that we’re all on the identical web page about how excessive to hold curtains, let’s transfer on to…
The place to Store for Curtains
I’ve spent as little as $25/curtain panel to over $200/panel on varied curtains I’ve tried through the years. Spending extra usually will get you the next high quality curtain, however there are good choices on the market for each price range. Right here’s my good, higher, and greatest for the place to buy curtains:
Good Curtains (Excellent for Smaller Budgets)
If you happen to’re on a good price range, IKEA’s RITVA curtains are a tremendous worth. They’re solely obtainable in a 57″ broad measurement, however you may at all times sew two or extra panels collectively for wider home windows. There are three size choices (65″, 98″ and 118″) obtainable at IKEA (you will discover the 98″ lengthy choice on Amazon {here}). Most cheap curtains are rod pocket (which I’m not a fan of), so I really like that the RITVA curtains might be hung via the tabs on the again or with rings and hooks. They’re not lined, so that they aren’t going to look as substantial as dearer lined drapes.
I haven’t used RITVA drapes earlier than, however I did use their comparable AINA drapes (which IKEA not carries) as closet curtains as an alternative of doorways they usually wore and washed fantastically:
There are additionally two well-priced curtain manufacturers you should purchase on Amazon that I’ve heard great issues about. One is “Half Worth Drapes” which you will discover {here}. Their hottest choices are {these faux linen room darkening curtains} which are available in two widths and 4 lengths. Additionally take a look at “Two Pages” drapes {here}. Their hottest curtains are {these pinch pleat curtains} which are available in a TON of coloration choices and 14 measurement choices. Just like the IKEA drapes, each are unlined.
Higher Curtains (My Go-To Possibility!)
My favourite strong coloration curtains are {these Emery curtains} that are a linen/cotton mix and are available in 8 coloration choices. I’ve been utilizing them for years and love the feel and appear of them! In contrast to most inexpensive drapes, these are lined, they usually have the choice of extra blackout lining too. I’ve the sunshine filtering model in our residing and eating rooms and the blackout model in our bed room (and sure, they’re GOOD blackouts that preserve the room good & darkish when closed). Our blackout lined curtains seem like this from the again; they’ve a layer of standard lining in addition to a layer of thick blackout lining:
Why is it so good to have lined curtains? The liner not solely helps with gentle management, but it surely additionally helps preserve the material of your curtains from fading within the solar, it makes them look extra substantial, and it helps them grasp higher too.
The Emery curtains used to come back in simply two widths and three lengths, however lately they began providing them in customized sizes {here} (together with lengths as much as 180″!). I used to be initially planning to get customary Emery drapes in our bed room and pay somebody to change their size and width, however went with their customized choice after stumbling upon it. I used to be shocked that there wasn’t as a lot of a worth distinction between their customary and customized sizes as I anticipated. They arrived on time, had prime quality workmanship, and had been very correct within the requested sizing. I’ll add some decorative tape trim alongside the ends of every panel down the street so as to add some coloration & sample to them.
Earlier than we go any additional, right here’s a fast tip on how you can preserve your white drapes white! In the event that they’re in a room the place you’ll be opening and shutting them each day, the oil out of your fingers will stain the drapes over time. I really like {these acrylic curtain wands} that you need to use to open and shut your drapes with out touching the material:
As a result of they’re acrylic and fully clear, once they’re not in use, they principally disappear, resting towards the again of the drape:
Finest Curtains (Customized!)
If cash was no object, I’d have customized drapes made for each room in my home! You get to decide on each element – the material, the liner, the dimensions, the type (ex. with or with out pinch pleats) and the way in which they’ll be held on the rod. Stunning customized drapes could make a room really feel actually particular! I’ve solely had customized drapes made twice, however in each circumstances they had been my favourite factor in regards to the area (together with these customized drapes we utilized in the lounge of our two final properties):
I most likely received’t be splurging on customized drapes in our present home because it isn’t our without end house, however when the day comes that we ARE in our without end house, all bets are off! If you happen to determine to have customized drapes made, usually you will discover a neighborhood seamstress to make them for you, however there are some nice on-line sources for customized drapes too together with Lynn Chalk, Martha & Ash, and Pepper Home.
What About Curtain Rods?
There are tons of curtain rod choices on the market! I usually go along with tremendous easy rods and let the curtains be the celebs of the present. To make your home windows seem wider and let in additional gentle, select curtain rods that reach between about 5-12″ (excluding finials) past the window trim on all sides. This offers your curtains area to stack again with out blocking a lot of the window once they’re open.
For instance of what a distinction an extended curtain rod could make, right here’s a pic of our eating room once we purchased our home. The rod is barely about 3″ wider than the window trim on all sides:
Extending the rod a number of extra inches allowed the drapes to be pulled again away from the window, letting in additional gentle and making our home windows seem bigger):
(pardon the truth that our sectional is jammed again into the eating room – this was proper after I de-decorated for the vacations once we transfer our sectional again this strategy to make room for the tree! I’ll be sharing extra of this area (the place it doesn’t look so boring & crowded) quickly!)
Listed below are my good, higher, greatest suggestions for curtain rods..
Good Curtain Rods (An Superb Worth!)
I’ve the longest size of {these inexpensive 1″ telescoping curtain rods} in our household and eating rooms and have been actually pleased with them! They embody the finials, mounting bracket, and mounting {hardware}, so I solely wanted to purchase the curtain rings (I used {these 1.5″ rings}). The sliding glass doorways & home windows that the rods cowl are fairly broad, and our rods span that total size with a single heart assist and no sagging of the rod.
One factor I might change if I might is that the bracket {hardware} isn’t hidden like it’s with pricier rods. I preserve which means to place a blob of black paint within the two bracket holes, which I believe would make the shortage of a bracket cowl a lot much less noticeable.
Fast Tip: Purchase curtain rings which are ½″ bigger in diameter than your rod.
Higher Curtain Rods
It’s Pottery Barn for the win within the “higher” class once more! I really like {these telescoping curtain rods} that are available in 7 totally different finishes, 6 size choices , and a couple of diameter choices. I’ve the 0.75″ rods within the vintage bronze coloration, which I don’t assume is the perfect coloration description as a result of it’s extra of a mushy black than a bronze. They don’t include finials, so you may select those that greatest suit your type (I selected {these finials}). I didn’t love Pottery Barn’s curtain ring choices, so went with {these inexpensive 1.25″ rings}.
I really like that the {hardware} for the rod brackets is hidden, and for my explicit use in our bed room, it’s key that they can be utilized with {these corner connectors}! The nook connectors are supreme for bay home windows or different areas the place your rod should angle (the connectors are hinged and may accommodate any angle). In our bed room, I’ve a complete of three rods (one lengthy center rod and two shorter rods on the ends) which are all related collectively by two nook connectors.
Fast Tip: When selecting telescoping curtain rods, you’ll discover that there’s some overlap in measurement choices. At all times measurement UP as a result of your rod might be extra secure. For instance, if you need a 105″ rod, you may get both the massive size (60-108″) or the additional massive size (96-120″). The additional massive could be your best option!
Finest Curtain Rods
I really like that telescoping rods provide you with flexibility in sizing in case you’re unsure precisely how lengthy you’ll need to lengthen your rods on the ends. However… there’s the dreaded hump! Curtain rings usually get caught on the joint the place the 2 ends of a telescoping rod meet. Because of this, the perfect rods are non-telescoping rods which are both one lengthy, uniform rod or two rods of the identical diameter which are joined along with inner rod connectors. These are usually customized minimize to suit the dimensions of your window.
Be aware: I simply ordered {this curtain ring glide tape} that’s made to clean the transition on telescoping rods. I’ll let you understand how it really works!
Usually the perfect place to buy lengthy, one-piece rods is a neighborhood material retailer since lengthy rods are troublesome to ship. However there are some on-line choices for customized sized rods that ship to your home together with LillyMax Decor the place you may order a customized sized rod in 4 finishes and two diameter choices {here} and get coordinating brackets, finials, and rings {here}.
You can additionally select acrylic curtain rods for a extra glam seem like these that I had in our house workplace:
Try my put up on acrylic curtain rods for all the main points!
How Lengthy Ought to My Curtains Be?
We already know that the size of your curtains goes to depend upon the peak that you simply grasp your curtain rod. Nevertheless it’s additionally going to depend upon HOW you grasp your curtains on that rod (rod pocket, rings, again tabs, and so forth.) and the place you need them to fall in relation to the ground. You’ve most likely guessed by now that I like mine to skim the ground or simply be ½″ above it. Others favor them to puddle on the ground. Any of these choices is okay – it’s merely a matter of non-public desire!
One look that I’d warning you to assume twice about is having drapes which are a number of inches off the ground, giving a excessive water look:
If there’s a motive your drapes can’t lengthen to the ground (for instance, you probably have an electrical heater there), I’d slightly see blinds or shades on the window as an alternative of putting in high-water drapes.
To find out the size of your new curtains, measure from the highest of the rod all the way down to the ground. Use this as your start line measurement. Then alter this measurement based mostly on (1) the place you need your drapes to finish:
- Add 2-6″ in size if you need your drapes to puddle on the ground
- Subtract ½-1″ if you need your drape to be absolutely off the ground as an alternative of skimming it
and (2) how your drapes might be hung:
- Add roughly 1-2″ for rod pocket & grommet curtains (use the precise measurement from the highest of the curtain panel to the highest of the rod pocket/grommet if you realize that)
- Subtract roughly 1-2″ if hanging on rings (use the precise measurement from the highest of the rod to the underside of the ring if you realize that)
Hopefully you’ll discover that you simply’re inside just a few inches of one of many customary curtain lengths (84″, 96″, or 108″) and may alter the deliberate top of your curtain rod only a smidge to make it work. At all times err on the facet of longer in the event you’re not sure! You possibly can hem your drapes in the event that they’re too lengthy, however there isn’t as simple an answer in the event that they’re too quick.
If you happen to’re putting in a brand new rod together with new curtains, wait to put in the rod till AFTER you will have your curtains. The simplest means to make sure about your rod top is to really put your curtains on the rod, have somebody on every finish maintain the rod as much as the peak you propose to put in it, and alter as wanted.
Additionally, in case you are shopping for curtains that you simply plan to sometimes wash within the washer, wash them earlier than set up as a result of they will shrink. Additionally you should definitely iron or steam your drapes earlier than hanging them – your drapes can simply be an inch or two longer as soon as they’re wrinkle-free!
Now let’s discuss curtain width…
How Large Ought to My Curtains Be?
Base the width of your curtains on the dimensions of the window that they’re overlaying. An excellent rule of thumb is for the full width of your pair of curtains to be 1.5 – 2.5 occasions the width of the window they’re overlaying. So for instance, in case your window is 48″ broad, your pair of curtains ought to be a complete of 72-120″ broad (which means every curtain panel ought to be 36-60″). Err towards 2-2.5 occasions width in the event you like fuller curtains (fuller is my desire!) AND you will have room to stack them again on the facet of the window in order that they’re not overlaying an excessive amount of of the glass.
Revisiting our lounge drapes, there’s solely 10″ between the place my slider glass ends and our bookcase begins:
Whereas I really like full drapes, if I went with drapes that had been 2-2.5 occasions the width of our glass sliders, they’d be overlaying fairly a little bit of the glass as a result of restricted room to stack them again. So on this case, I went with curtains which are just one.5 occasions the width of our glass sliders.
Phew… are you continue to there?! Consider it or not, there have been extra curtain & drape-related questions that you simply guys had, however this put up is already CRAZY lengthy! I’ll deal with these in a later put up (I must take a curtain break for just a few weeks 😂). So you probably have any questions you need answered throughout spherical 2 of curtain particulars, let me know!
Additionally, I simply added a cool new service to my web site that will help you save posts that you really want to have the ability to simply discover at a later date (like this one!). You merely click on the guts that it is best to see on the right-hand facet and go from there! Get pleasure from the remainder of your weekend!
