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How to Hang Curtains
The Curtain Guide:
How to Measure and Install
Choosing the Right Length
A great place to start is with determining the right curtain length for your window and the look that you’re trying to achieve. Lucky for you, we make it easy and offer curtain panels in a range of lengths, for a variety of looks!
For a classic look:
Our 63” curtains are an excellent choice.
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For a “floating” look:
Our 84" curtains, with the curtain panels 1/2" - 1" from the floor. This gives a tailored, clean look.
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For a “pooling” effect:
Use 96" or 108" curtains. These longer-length curtains will create a puddle effect which is oh so chic! This is a good option for areas where the floors are uneven and rooms that don’t get a lot of foot traffic
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Another way to determine proper length is by measuring the space from the floor right up to the bottom of your curtain rod.
• Measure from the floor up to the bottom of your rod.
• For a ‘floating’ look with your panel just hitting the floor, deduct 1".
• For a ‘kissing’ look, add 1-3".
• For a ‘pooling’ look, add 4+".
Don’t Forget the Width!
It is important to consider width when measuring for curtain panels. Panels that are too narrow for larger windows can create a look that’s out of proportion and awkward. Unless you’re just using panels to frame a window and aren’t planning on closing them, a good rule of thumb is to choose a combined curtain panel width of 2 – 2.5 times the width of the window. That way you’ll get that nice drapey look when the panels are closed and have a nice fabric “stack” on each side when open.
Hanging Your Curtains
Now that you’ve selected the perfect curtains for your room, it’s time to install them. Hanging curtains is not difficult if you start with a little planning and the right set of tools:
• Tape Measure
• Ladder
• Pencil
• Level
• Hardware (curtain rods, screws, etc.)
• Drill and screwdriver
A Note about Curtain Rods:
It is as important to select the right curtain rod as it is to choose the right panels for your particular room and windows. Choose a rod that is wider than the window you’re covering. This will allow the curtains to cover the entire window when they’re closed and to hang neatly on either side of the window when open. It can also fool the eye into thinking that the window is bigger than it really is. A good rule of thumb is to go with a curtain rod that is about 6-12” wider than your window.
1. Curtain Rod Placement
Make sure to measure the width at the top, center, and bottom of the window. If there are any light switches, outlets, or vents near the window, make note not to cover them. Here are some options on how to hang your curtains based on your look:
• For a Luxurious Look: Hang your rod closer to the ceiling and use longer curtain panels to give a luxurious feel to your space.
• For a Traditional Look: Hang curtains 6" above the top of the window, and 3" past each of the sides. This will allow for maximum light exposure and hide the window frame.
• For Small Windows: Extend the width of the curtain rod 4-7” past the window frame on each side to create the illusion of a bigger window.
2. Keep It Level
Once you’ve marked where your hardware should go on both sides of the window and installed a single bracket, place the rod into that bracket and use your level to finalize the correct markings and placement of the second bracket. Using a level in this way helps a great deal especially with older houses where floors and windows have settled.
3. Hang Your Curtains
After installing your brackets, it’s time to hang those curtains. If you’ve just taken your panels out of their packaging, you may want to steam out the creases before hanging. Then remove any finials from the curtain rods, thread your curtain on using the hardware you’ve chosen and replace the finial. Once you’ve placed the rod back into the bracket, tighten bracket hardware (if included) to secure the rod to the bracket. And now you have gorgeous curtains!