5 Steps for Choosing + Hanging Curtains in Your Home.
Window treatments can often feel like a low-pressure decision until you step into a store and see all the options. That’s when you realize more thought needs to be allocated to choosing curtains for your home. Although this task may be a boring and daunting one, I promise that if you follow these 5 simple steps you will have better results in finding the right curtains for you.
Step 1: Figure out what the purpose of these curtains will be.
Ask yourself these questions: Do you want the light to still filter through them? Do you need them to be light-blocking for a bedroom? Do you want them to be a heavier material for optimal privacy? Are these strictly for decorative purposes or will I want to close them a lot?
Those questions are crucial when finding the right curtains for your room. The worst thing to do is just go to the store and grab a set of curtains thinking they are what you want and hanging them only to realize they block too much light coming into your home and now you have a dark dreary living room.
Step 2: Find your desired length.
To find the ideal length for your curtains you should start by measuring the space you have from floor to ceiling. This will give you an idea of how tall you could go. Then measure from the floor to the top of your window frame. This will give you the number that you CANNOT go under. For instance, if you have a floor to ceiling height of 96” and a floor to window frame height of 81”, you could either hang 84” panels or you could hang 95” panels. By having these measurements you now know you have options depending on what look you’re trying to achieve.
The standard curtain panel heights you’ll find in the store will be 63”, 84”, 95”, 108”, and 120”. A great rule of thumb to follow when deciding where you place your curtain rod is keeping 4-6” above the window frame, try to never hang it under that amount, it will make your window feel short. I would encourage you to go even higher. Consider hanging your rod all the way to the ceiling or an inch down from the top of the ceiling. This will give the illusion that you have taller ceilings in your room and make your room feel grander.
There are different types of curtains to pick from depending on what length you’d like. The top 4 most common styles are:
Tier - which are short and only cover part of your window.
Apron - These hang just below the bottom of your window.
Floor - A very common choice, these hang down to the floor. These you often hang closer to the ceiling or higher above the window frame.
Puddle - Similar to Floor curtains, but they have remaining fabric puddling at the bottom. These also need to be on closer to the ceiling.
If considering floor-length curtains you should make sure there is a little under an inch of room above the floor when they are hanging. This keeps them from dragging on the floor but doesn’t reveal too much of the trim. If you hang them with more than an inch floating above the ground you’ll have high water curtains… and we all know that look isn’t great. HAHA
Step 3: Width of the Curtain Rod Placement.
Not only do you have to consider how high up you’re placing your curtain rod, but you also need to think about how wide you’re going to put the bracket. This is something that’s often overlooked but is crucial. If you screw in your rod brackets too close to the window frame your curtains will end up covering a large portion of your windows at all times. This isn’t ideal if you want to let natural light in. Plus having your curtain rod brackets too close to the window frame will make your windows feel small and squished.
Instead, follow the standard guide of having your bracket 8″-12″ from the side of the window frame. This leaves room for your curtains to sit and cover the wall when open instead of your precious light.
Step 4: Decide on Fabric, Texture or Color.
If this is a room that you just want some privacy at night but otherwise like the natural light and would prefer a casual look I’d suggest a linen material. This is great for light filtering and providing sheer coverage. Linen also usually has a nice natural texture to it. If this is a room that you’d like to have darker or maybe add some moodiness to I’d suggest a heavy cotton or velvet material. Those materials can be great for light blocking or spaces that might get drafty. Velvet is perfect if you’d like to create a mood in a formal space.
When thinking about adding color, consider how much color is already in your room. If your walls are colorful or the furniture then you might want to stick with a neutral shade for your window. On the contrary, if you want to add something to your space that is pretty neutral, curtains could be a fantastic way to spice it up with a subtle texture for intrigue.
Step 5: Choose your Hardware
Last but not least, the item you will be using to physically hang your curtain panels. It’s time to think about what kind of rod you’ll be using. There are many different styles out there to choose from. If you are picking a heavy curtain fabric for a formal space consider going with a more decorative thicker rod style. If you’re looking for a casual minimal style then go with a simple subdued rod that works with many different panels.
Keep in mind what metals you have in your space already.
If you have a lot of black metal then either choose a black metal rod or try to pick a rod finish that will incorporate other finishes you have in the room.
Hardware like rings, hooks, or tie backs might not be necessary depending on the top part of your curtains. There are different styles that might require these. Some curtains already come with sewn rings for them to be put on the rod with, some it’s hidden, some it’s pleated, and others have options.
Bonus Tip: Make a Template
Make a simple template that you can use to measure the distance from the window trim to where the rod needs to go. This will ensure it’s hung at the same height around the house and save you some time measuring each side.
Professional Tip: Steam your Curtains.
Getting a handheld steamer is fantastic for ironing out those wrinkles that are always in curtains. Making sure they are wrinkle-free will give you that high-end luxurious feel.
DIY Tip: Add your Own Style!
Consider making your own curtains. The options are endless then! You could find some affordable curtains to start with and add your own flair to them. Either by adding in a color block at the bottom that is not only trendy but adds length. Or adding tassels/decorative elements to the tops or sides of the curtains to spruce up simple standard-looking curtains. This is a great way to customize your window treatments and make them fit your space perfectly.
With these 5 simple steps, I hope you can feel more comfortable picking out curtains for your home. From my personal experience, curtains can be a pain and frustrating when they don’t look as you envisioned. I know after I started to follow these steps it made the process more bearable and I’m always happy with the final result.
Let me know in the comments if you’ve ever experience curtain fatigue or if you have any extra tips that have helped you in the past.
