hanging curtains
One of the most asked questions I get from clients and friends is about hanging curtains. If they need them, where to hang the rod, length, style and color. And I think a lot of the time, it’s one of the first things you do when starting a decorating project! And it makes a big impact. But it can be a little bit of an expense, especially if you’re doing several rooms. So you want to do it right the first time! I hope this can serve as a guide on your curtain hanging endeavors!
What you need;
curtain panels (make sure you order enough, sometimes they come in panels of 1.)
measuring tape
drill
drywall anchors and screws(i don’t recommend using the ones provided with the curtain rod)
a step stool or ladder.
So, step one would be to measure your windows and the height of your ceiling. I recommend the curtain rod to be on average 5” longer on each side of the window, so keep that in mind when purchasing it.
Curtain length; this can be tricky. Measure from the top of the window to the ground. And add about 5”. That’s the length you need. However, you may not be able to find curtains in that length. This is a super common problem. There’s a couple things you can do.. purchase longer ones and have them hemmed to be the length you need. Or hang them slightly higher. 95” curtains are the most common I use, and sometimes It works to keep them that length. With that said, I don’t recommend hanging the curtain rod until you have both it, and the curtains, and after you either steam or iron them. That can add a couple inches.
Color, pattern and texture.
Honestly the market for curtains is pretty poor… there’s a limited selection at the places I frequent. But, sometimes a smaller selection can make it easier to make a decision.
My advice in this regard would be to keep it simple, or make a statement. What does that mean? Make note of everything else going on in your space, is there any patterns or colors in the textiles? Have you purchased a rug yet? Do you have accent colors? If not, an option could be to make a statement with your curtains. Add a fun color or pattern! If you’ve already added that character, you really can’t go wrong with a classic white curtain!
My favorite place to get curtains is Ikea. They’re reasonably priced and good quality.
We know it’s all in the details.. so this is where you can get “extra”.
A couple things you can do to make your curtains look a little more significant are;
Add rings. Like in the photo above. Make a note though that this will add an inch or two to the length.
Pleats. With Ikea curtains specifically you can buy pleat pins. Which will give your curtains a more structured and dramatic look.
I hope this helps give you a place to start as you tackle your projects! As always, shoot me a message with any questions. I love to partner with you guys on your projects!
xo