Do’s and Dont’s of Hanging Curtains
Hanging curtains seems so simple but we often see people get this wrong.
Curtains are such a common household decor item. They provide privacy, they block out the sun and they look pretty dang good in just about any space! That is, if they are hung correctly.
Many people hang their curtains incorrectly which results in them looking odd, out of place and distracting to everything else in the room. Most people don’t realize curtains can infact be used to create optical illusions in your home. Yes, it’s like magic!
Learning to hang them properly means that you’ll be able to wield this magical tool in your space too. But first, you need to get the basics of hanging curtains right.
We’re creating this blog post to help our readers understand the Do’s and Don’t of hanging curtains. By ensuring that you follow the Do’s and stray away from the Don’ts, curtain hanging will be pretty easy, and your room will look complete. Let’s begin!
Don’t Hang Curtains Too Short
We see this happening quite often, people hang their curtains too short. Like we said above, curtains are truly an optical illusion and have the ability to play tricks on the eyes.
When curtains are hung too short they make the room look smaller than it actually is, and of course, we don’t want that! Curtains should just kiss the floor in length, if they aren’t slightly touching the floor or hovering juuuust above, they are too short.
Images via Pinterest
Don’t Use the Wrong Fabric
Curtains come in a range of fabrics, so it’s extremely important that you choose the correct fabric for your space. The main factor to consider is how much light you want to shine through the curtain itself.
If you’re looking for a lot of light to shine though you’ll want to choose a curtain with a sheer or cotton fabric. This will give you a very airy, breezy vibe and you’ll get plenty of light shining through.
And if this is a space you need the option to keep dark at times, then you’re going to want to opt for a thicker fabric like velvet. Or even black out curtains, that feature a special lining designed to block out the sun entirely. These are great for your bedrooms!
Images via Pinterest
Don’t Skip Out on Measuring
Please don’t do it! Don’t skip out on measuring. It’s so very important to properly measure your window so you can hang curtains that are the correct size. Like we said above, curtains have the ability to make your room look larger or smaller, so understanding the size you need begins with measuring your window.
You’ll also want to make sure you measure the height of your ceiling, and the distance between windows. All of these measurements will contribute to figuring out the size of the curtains you need, and the best way to hang them.
What do you need to measure?
Having the correct height and width on your curtains can completely transform your room. The length of your curtains has the ability to make your room feel taller, so it’s best to hang them nice and close to the ceiling.
When it comes to width you’ll want your curtains to be able to move about 6’’ past on each side of your window. This will make your windows look wider. The total width of your curtain panels should add up to about two times the window’s width.
Remember how we said curtains have magical powers? You can make the width of the window appear smaller or larger just by how far away on each side you hang your curtains.
Hang them closer to the window for a smaller feeling window. Hang far from each end of the window to create an illusion that you have a larger window.
Images via Pinterest
Do Buy the Correct Curtain Rod
Speaking of curtain width, in order to ensure you have the correct width you’ll need to purchase a curtain rod that works well with the size of your window. The curtain rod should be 6-12’’ wider than your window, so that you can pull the curtains to the side and create the visual illusion that your window, and space are larger.
As for style, curtain rods usually come in nickel, brass, matte black, antique bronze and even more! There are plenty of styles to choose from so look for something that matches the rest of your space, and compliments the other piece of hardware in the room.
Images via Pinterest
Do Double Up on the Width
Yes, that’s right! Double up. For example, if the width of your window is 50 inches, this means that your curtains need to be 100 inches wide.
Depending on material, doubling up on curtain width will make them look more substantial and will just add a sense of luxuriousness to your space.
Hanging your curtains doesn’t have to be stressful and confusing. Adding curtains to your windows can make a welcome difference in any room, both practically and aesthetically.
They provide privacy, block sunlight and have the ability to make spaces look larger.
It’s also a great way to add pattern and texture to your room. You can pick amazing prints to make a statement or choose something light and sheer to give you an airy feel.
The possibilities are endless! Just remember to follow these simple Do’s and Don’ts and you’ll be on your way to hanging your curtains like a pro!
