Curtains are an essential element in any home’s interior design, providing privacy, controlling light, and adding a touch of personality to your space. However, getting them just right can sometimes feel like a daunting challenge. Truth be told, hanging curtains can make the perfect finishing touch to your room design, but it can also break it.
The following tips provided by painters and decorators working for Fantastic Services should provide more clarity on what to do and what not to do when hanging curtains.
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The Dos of Hanging Curtains
When you’re deciding on how to hang curtains, there are 5 dos that professional decorators generally agree upon that you should know about.
Hang the Curtains to the Floor
Hanging your curtains down to the floor will make your room and windows look bigger. This will create a sophisticated feel in the space around them. On the other hand, short curtains can look out of place, especially if you have furniture in front and eventually move it to another corner of the room. There are three very stylish down-to-floor lengths to choose from for hanging curtains – kissing, hovering over the floor and puddling.
- For the “kiss”, your curtains should be just long enough to graze, hence kissing the surface of the floor. It’s tricky to pull off, but the effect will be as if done by professional painters and decorators. It will dazzle both you and your guests.
- For the “hover”, you should leave the curtain hanging about half an inch above the floor. Very efficient if you want to show off a skirting that matches well with your curtains. Hovered curtains are also much easier to maintain.
- The “puddle” is absolutely gorgeous, offering a feeling of grandeur, with the curtain long enough to extend over and rest on the floor. Be mindful of how you choose curtains for it, though. It is a maintenance-heavy style, and it would be best to pick a stain-resistant, sturdy curtain. Also, it is not ideal if you have pets or small children running around since it can be a hazard.
How you choose curtains depends on which style you’re going for.
Hang the Curtains High
Whether you’ll be installing the curtain rod yourself or with the help of a handyman, ensure it is installed closer to the ceiling than it is to the top of the window frame. Curtains can be one of the best focal points in a room, so placing them higher will make the room feel much taller than it is. You could even go for floor-to-ceiling curtains. They will make your windows appear much taller and offer much more depth to the room, even if it is relatively humble in size.
Invest in Good Curtain Hardware
When choosing curtain hardware, it is a good idea to have the curtain design and the room in mind and have them complement each other. Consider getting accessories beyond just the essentials. Matching tiebacks and holdbacks are great accessories that allow you to customise the shape and representation of your curtains and control the light coming into the room easily. Finials are the decorative icing on the cake for your window treatment and will help you underline it even better.
Furthermore, consider investing in the sturdiness of the curtain rods, brackets and rings to ensure they can support the weight of your curtains. The higher the curtain rods and the heavier the material a curtain is made out of, the sturdier these curtain hardware elements should be. Also, consider using supporting brackets in the middle of the curtain rod to prevent bending if your window is too wide.
Take Measurements
How you hang curtains doesn’t matter if you don’t have the measurements in advance. Frankly, if you have never done it before, you might want to consider calling a handyman. Still, start by selecting the curtain rod height, which usually should be at least 4 inches above the window top or closer to the ceiling. Creating some type of cardboard or a wooden template would be useful if you add brackets at similar heights for multiple windows.
Then to determine the curtain panel length, measure from the curtain rod down to the floor. If you want your curtains puddling on the floor, start measuring slightly above where the curtain rod would be. Start slightly below the rod if you want your curtains to hover instead. Note that if you plan to hang your curtains on rings instead of the rod itself, you will have to re-adjust the measuring and start slightly below where the rod would be.
Measuring the width of your window will also give you a good idea of how wide the curtains and how long the curtain rod should be. Your window treatment should usually be made out of two curtain panels, and each should be around twice as wide as your window is.
Layer the Curtains
One of the simplest ways to make your window treatment stunning, which all professional painters and decorators do, is layering the curtains. There is more to it than stylish looks, though. For one, layered curtains offer better insolation, which is very cost-efficient, especially with older windows.
You might be wondering how to choose your curtains if you want to layer them. Adding shears to your dark blackout curtains is one example that will help you soften the sunlight during the day while offering you a sense of privacy and a delicate look. It offers you more options for controlling sunlight, too.
The Don’ts of Hanging Curtains
And here are 3 things professional decorators will advise you to avoid doing when hanging your curtains.
Stop at the Windowsill
Hanging curtains slightly below the window will simply shrink the room and your window. Stopping at the windowsill could make a good design look plain and kind of outdated.
Use Too Little Curtain Fabric
Each curtain panel should be at least twice as wide as the window. Otherwise, your curtains will lose points for appeal, especially if they are closed. Also, saving on fabric could result in your curtains letting in more light than you would prefer them to, ruining your relaxation time.
Additionally, using more fabric for your curtains will make them look luxurious, even if they are made out of cheaper materials. Why would you miss that opportunity?
Go Too Narrow
When hanging curtains, go for curtain rods which are wider than the window. A curtain rod at least 8 inches wider will allow you to pull the curtain panels completely to the sides, opening it up to let in more light and make your windows appear larger. Narrow curtain rods simply make your window treatment look limiting and suffocating to the window.
Conclusion
hanging curtains is a crucial aspect of interior design that can elevate the overall look and feel of your space. By following the dos and avoiding the don’ts, you can ensure that your curtains make the perfect finishing touch to your room. Avoid stopping at the windowsill, using too little curtain fabric, and opting for narrow curtain rods.
