- Choosing the right curtains depends on the size of the window and the room, as well as the purpose of the curtains.
- Ideally, curtains should be hung 10-15 cm above the window sill and reach the floor.
- To hang the curtains, simply screw on the brackets and mount the rod with the curtains already in place.
When it comes to window treatments, well-chosen, well-hung curtains are multifunctional: They control noise, light and heat from the sun, protect privacy and contribute to the overall look of the room.
"The first thing to do when choosing a window treatment is to think about its function," explains Virginia Toledo, co-owner and creative director of Toledo Geller Interiors. "Do we need privacy in this room? Do I need sun protection?" The answers to these questions determine the weight of your curtains and whether you should opt for features such as privacy lining or fabrics whose colors are colorfast.
Design and hanging are equally important. Fabric pattern and color are important - sometimes curtains are the "hero" of the room, says Toledo, and other times "they're just another character in the room" - and good hanging also contributes to the look of the room.
The wrong height can make the room seem shorter than it actually is, while poor anchoring can cause curtain rods to warp over time. But when properly hung, curtains can give the impression of a larger room and stay in place for years.
What you need:
- Measuring tape
- a pencil
- Level (optional)
- Cardboard or paper template (optional)
- Drill
- Bar supports and screws
- Anchors (if required)
- Screwdriver (optional)
- Curtain rod
- Curtain rings and pins (if necessary)
- Curtains
- Spray
How to choose the right size of curtains for your windows?
1. Rod length
Rods should generally extend beyond the window by about 15 cm on each side. The rod should always be wider than the window, as you don't want the curtains, when fully open, to cover the window. "You want to retain as much natural light as possible," explains Toledo, with the curtains just covering the edges of the window on the left and right.
2. Curtain width
The width of your curtains depends on their purpose. Note that a single curtain is called a panel.
For functional or through curtains, each panel should be half the total width of the rod.
For decorative or fixed curtains, each panel should have a fabric width of 1 ½ to 2 widths. The standard fabric width is 140 cm.
For fixed curtains, for a modern style like that preferred by the Toledo design studio, opt for 1 ½ widths. For a more traditional style, opt for two widths. "If you use twice the width on a narrow window," explains Toledo, "your curtains will look 'heavy' on either side of the window, which is more traditional.
Quick tip: if you're using ready-made curtains, which tend to be less wide, Ms. Toledo recommends buying two pairs of curtains for the same window. "Put two curtains on the left and two curtains on the right, and they'll look a little wider," she says.
3. Rod height
For rod placement, "if you have a standard 245 cm ceiling, a height of 10 to 15 cm above the window trim is appropriate," says Toledo. This rule of thumb can be difficult to apply in the case of shorter ceilings or rooms with crown molding. "Go as close to the ceiling or crown molding as possible," advises Toledo. "When you mount the rods closer to the ceiling, you give the illusion of a larger space. [It's like a short person wearing high-waisted jeans with a long flared leg. You create the illusion of a longer leg, but the leg is still the same length.
Similarly, for higher ceilings, you can place the rod more than 15 cm above the window trim to elongate the room.
4. Curtain length
Ideally, says Toledo, curtains should "kiss the floor - touch it lightly". Curtains that are too long puddle on the floor, creating a tripping hazard and a hindrance to cleaning, and, like curtains that are too short, make the room seem shorter than it is.
To determine the length of curtains, measure the distance from the top of the rod to the floor. Then adjust this measurement according to how the curtain is hung. For example, pocket curtains, which have a sewn-in pocket through which the rod passes, may require additional centimeters. Curtains hung from drapery rings need to be trimmed by a few centimeters to account for the length added by the rings.
A little tip: if you can't find ready-made curtains of the right length, start with curtains that are too long, hang them, mark where the curtains should end, then take them to your dressmaker or dyer for hemming.
5. Rod holders
When choosing rod brackets, the pieces of hardware that screw into the wall and support the curtain rod, keep in mind how far your window protrudes from the wall - the brackets will need to protrude enough so that the curtains don't hit the window trim without leaving an awkward gap.
For particularly wide curtains, Mr. Toledo recommends a central support in addition to the end supports: "When people don't do it and don't think they need it, you'll find that over time, the rod will start to tilt.
How to hang curtains
- Determine the position of the rod supports. Use a tape measure and a pencil to mark the position of the rod brackets according to the rod height and width recommendations above. Mark the position of the support screws. If you wish, use a level or template to help you measure.
- Pre-drill the marked locations for the brackets. If you're drilling into a solid piece of wood, aka a stud, drill to the appropriate depth and skip step 3.
- Insert dowels, if necessary. If the pilot hole doesn't go into a stud, insert an anchor to "give the screw something to adhere to," explains Toledo. "Without it, the screw would go through the plasterboard and wouldn't stick to anything... the plasterboard would disintegrate.
- Screw on the brackets. Using screws and a drill or screwdriver, install the rod brackets. You can check that the brackets are level by mounting the rod without the curtains.
- Place the curtains on the rod. Even if you're using curtain rings and pins, place the curtains at this stage - heavy curtains are difficult to hang when the rod is already in place.
- Mount the rod on the brackets. For added safety, ask a friend to help you if the rod is very wide or the curtains are heavy.
- Steam curtains. "If you have a steamer at home for your clothes or whatever, you can use it for curtains very effectively," explains Toledo. Steam brings wrapped curtains back to life and should only be used once during installation.
Things to remember
When hung correctly, curtains not only play a role in controlling privacy, light and warmth, but also contribute to the aesthetic appearance of a room. The choice of curtain type and size depends on their function and the dimensions of the room and window.
Ideally, curtains are long enough to touch the floor when hung from a rod installed between 10 and 15 cm above the window sill. Maximizing the height of the curtains gives the impression that the room is taller. Don't forget to choose a curtain rod that extends beyond the width of the window to let in as much natural light as possible when the curtains are open.
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