Updated at: 02-11-2022 - By: Sienna Lewis

If the hems aren’t long enough, the pants will look baggy and unflattering on someone with long legs. If you’re going for a variety of standard-length panels or lovely puddles, make sure your dimensions are accurate so you can build neatly flanked walls that appear higher than they actually are.

How Far From the Floor Should Curtains Hang?

Rod Rules

If you’re utilizing rod-pocket drapery, the curtain rod isn’t necessarily the place from which you’ll measure for curtain length. Curtain rings, grommets, tabs, and half an inch of floor clearance should be deducted from the rod-to-floor measurement when making different types of curtains. For those who haven’t yet installed a curtain rod, set it in accordance with your preferred curtain length; hemming will be avoided. Make the most of the vista and the available light by hanging your drapes extra wide. Measure the width of the curtains, putting in 1 1/2 to 2 times the span, to get the right fullness when the curtains are closed.

A Long, Tall Look

From the floor to roughly midway between the window trim and the usual ceiling, standard curtains typically hang. The longer the panels, the better; in a living room, library, den, or bedroom, the more visual height you may get. Fabric panels that flow from virtually ceiling height to just above the floor not only add plentiful soft texture but also make a low, 7-foot ceiling appear ordinary, a typical 8 or 9-foot ceiling look higher, or a 10-foot ceiling feel even more significant.. A wide range of curtain panel lengths are available to fit a wide range of wall heights. Ideally, the rod should be placed four to six inches above the window frame if you have a high ceiling.

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To Puddle or Not

They may seem nice, but drapes with puddles are not always practical. Only use puddle curtain fabric for decorative purposes, not if you plan to open and close them frequently, which will cause the hems to get muddy and worn. For a trouser effect, such as the hems of your pants resting on your shoes, you only need an extra inch of fabric. Puddle two to four inches of cloth for a more opulent look. Fan 6 to 8 inches of excess fabric on the floor for a flamboyant effect.

When Shorter Is Better

When it comes to bathrooms and kitchens, floor-length or puddled curtains are not the usual because moist floors can generate unattractive mold-growth on hems. You can hang the panels on the window sill to highlight a beautiful trim or at the bottom of a ho-hum or thin trim to disguise its insignificance. Some light can still be let in by cafe-style curtains, which are hung from the window sill to about halfway or two-thirds up the window. Curtains that sit at least two or three feet above the floor are also a popular option for families with young children.

Radiator Complications

The length of your curtains may be a problem if you live in a house with radiators. There is a risk that long, flowing drapes could get in the way of radiators in front of windows. Fortunately, you have a variety of possibilities. Shorter curtains, approximately an inch over the radiator, are an option. The tops of your curtains should just brush your radiators if they are covered. Top of radiator cover follows same guidelines as bottom of radiator cover. It’s also possible to go with radiator-mounted curtains, which can be fixed in place. It all depends on the look you’re going for when it comes to the length of the curtain’s hemline. Even if the curtains extend to the floor, they will remain open at all times so that the radiator is not blocked.

How to Mount the Curtain Rods

A curtain rod should be slightly wider than the width of your window when selecting one. Using this method, the window will always be covered by whichever curtains you’ve chosen. To create the idea of a larger window, choose a curtain rod that is eight to twelve inches wider than your opening. There are many ways to make a tiny room appear larger, but this is just one.

How High to Hang Curtains

When hanging curtains, it’s a good rule of thumb to hang them between four and six inches above the window frame, according to Architectural Digest. The window will appear taller if you hang the curtain rod high.

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How Fabric Impacts Curtains

In order to create a feeling of openness in the room, use light textiles such as sheers. Denser textiles and thermal drapes, which provide both warmth and seclusion, are good options for rooms that need to be heated. The use of winter curtains can help keep drafts at bay while also saving money on heating costs.

What is the Proper Length for Curtains

Your curtains should have a “puddle” at the bottom, according to interior experts. However, if you don’t want your curtains to drag on the floor when you open and close them, let them stop about an inch from the floor, but no more. You can wash your curtains if they get wet on the floor.

Your curtains should be at least double the width of the window when it comes to length.

8 Really Good Tips for Hanging Curtains

Curtains are just as vital to the final look of a room as the art and the color of the walls. A plain window can be transformed into a dramatic focal point with the addition of a well-executed window treatment. Floor-length curtain panels are currently in style, and they are typically hung from a beautiful curtain rod with finials. Despite its simplicity, the design is attractive and refined. A room’s design isn’t complete without the addition of curtain panels, unless the windows are architecturally beautiful.

All types of window coverings, including valances, can benefit from following these eight helpful pointers (top treatments).

Window Treatments should be hung as high as possible.

The most crucial rule for creating window treatments that are both professional and visually appealing is this: Hang the curtains high to create the sense of more space in your home. In most circumstances, the pole or valance should be placed 4 to 12 inches above the top of the window. When hung at the correct height above the window, even a cheap valance or unlined curtain panel can look well-done and professional. Have no idea how to hang curtain rods? Hire a local handyman to handle the task properly and avoid putting holes in your walls.

The second tip is to use a shade to provide the impression of height.

This method will make the window appear tall and important. Hang a bamboo or roman shade under the pole at least twelve inches above the frame. Window coverings can be combined to create a more visually appealing area, and this combination allows the panels to be suspended high without a lot of bare wall showing.

Recommendation #3: Make the Curtain Rod Longer Than the Window’s Diameter

Always extend the curtain rod at least three inches beyond either side of the fame while installing it. Reasons for this include:

  • to make the window appear larger
  • open your windows to let more natural light into the space
  • avoid shadows on the window’s sides
  • to enhance the visual appeal of the glass rather than obscuring it with a little curtain.

Each panel of curtains, when open, should have a width of 12 inches. It is recommended that the curtain’s inside vertical edge be 3 inches from the glass.

Step 4: Press or steam the curtain to remove wrinkles.

Remove any folds or wrinkles by pressing or steaming the curtain. People often hang the panel straight out of the bag, believing that the wrinkles would “fall out” over time. They’re not likely to.

5. Leave Space Below for Cleaning

Free-hanging curtains should be positioned 12 inch above the floor. It’s possible to mop and clean the floor while the curtain appears to be touching the ground, thanks to this distance.

Tip #6: Use Creative Hem Finishes to Shorten or Lengthen Your Curtains

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A trouser kick is a common hem finish for silk or lining curtains. In this instance, the bottom of the curtain extends 3 inches above the level of the floor before breaking forward like the ankle of a pair of pants on top of the foot.

A puddle finish is another approach to finish the bottom of a curtain panel. A hem isn’t usually necessary in this situation. For whatever reason the curtain is 9 to 12 inches longer than it needs to be.

The Bishop Sleeve method can be used to shorten or lengthen curtain panels. Use the folded hem of a twin flat sheet as a rod pocket to hang something cheap and basic. Snap the pole into the bracket after slipping it through the sheet’s hem. In the end, you’ve changed your sheet into an unlined curtain panel with extra length on the floor. Tie a string around the sheet at a height of 31 inches above the floor if you want it shortened. In order to secure string around a nail, tap a finishing nail into the wood. Puff the fabric up and over the string. Voila!

If you can’t hang a curtain rod, use a Tension Rod.

Use a tension rod if you don’t want to drill holes in the wall or if the wall is made of plaster. Instead of screws, a spring-loaded rod is used to hold the rod in position in the window, rather of the traditional method.

How to Make Short Curtains Longer by Adding a Width of Fabric

It’s possible to add a piece of fabric to the bottom of a curtain panel that is too short, either in a plain color or a complementary pattern, to give the curtain a personalized look. Velvet or suede have an interesting feel to them. Iron some fabric fusion between the two fabrics to tie them together for a rapid no-sew application.

Final Hardware Installation

If your curtain rod isn’t to your taste, there are other hardware solutions. Window hardware can be easily and affordably upgraded with the addition of decorative curtain rods. DIY window cornices can help cover the curtain rod.