Updated at: 12-12-2022 - By: Sienna Lewis

If you’re a fan of the aesthetic of draperies but you don’t own your home or rent, you may be searching for a way to hang them without damaging the walls. Some of the methods I’ve discovered allow me to hang drapes over protruding blinds without resorting to drilling, screws, or nails. In addition, when you use my technique, you can still hang them widely, letting in lots of gorgeous natural light.

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Six months ago, my family and I moved into a rented house, and I immediately began looking for easy ways to hang curtains. All of the enormous, gorgeous windows in this property are outfitted with either faux wood blinds or vertical blinds. In other words, they don’t require any sort of window coverings to maintain their privacy. Drapes, however, are the single most effective way to increase the visual depth and comfort of a room. These will be hung from every available surface in this girl’s room.

All of the windows lack casings, and the only way I knew to hang drapes without putting holes in the wall was to use this method, which requires nail holes even though it should not (albeit hidden holes)

THE BEST DAMAGE-FREE CURTAIN HANGING SOLUTION

I’ve seen some people use command strips to put up temporary curtains, but I’m not a fan of the aesthetic. Just as much as you, I despise installing window coverings. To me, it’s the most dreadful job in the world. The process of measuring, leveling, and drilling is tedious and unnecessary. I needed something that didn’t need any effort on my part.

The No-No Bracket arrives, checking every box on the list.

How To Hang Curtains Without Holes In The Wall - YouTube

HOW TO INSTALL NO NO BRACKETS

When I say that I adore these, I mean it; setting them up was a breeze.

Putting up blinds requires little more than sliding the bracket onto the headrail and screwing it in place. Drapery rods can be hung without the need of nails, drilling, or other destructive methods.

And I almost forgot to emphasize how fast you can do it.

Not having to resort to guesswork, measuring, or leveling to avoid making mistakes while drilling holes is a huge time saver. Seriously, it’s a breeze. A screwdriver is the only implement required.

If your blinds have valances you will need to remove those. The No-No Bracket also includes two 3M strips to keep the bracket from sliding. Listen, please use those if you’re going to open and close your blinds. If not—they will slide and the whole thing will come down.

Blinds with valances will require removal. The No-No Bracket also includes two 3M strips to keep the bracket from sliding. Listen, please use those if you’re going to open and close your blinds. If not—they will slide and the whole thing will come down.

  • curtain rods that are hung horizontally from the exterior (ideal if you’re trying to figure out how to hang curtains that protrude from the wall)
  • Blinds made of imitation wood or real wood that are hung inside a
  • Vertical blinds, or miniblinds.

Pick a bracket that will work with your window, and check that the measurements they give you for the headrail are accurate.

There are two finishes to choose from when shopping for No-No Brackets: nickel and oil-rubbed bronze. Find a rod in the color you choose. You can use a curtain rod up to one inch in diameter with these brackets.

As we’re on the subject of curtain rods, let’s…

THE CONS OF HANGING DRAPES WITHOUT MAKING HOLES IN YOUR WALLS

Actually, the rod is not included. And this brings me to my next disclaimer. With the additional cost of a curtain rod, this is NOT a budget-friendly method of curtain installation. The headache it prevented was incredible, though.

To save money, I went to the thrift store and bought a couple rods, which I then painted. However, you may also find extremely cheap rods at Ikea.

How to Make the Most of Your Time at Secondhand Stores

THE BEST DESIGN TIP FOR HANGING DRAPES

Hang your drapes “high and wide” as much as you can. There are three things you can accomplish now.

  1. Increase the apparent height of your ceiling. Higher ceilings create the optical illusion of more volume in a room.
  2. Enlarge the appearance of the window.
  3. Be as receptive as possible to the inflow of natural light.

Unfortunately, I was unable to hang the curtains very high without hurting the wall. I was able to hang mine at a wide angle by mounting the brackets to the outer edges of the glass and extending the rod, but you’re stuck with mounting them flush to the window’s upper surface. I think they would make a space look longer if hanging just below the ceiling.

For the den, I hung curtains over the protruding vertical blinds using this simple method. Lovely as they are, the high-end drapes I rented were a breeze to install and caused no damage to the apartment.

In any case, they can be hung far enough apart to not completely block the window. Truth be told, those navy blue drapes are these blackout curtains; I just have them hung so that they don’t go all the way to the floor. All of the Florida sunshine is mine to keep.

If we end up buying this house, I don’t want to have to go out and get new drapes, so I made sure to get the patterned ones in a longer length. They don’t look right without being hemmed, so I’ll have to come up with a solution for a makeshift hem.

OTHER TEMPORARY CURTAIN SOLUTIONS

It seems like there are a couple other products out there that might work, but I haven’t tested any of them.

SLIDE ON BRACKETS FOR RENTAL HOMES AND APARTMENTS

Mini blinds are most suited for use with these Slide on Brackets, although I worry that the adhesive backing could damage the wall if you ever tried to remove the blinds (and you also have to level and measure)

How to Hang Curtains Without Making Holes in the Wall « Interior Design :: WonderHowTo

CURTAIN TENSION ROD

The rod is placed inside the window and the mechanism works. If you have any kind of blinds, this won’t work. Having the curtains hanging that way also isn’t the most aesthetically pleasant option.

ECLIPSE NO TOOLS ROD

A better-looking tension rod, the Eclipse No Tools Rod nonetheless has the same drawbacks.

I’m very proud of the fact that I was able to hang my drapes without causing any damage to the walls. The No-No Bracket was simple and quick to use; it wasn’t inexpensive, but it was well worth it.

Options on how to Hang Curtains Without Making Holes

Use Command Hooks

Using the temporary command hooks gives your curtain the decorative look of an accurate curtain rod and throws in the extra option of attaching decorative finials.

Using temporary command hooks is a great way to give your curtains the finished look of a curtain rod without the commitment.

Picture frames and small wall cabinets can be attached with command hooks and removed quickly with a pull of the strip tab.

Hang Curtains With Tension Rods

Curtains hung from tension rods that extend from side to side of a window frame create a charming and refined effect when used to cover traditional paned windows with frames.

Curtains made from lightweight fabrics should be hung from a thin curtain rod to avoid overwhelming the room.

The placement of your rod is also determined by aesthetic preference and the demand for privacy. To get the most out of your window coverings, mount the tension rod above the window. You can also achieve a country look by placing the rod lower.

Custom Compression Shades

Custom compression shades are an alternative to drilling holes in your walls to hang drapes. It’s possible you’re renting an apartment for the foreseeable future, and you’d like to have some blinds made to fit the windows exactly.

Fabrics that filter light to varying degrees (up to seven, in some cases) are used to make the blinds. Its effects range from translucent to blackout, so people who prefer sunshine or total darkness can both use it with satisfaction.

You should also choose the easy fit compression option over an adhesive strip so as not to damage the paint on your window’s top frame.

Make a Faux Roman Shade

A curtain panel can be made to measure with pockets for tension rods sewn into the upper and lower edges.

It’s simple for anyone who can sew a straight line to make this shade, and if you make it as a do-it-yourself project for hanging curtains without cutting holes, you may choose whatever color and design you like.

And don’t forget to take your rods and your shades with you when you move.

Twist & Fit Curtain Rods

Standard tension rods can also be used to hold curtains in place across a window with a simple twist and fit. You make it look like the hook and rod are two independent parts, but in reality, they are just one.

Suspend Curtain Rods from the Ceiling

If the plaster on the walls of your apartment is dry and crumbly, you may not be able to drill holes in them, and that’s another reason to think about mounting your curtain rods in the ceiling instead.

Hanging curtain rods from the ceiling creates a natural and elegant aesthetic, especially if your home has tall windows.

Magnetic Curtain Rod

The use of magnetic curtain rods is an excellent option for dressing windows with metal casings. This eliminates the need to make holes in the wall.

The magnetic rod may be temporarily attached to your door, allowing you to swiftly open and close your draperies without worrying that they will fall. Simply remove the roof before moving, and you’re done!

How to Hang Curtains Without Making Holes in the Wall « Interior Design :: WonderHowTo

Do Floor-to-Ceiling Curtains Make a Room Look Bigger?

Curtains can be used to conceal the room’s walls. It elevates the style of your room. Drapes that cover the floor, ceiling, and walls around a window give the impression that the window is much larger than it actually is.

Conclusion

When it comes to hanging artwork or curtains, you may be tempted to circumvent your landlord’s guidelines and make a few holes in the wall.

However, if your landlord is strict, dealing with the fallout could be a major hassle, so be sure to refrain from breaking the regulations.

Use these damage-free methods for hanging curtains without drilling holes, and you won’t sacrifice a thing in terms of aesthetic quality compared to what you’d receive if you did drill holes. If you do that, you won’t have to worry about losing your deposit and can rest easy.