WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT HANGING CURTAINS

dining area

First, let me say there are lots of guidelines for hanging curtains. Most are tried and true tips that will almost guarantee the curtains on your windows will look their best! So, today let’s talk about everything you will need to know about hanging curtains

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My advice, when it come to hanging curtains is to follow the guidelines! I’ve compiled the best curtain hanging tips in one convenient place for you! This is part of my EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW SERIES. I hope you will use this post and others as a guidebook with a wealth of knowledge.

Pin it, bookmark it and save it! Read through it to get the best decor tips and know-how about hanging curtain in your home!

THE BASICS

white curtains in dining area

There are many kinds of windows and window treatments. So choosing curtains for the windows in your home is a very personal and important decision.

Curtains provide privacy, filter sunlight, muffle sound and contribute to the overall beauty of a room. I think one of the best things they do to a room is to soften its hard lines!

That panel of fabric brings a layer of incredible beauty and comfort to a room!

Today’s market is flooded with so many windows covering choices!

My best advice is… less is best!

Keep the embellishments and trimmings of window treatments to a minimum. Focus on beautiful straight lines and let your window treatments enhance your decor not be the center of attention!

Here’s how our windows in the dining area looked when we first moved into the Tanglewood house…

bare window
dining area without drapes

And here is the same room with curtains (and a new chandy- LINK HERE).

dining room with white linen curtains

THE WINDOW

three window inside a house

Curtains should enhance the beauty of a window and the view or hide a window’s flaws.

Take a good look at your windows and think about how to make them look their very best! And answer these questions…

  • Will my window look better with a curtain?
  • Will the beauty of the window be diminished by hanging a curtain on it?
  • How can I hide the flaws of the window with pretty window treatments?

One advantage of long straight curtains on a standard window is when the curtains are hung correctly they can make a window look larger!

THE CURTAINS

white linen curtains

I remember back in the day (maybe you can remember too) my window treatments were very ornate! They had layers of fabric and trim. And they were beautiful for the time.

I’m very happy those days are behind me! Now, most curtains are a straight draped fabric from the curtain rod to the floor!

BEST ADVICE FOR HANGING CURTAINS

white curtain puddling on a hardwood floor

Here’s my best advice for most curtains…

HANG THEM HIGH AND SWING THEM LOW!

In other words, hang window treatments as high on a wall as possible and let them at least touch the floor! This will give the illusion of more height in your room and that is a good thing!

I must admit I love a little puddle of fabric on the floor but it is a bit unpractical in high traffic areas!

Just NO highwater curtains! You know, curtains that just don’t quite reach the floor! A big NO-NO!

ASK YOURSELF THESE QUESTIONS

To give your window a lush look the curtains should be at least double the width of the window. This also depends on several factors so ask yourself…

  • What is the main purpose of the curtains?
  • Will they be opened and closed?
  • Will they remain at either side of the window all the time?
  • What is the fabric weight of the curtains?- Some lighter weight curtains might need another panel to make them look full.

There are so many scrumptious fabric for curtains today! Choose curtain fabric that works with the style and color palette of your room!

I must admit I’m loving linen curtains! Yes, they can be a tiny bit rumpled but that is part of the beauty of the look!

RINGS, TABS, POCKETS, AND MORE

pleats at the top of a curtain

It’s important to mention how curtains are attached to rods! Here are the most common ways to hang a curtain on a rod…

  • Curtain Pockets- a casing at the top of the curtain that runs from one end to the other. The rod is threaded into the pocket and out the other end then gathered.
  • Back Tab Curtain- instead of a casing, hidden tabs are sewn on the back of the curtain near the top and the curtain rod is threaded through them. This gives a neat pleated look
  • Gromet or Eyelet Curtains- grommets are fixed near the top of the curtains and the curtain rod is threaded through them. They also give a neat pleated look.
  • Tab Loop or Tie Curtains- loops are sewn to the top of the curtain at equal intervals. The rod is slipped through the tabs to hang the curtain. Or two ties are sewn to the top of the curtain and then the curtain is tied onto the curtain rod.
  • Ring Curtain Clips- curtains are hung on clips that are attached to rings specifically sized to fit on a curtain rod. This adds 1 1/2 to 2 inches to the length of a curtain.
silver curtain rings

Many curtains with a pocket also have back tabs too! The curtains in my eating area do! And most curtains can be hung using ring clips as well.

I could have hung the dining area curtains with the pocket, back tabs or rings. But I decided on using the back tabs!

I love these pretty Pocket Curtains…

Great Ring Curtain Clip Curtains…

And pretty Back Tab Curtains…

You might like these Grommet Curtains…

Here are some handsome Tab Loop and Tie Curtains

Make sure you read 7 RULES FOR CHOOSING THE PERFECT CURTAIN. This post is loaded with lots of great tips and advice!

mirror in a bedroom

THE CURTAIN RODS

man measuring a window

Now let’s talk practical jewelry! I look at a curtain rod like a piece of jewelry in the room that will give my decor a bit of sparkle or drama. But not so ostentatious that it steals the show!

Here are a few examples of nice curtain rods…

MATCHING CURTAIN RODS TO FABRIC

If your curtain is a heavy fabric like velvet or silk your rods should be a bit on the heavy side too! No skimpy curtain rods or other fixtures, please!

If your curtain fabric is is light like linen, sheer fabric or cotton then you want a rod that works with that weight. Nothing too heavy!

CURTAIN ROD SIZE

I get asked frequently about how long a curtain rod should be and what should be the width of the curtain on either side of the window.

Here’s an easy calculation for deciding how long the curtain rod should be for your window if it is hung on the wall to the sides of your windows…

tape measurer along the sill of a window

window width to the outside of the frame + how far the curtain will be extended past the window (x 2)

The standard measurement of how wide a curtain should extend past the window casing is…

width of the window to the outside of the casing plus 4 to 10 inches.

My advice is to look at how much wall space you have on either side of the window and how full you want your window to be and then decide!

The white linen curtains extend 18 inches on either side of the window casing. Less than that, the curtains would have looked a bit narrow on the wall!

FINIALS AND HARDWARE

silver hardware

We talked about this earlier, but just to remind you, the curtain rod and hardware should complement the curtains.

CURTAIN ROD FINISHES

silver hardware

A rod and hardware should work with the rest of the room. If you have all brushed silver accents in a room you will probably want to hang brushed silver rods.

If, like me, you like to mix metals then pick on of the metals used in the room that compliments things like chains on a chandelier or metal on lamps.

And all the hardware used to hang curtains in a room should have the same finish and same look.

FINIALS

Let’s get practical before we talk about how pretty finials are.

When hanging curtains, especially if you are hanging them as close to the ceiling as possible, make your measurements to position the brackets WITH THE FINIALS ON!

man hanging a white linen curtain

Finials are often taller and wider than rods so if you are hanging curtains next to the ceiling you will want to consider how tall the finials are!

In the image above, Bobby is checking where to hang the curtain rod with the finial on before he drills holes in the wall!

Now, about the pretty! Finials add such a designer touch to your window treatments! Use finials that work with your decor. And use them to repeat elements in your room!

Here are some great finials…

OTHER HARDWARE

screws and wall anchors

Most curtain rods come with the hardware to attach it to the wall or window casings. But always double-check to make sure you have everything you need to do the job!

USE HEAVY DUTY ANCHORS

heavy duty wall screws

That being said, it might be a good idea to get heavy-duty anchors instead of the ones that come with your rod. They will hold a lot more weight when the brackets are screwed into them. This is a smart precaution! It is so frustrating to hang your beautiful curtains and have the brackets come away from the wall!

Bobby will always forego the anchors that come with rods and opt for a heavy duty type! They are way more secure!

SPECIALTY EXTENDABLE BRACKETS

curtain hardware

Not all rod kits contain expandable rod brackets which allows you to decide how close or far away you want the curtain from the window casing and wall. This is a good investment!

side view of curtains

I like my curtains to stand a little bit away from the window casing. Using an expandable rod bracket gives me the freedom to decide where my window treatments looks best.

Depending on how wide your window is you may have to add one, two or even three extendable brackets to help hold up your curtain rod!

Choose them to fit the size of your rod. And use the same finish.

If you want to open and close your curtains you need to look for extendable brackets that allow a curtain to be moved past them.

Here’s a super simple no-sew diy about how to make your own simple curtains without sewing! See SUPER EASY NO SEW CURTAIN DIY.

no sew white linen curtains

HANGING CURTAINS FINAL HELPFUL TIPS…

Here are just a few more helpful curtain hanging tips…

  • Press your curtains before you hang them.
  • Better yet, steam them once hung
  • If a curtain is a bit short, try using ring curtain clips or add a border of trim to the bottom.
  • Be on the lookout for gorgeous fabric that would coordinate with a room in your home to make curtains!
  • Hang window as high and as wide as you can, it makes the window look larger.
  • Layer curtains with blinds or shades.
  • Measure twice before you drill a hole in your wall!
  • Choose a curtain rod and finials that fit the curtain pockets, grommets, and tabs
  • Make sure you are hanging the rod properly using these tips and the curtains look perfect on the rod!

Once you hang up curtains, voila! What a beautiful difference they make in any room!

You might like other EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW posts

ACCENT DECORATIONS EVERY HOME NEEDS

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT CONTAINER GARDENING

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT DECORATING WITH BURLAP

collage of a dining room and white linen curtain

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50 Comments

  1. Wow, love the new light fixture and curtains!!!
    Can you share sources for both?

      1. Thanks is much!! Can’t wait to see how to decorate the rest of your new beautiful home 🙂

  2. Looks beautiful. My heating floor vents prevent me from going to the floor, as heat would be blocked. UGH.

  3. Cecilia from Georgia says:

    Yvonne, I have Plantation shutters in all my windows so privacy is not an issue. If I put curtains in one bedroom, do I need to follow through with all the bedrooms? (I have 2 that are joined by a bathroom.) I have 5 bedrooms and don’t want curtains in all of them if I don’t have to. Love being with you as you and Bobby turn Tanglewood into a beautiful home that your family will enjoy. XOXO

    1. Hi Cecilia, You don’t need to put curtains in all of your bedrooms. Choose the bedrooms you want curtains in and that will look fine!

  4. Ann Light says:

    Thank you for this great info. I am just trying to decide if I want bare windows in my living room. I have a 100yo New England cottage with old clunky baseboard heating – that wont be replaced anytime soon. How do you handle curtain length in that situation?

    1. You are so lucky, Ann! Old chunky baseboards are something that most of us wish for! Even though the baseboards are big I would hang the curtains all the way to the floor! Here’s where adjustable brackets come in handy!

  5. Laura Roberts says:

    Oh please, where did you get the chandelier over the table? Going to be a more beautiful home !

    1. I added a link to it in the body of the post! It is even prettier in real life!

  6. I have plantation shutters in the front of my house and linen look drapes in the bedrooms with textured shades.I like to keep the window treatments light and simple.Your new light fixture and and window treatments are the finishing touch to the room, looking good !!

  7. Such a simple and beautiful touch that finished the window and cozies up the room. Congratulations on your new home!! I’m excited to see your special touches in each room. I may have missed the finished project of your Stonegable master bathroom in your last house. I was really looking forward to that. Could you please send me the post link? We are currently in the process of remodeling our master bedroom, bathroom, and closet. It’s slow as she goes, but super rewarding, as we do most the work ourselves.
    Have fun making your new home your own!

  8. This is so timely for me Yvonne, as I need to replace my white linen curtains in the living room that have seen better days. Great tips!

  9. Helpful, helpful, helpful!
    Correct me if I’m wrong but your curtains shown are not meant to close, right?

    1. Righ, Deb! The curtains will stay open because I have gorgeous 2 1/2 inch blinds. They came with the house!

  10. I agree! Hang them High and hang them Wide! Plus, they should always at least touch the floor. Lots of good info in this post, Yvonne,

  11. I love your decor and wish I had your talent! Everything always looks so perfect. I’m learning so much from you about how to fix all my decorating errors. I’m glad to have found your website to keep me more current and correct my decorating faux pas. Thank you so much for all your decorating help!!!

  12. Love all the texture your new chandi brings into the room. It’s going to be fun watching all the changes you will make.

    1. Thanks, Shelley! You are absolutely right! I got the chandy to add a big dose of texture and color to the upper space in the dining room.

  13. Oh my gosh, this is a wonderful post that took you so much time to make. Thank you so much. I am agonizing over this because I am doing my bedroom windows with curtains now. So afraid to mess up. You make it look so easy. Now for the question that I feel stupid in asking yet I have read the page several times, are these Pottery Barn Linen curtains? They are not lined correct?Are the ythe 96 inch ones and your ceiling is 8 Ft? Just trying to view how the length will go in my 8 ft ceiling home. If the answer is here on this page I apologize. I know you always put your links but I can not find it. Everything looks so beautiful in your new home..Thank you so much for sharing. God Bless you Yvonne.

    1. Don’t agonize! It’s not life and death sweet one! It’s just decorating! I got my French linen drapes from Half Price Drapes. Here they are:https://www.halfpricedrapes.com/crisp-white-french-linen-curtain.html

      They are beautiful, and heavy and lined! For the price they are wonderful! You need to measure your window and wall to see what size curtain would be best. If you can hang your curtains at the top or almost top of the ceiling then a 96-inch curtain would probably work.

      And always make sure you can return a product if it is not what you want! So, don’t worry! Decorating is an adventure! Love the journey!

      1. I love you. I just love you to pieces. You are such a beautiful soul.I wish I was your neighbor. I would be running over to you all the time. Thank you for all the time you put in to blogging to help others. It is a sacrifice of love as you share it with all of us. Thank you so very much, your blog has made my life and my home a better prettier place to be and I am grateful.

  14. The before and after picture shows your magical touch! I can’t wait to see more!

  15. Lucia Corwin says:

    What do you do when there is baseboard heat under the window? Is it OK to hang the curtains to cover it on either end?

    1. Oh, goodness Lucia. This is a design dilemma! I’d have the heating duct moved. But if you don’t want to do that you should not cover it with curtains.

  16. Susan Hinds says:

    Hi Yvonne. Thank you for your very helpful post on How to hang curtains. You are a great teacher! I could use your advice on how to integrate a 3 panel sliding door into my living room design. I have curtain panels on 3 windows in my open floor plan, but am stuck on covering my slider. Thank you for so many beautiful posts that are very inspiring.

    1. Sliders, although they spill such gorgeous light into a room are hard to know how to cover. I’d use curtains on either side if you have the room to pull them back. Those vertical blinds, although practical are just so distracting!

  17. Nancy Walden says:

    About 3-years ago I decided to change my living room drapes. The largest window faces the front yard and sidewalk so I’ve always used some combination of a solid drape with sheer in the middle. This time I decided to buy new rods and hang the curtains at ceiling height. I also bought longer rods so most of the solid drapes hang over the wall and only the sheers cover the window. I absolutely love the result! The drapery fabric is a fully-lined heavy taffeta but they have a rod-pocket and the gathered effect is softer and more casual than a pleated drape would be.

  18. I have cove ceilings. Where would I place the curtain rod?

    1. It depends. How high are the ceilings? How tall are your windows? Where do the walls meet the cove? All these things need to be taken into consideration. I have a small cathedral ceiling in my sunroom and I’m having to figure out where to hang curtains in there. My walls are 9 feet high and then the ceiling begins its pitch. So I’m hanging curtains right where the wall meets the ceiling. Hope this helps.

  19. Kristyn LeFebvre says:

    Great article – will share with my daughters : ) LOVE that leopard area rug under the dining table!

    1. Thanks, Kristyn! The rug is from ruggables. I can throw it in the washer and dryer when it gets too dirty! So easy!

  20. Mary Lou smith says:

    I have electric baseboard heat. Curtains/ drapes must hang above them. Is there any way to distract from the high water looK?

    1. You are smart not to hang curtains over baseboard heaters! They can cause fires. I would probably not hang curtains at all and instead, try pretty bamboo shades or other shade alternatives. I know this is not what you probably want to hear but better to be safe.

  21. Excellent tips. Reminded me of my college job in the drapery department. I learned a lot then. Most customers had no idea how to measure or hang curtains! Assuming that[s still true so this will be really helpful!

  22. Lucia Corwin says:

    What do you do when there are heaters under the window and the material can’t go to the floor? Must be a common problem

  23. CarolinTX says:

    I went from curtains in EVERY window – heavy brocade in the dining, sheers and drapes in the living – to NO curtains in almost every window (we have blinds in most of the bedrooms). I’ve now added side panels to the living and dining room, just to frame the window and to add some texture. Most of them have color and I change them out with the season. Can’t convince the hubster (the one hanging the hardware) to letting them puddle, but they do touch the floor. IF he would cooperate with the “puddling” effect, how much longer should the panels be? I have shorter 8 ft ceilings, so I’ve been buying 84″ and they touch the floor…should I buy 96″ and alter/shorten them?

    1. Yes, 96 is right. My curtain hanging mantra is HANG THEM HIGHT LET THEM PUDDLE LOW!

      1. CarolinTX says:

        Ah, ok, I realize I haven’t been hanging them high enough…thank you!

  24. Thank you for all of your decorating tips. Quick question about curtains. Should the color of your grommets be the same color as your curtain rod?
    Thank you in advance.