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Mar 30, 2024

How to Hang Curtains: An Easy 4

By Liz Doupnik Looking at a bare window and wondering how to hang curtains? Curtains can complete the look of a room and help keep you from being an accidental exhibitionist. (Oh, hi neighbor!) While

By Liz Doupnik

Looking at a bare window and wondering how to hang curtains? Curtains can complete the look of a room and help keep you from being an accidental exhibitionist. (Oh, hi neighbor!) While any project involving a ladder can feel like a pain—and a hazard—hanging curtains is a quick and easy process once you have all the tools and know the right steps. Whether you want to finally put the finishing touches on your space, need to block out sunlight so you can sleep in for once, or don’t want your neighbors judging your at-home workout routine, it’s time to learn how to hang curtains and say goodbye to those naked windows. Below, you’ll find a step-by-step guide to get those curtains up, followed by ten professional tips for styling them.

First things first, gather up everything you need to hang curtains, including:

Start by measuring your windows.

Measure your windows to make sure you get the correct curtains and curtain rods. To determine the length of the rod, measure the width of your window and add eight to twelve inches. Each curtain panel should be at least as wide as your window. Measure from the spot you plan to hang the rod (usually four to six inches above the window, but a minimum of two inches above) to the floor to figure out the length of the curtains. Add more length if you want the drapery to pool.

Next step: brackets

Use a pencil to mark the drill holes for your brackets. Each bracket should be placed at the height you previously determined and about four to six inches from the side of the window frame. (This will allow you to open the curtains completely.) Check to make sure your pencil marks are level; otherwise the entire window treatment will be crooked. Use a stud finder to see if your brackets line up with studs. If they don’t, you’ll want to install wall anchors after drilling the holes. Drill the holes and then screw the brackets into the wall.

Almost done

If your curtains are straight out of the package, iron or steam out creases and wrinkles. Remove the finials from the curtain rod and thread the curtain onto the rod. Depending on the type of bracket, you may need to place the rod into the bracket before replacing the finial. Your bracket may have set screws to keep the rod in place, so you’ll want to tighten them once the rod is installed.

Getting your curtains up is just the first step. We asked professionals for help in how to style curtains so they enhance the look of your interior space.

“A good rule of thumb is to mount the rod ½ to ⅔ the distance between the top of the window and the ceiling—but some ceilings are high, some pitched, or some very low, so this rule does not apply across the board,” says interior designer Haley Weidenbaum, cofounder and CEO of Everhem, a custom window treatment company. If your apartment feels a little cavelike, try hanging your curtains closer to the ceiling to fake high ceilings. This will immediately create the illusion of more ceiling height. Meanwhile, if your space has soaring ceilings, Weidenbaum advises that the curtain rod expands the window footprint even more. In those cases, “Match the scale of the room—thus use a mount height of 10–15 inches to frame and enhance the window,” she says.

Hanging curtains can be a simple weekend DIY project—especially if you prep ahead. According to Weidenbaum, it’s crucial to know how to measure your windows, find the right proportions, and determine the right hardware placement for pieces like curtain rod brackets before picking up the drill. “It’s so important before you make a purchase to ensure you’re achieving the right look and feel and not settling for something you’re unhappy with,” she says. Before getting deep into your DIY project, Weidenbaum recommends watching video tutorials, referencing beginner-friendly guides, or meeting with a design expert to ensure your curtain drapery DIY goes off without a hitch.

“Making a decision on curtains that are somewhat permanent is daunting,” says interior designer Melissa Warner Rothblum, who runs the LA-based firm Massucco Warner Miller with partner Julie Massucco Kleiner. The big consideration: finding a design that doesn’t feel fussy and won’t go out of style. “People assume drapes are old-fashioned,” says Kleiner, “but they don’t have to be. Sewing multiple fabrics together for a custom look or adding tape trim for a unique pattern gives them a modern edge.”

And when in doubt, go simple, suggests Weidenbaum. Understated pleats are one of her go-to ways to accomplish this, she says. The three styles that feel most timeless to her? Box, tailored, and pinched. Regardless of the space you’re searching to place new curtains, these styles can invoke a sophisticated, yet relaxed feel. “For a casual, modern look, I recommend box pleats,” Weidenbaum elaborates. “Tailored pleats are best for a versatile, transitional space. For a space with traditional design in mind, go with pinch pleats.”

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Once the pleat style is selected, remember to train the pleats, she continues. “To train drapery, start at the top of the drapery panel and use your hands to gather all the pleats neatly together” says Weidenbaum. “The pleats allow the fabric to fold nicely at the top and should lay flat. Any excess fabric or lining should be folded back into the wall between the pleats. Be sure to follow the fold of the pleats down to the bottom of your panel by carefully guiding your hand along the creases. Then secure with a thick ribbon loosely tied approximately one quarter of the way up.” After a day or two, your new curtains should be ready to go—and will hang wonderfully.

While you peruse curtain ideas for your home decor makeover, be sure to keep a measuring tape handy. Here’s why: “Many times people will select drapery panels that exactly match their window measurements; however, these drapery panels then look like a flat sheet when drawn closed,” Weidenbaum explains. No matter what types of curtains you’re considering, it’s best to take in a few key details to ensure you accomplish your ideal look. Plan for the mounting height—the mid-distance between the top of the window frame and the ceiling—and the width of the window to achieve a full, complete look, she says.

Keep an eye on proportion—the length should just touch the floor. “The mistake done most often are drapes that are cut too short by a handful of inches,” says Rothblum, “and it doesn’t look like it fits.” Make sure the fabric just hits the floor or ends under an inch above. If what you need is in between curtain lengths available, choose the longer one. Your dry cleaner or tailor can always hem them if they are too long.

Make sure the fabric matches the room. Sheer fabrics, such as linens, let in more light and feel more casual—perfect for spaces like living rooms. Heavier fabrics, such as velvets, will block light and provide privacy. If you live in a colder climate or an old building, heavier window treatments can also help block some of those pesky drafts.

Your rods and finials should complement your curtains. Heavier curtains call for more substantial rods, while sheers can be placed on slimmer rods. If you have metal accents elsewhere in the room, such as a gilded pendant light or brass-framed coffee table, consider a similar material or finish for the curtain rods or finials.

You always want to aim for fullness with a fabric that hangs nicely so the curtains don’t look lifeless. You can do this by holding the top of a fabric sample and seeing the kind of natural body it has.

Whether you’re hanging blackout curtains or something more sheer for your home decor, it’s key to accommodate space for the drapery stack, the amount of space the curtains take up in the open position. To do so, Weidenbaum says to extend the curtain rod by 10 inches on each side. Don’t have that much space? “Go with the maximum possible stack width that you do have,” she says.

While there are hacks like using a tension rod or adhesive hooks, if you’re a renter, it might be easier to kick off conversations with your landlord before going down a tutorial rabbit hole to learn how to hang curtains without drilling. But don’t stress, Weidenbaum says. “Fortunately any holes made into drywall are very easy to patch and paint,” she continues. Outside mounted curtains require two to four screws being placed on the drywall above your window, whereas inside versions require the screws placed—you guessed it—inside the window frame.

Opt for outside mounted blinds if your windows err on the more shallow side, she advises. Looking to show off architectural details of the window? Inside mounts might be your best option.