Curtains have the power to transform a house into a home by making spaces more inviting, livable, and representative of your personality. However, to make sure your curtains truly make the most of your space, you need to know how to measure so you can get the length that you want for the look that you desire.
To get the look you want from our custom curtains, we suggest measuring, then measuring again, and then maybe one more time for good luck 🤞
Let’s start with the curtain rod. If you haven’t mounted it to the wall yet, here are a few suggestions. To make a room feel taller, mount the rods 4-6 inches above your window frame. If you extend the rods 3-6 inches on either side of the window, you can create the illusion of a grand window and let in more light when the panels are open.
If blocking light is your goal, mount the rod 1-2 inches above the window frame and 2-4 inches on either side. This way when the panels are closed, they are overlapping the edges of the window to add the extra coverage you are looking for.
At the drape we have a 2 step process for determining the length you need for your custom curtains:
First, you will need a few things to make this easier—a pen, paper, and measuring tape. We prefer a metal-style measuring tape, but a fabric one will work too. A step stool is also helpful, but don’t be afraid to tap a helper if needed! The length of your curtains should be from the top of the rod to where you want the curtain to stop. This can be from the sill of the window down to the floor depending on the look you are going for.
How do you decide what length will work best? Here are some recommendations:
If you have a heater or radiator under your window the length can be to the bottom of the window frame.
For a clean casual look, the length should be a ½" off the floor. It will also make cleaning easier. (wink face)
If you want DRAMA add 1-2" for a breaking look as the curtain panels pool on the floor. If you want BIG DRAMA, add 4-6" and your curtains will puddle on the floor.
And of course, if you aren't sure and you want to talk it over with us, reach out and ask!
What about width? All of our panels are 52” wide. We recommend two panels per standard window (24”-48”), one to hang on each side of the window.
If you have a wider window, and you plan to close your curtains, then you will need to cover 2x the width of the window.
Example:
Window width (72”) x 2 (for fullness) = 144”
Divide 144” by 52” (the width of all of our curtains) = 2.7 *round up to the nearest EVEN number which is 4. A window looks best with the same number of panels on each side.
Still have questions? Reach out to us via our contact form or email and we’ll be happy to help!