How To Choose The Perfect Curtains For Your Space

How to choose the perfect Curtains for your Space

A Practical Guide

Curtains have the power to transform a room and they can be placed in every single room of your home. Unfortunately, if hung poorly, they can really drag down the look of your space so by the end of this article, you will know exactly what curtains to purchase and how to properly hang them up.

There are four key elements we must consider to get this right.

FUNCTION

Function is incredibly important when it comes to curtains, but before we look into what color we want, we have to ask ourselves a couple of questions.

The type of rug you decide to purchase will be dependent on how you answer these questions.

In what room will I be placing the curtains?

(Bedroom, Living Room, Kitchen, Bathroom)

How much privacy would I like to have in this room?

(Sheer, Light Filtering, Room Darkening, Blackout)

Is this window being blocked off partially or fully by furniture? If so, am I able to move it elsewhere or do I have to work around it?

(If you have furniture blocking the window, decide whether you want to be able to access the curtains to draw them open and shut. Roman shades may also be a good option for you.)

You should now have a couple of “must-haves” for your curtains.

SPACE

Space dictates how we move forward. Analyze your space and how much or how little you have to work with.

Tricky Window Shapes

Corner Windows:

Determine whether you’d like a singular Curved Rod or Two Separate Rods.

This will depend on how you want the fabric to move.

A curved rod allows curtains to slide seamlessly across the entire bend.
Separate rods create a distinct break.

Bay Windows:

You have two layout options.

You can use specialized hardware to have the curtains follow the exact angled path of the windows.
You can mount a straight rod further out across the entire alcove to frame the space.

Furniture Obstacles

Bed in Front of the Window:

If you are working with a small bedroom and the bed must sit in front of the window, consider running curtains across the entire back wall. This creates a cohesive, high end backdrop.

Furniture Partially Blocking Windows:

If a dresser, chair, or console is in the way, pull the furniture slightly forward. Giving the fabric a few inches of breathing room allows you to draw the curtains open and closed without a struggle.

Remember, you also have the option of using roman shades instead of curtains. If you think that will work best for your needs, don’t hesitate to try it out.

If none of the above apply to you:

Look at the wall space around your window frames. Especially the sides.

Extending your curtain rods past the actual window frame always looks better. Functionally, it allows you to fully draw the curtains open to let in maximum light.

Don’t have the extra wall space? That is completely fine. Let’s work with what you have!

Choose Your Rod

Once you know your layout, choose the rod type that fits your architecture:

Curved Rods: Perfect for continuous corner or bay window tracking.

Ceiling Mounts: Ideal for adding height or when wall space is limited.

Wall Mounts: The standard approach for traditional framing.

You should now a rough idea on how you want to hang your curtains and if you have space on either side of your window to properly hang the curtains. And what rod to get.

DIMENSIONS

Dimensions are going to be our best friend in this process. It is very important we don’t skip this step as this is going to determine how many panels we need and how long we need our curtains to be. Here is our guideline:

If wall mounted: We want our curtain rod to be mounted ½ to ⅔ the way to the ceiling from the window AND extended 6-10 inches outward from window

If ceiling mounted (not necessary information for the purchase of the curtains but necessary for installation) the rod or track must be placed 2-3 inches from the wall

We want the curtain to either:

FLOAT

KISS

PUDDLE

Just off the floor (less than an inch distance from floor)

Gracing the floor

Puddles on the floor (2-4 inches excess)

Bay Window with Nook Seat

If you have a bay window with a nook seat, I recommend mounting a straight curtain rod on the main room wall just outside the alcove. This allows the fabric to fall beautifully to the floor.

However, if you prefer to mount the curtains inside the bay recess, make sure to adjust your length measurements to your desired length. Instead of “kissing” the floor, floating above the floor, or puddling on to the floor, it would be onto your nook.

Measure the Height

You can now measure out your curtain’s ideal height.

Step 1: Determine what is ½ to ⅔ the way to the ceiling from the window

Step 2: From there, measure to the ground. (If you want the puddle look, just add 2-4 inches to this.)

Measure the Length

You also want to measure the ideal length of your curtains.

Step 1: With your measuring tape, determine the length of your window(s).

Step 2: Add 12-20 inches to that number for 6-10 inches of curtain on either side.

(Note* Panel lengths vary from seller to seller. I would recommend getting a couple more panels than you think to get a nice ripple effect.)

Pro tip: Too long of a curtain can be hemmed but you can’t do anything with too short of a curtain.

You should now know what your ideal measurements are for your curtains.

STYLE

Style is where your vision starts coming to life. Use the guide below to help you decide your style.

Design styles are here to guide you but they are not hard rules. Most people have a mix of styles in their homes and when done right, it can look beautiful. Don’t be afraid to step out of your interior design style.

Sleek, Functional, Simple, Clean