Installing curtain rods to hang your curtains looks pretty tricky, in fact, many people avoid buying new curtains so they don’t have to admit that they are intimidated by this job. If you’re totally new to the world of curtains and curtain rods, you can relax – we’ve got installing them covered, so you can get the job done and enjoy your pretty new curtains. Here we go…
Select Your New Curtains
There are many different types of curtain, and all of them will need to be hung differently.
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Drapes – these are made from pleated material, so you need a traverse rod. Place drapery pins in the pleat, and you can then hang them on the rod, pulling them open and closed with a cord.
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Panel Curtains, Eyelet Curtains, Tab Top Curtains – all of these curtains are meant to hang from a simple round rod. You might need to push the rod through the tops of the curtains, or thread it through the eyelets or tabs. You should be able to work it out!
Think About Where You Want Your Curtain To Finish
The length of your curtains should cover the whole window, so make sure that when buying tab top curtains you don’t include the length of the tabs.
There are different ways you can hang your curtains:
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When you puddle your curtains, you choose to leave quite a bit of material on the floor. This is probably the simplest option and can look very chic!
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If you intend to have your curtains hanging below the sill, try to leave around 4 inches.
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You can choose to have sill length curtains, where they just skim the sill.
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Floor length curtains should hang half an inch from the floor. If your environment is humid, leave a whole inch as they’ll stretch more on humid days.
How Far Would You Like to Draw Your Curtains?
The further back you’d like to pull your curtains, the longer your rod needs to be.
Where Should You Install Your Rod?
You’ll either install your rod on the casing, or the wall outside of the casing. If you install outside of the casing, you should be able to let as much light into a room as possible. If you install inside of the casing, this can mean keeping the window partially covered at all times.
Use a measuring tape to help you with this, so you can work out where it needs to be in order for your curtains to be in the right place.
When you’re sure of your measurements, mark where the brackets should go. Use a spirit level to ensure your line is straight. You can then drill pilot holes for the screws, so you don’t end up cracking anything. Screw the brackets on to the casing or wall, when you can then put the curtains on your rod and the brackets.
You should now have perfectly hung curtains. You are now free to admire them and congratulate yourself on your hard work. Well done!
