There are many benefits to using eyelet curtains as your window treatments since they are easy to hang, take down, and are aesthetically pleasing. If you decide to go for eyelet curtains, this article will help put you through the simple process of hanging them.
You are about to become an eyelet curtain installation expert, so keep reading.
You need brackets and curtain rods of appropriate size to hang eyelet curtains. The ease of installation is because you don’t curtain ring as you pass the curtain rod through the grommets.
If you are not familiar with eyelet curtains, they are a type of curtain that has holes, which are called grommets, along the top edge. The grommet makes eyelet curtains easy to install as it’s easy to pass the curtain through them and mount the rod on the brackets.
The beauty of eyelet curtains lies in the beautiful folds the fabric creates after being put on the curtain rod. These beautiful folds can transform any room and make it look more elegant and formal.
While hanging eyelet curtains is easy, you still need to know what you are doing. And that’s what you’ll be learning in this article.
How wide should eyelet curtains be – Buying the correct size
Contents
Eyelet Curtains here on Amazon!
Whether your eyelet curtains look stunning or mediocre after you hang them depends on you buying the correct curtain size for your windows. So start by measuring the width of your windows, then multiply the measurement you get by two.
As a rule of thumb, curtains should be about two to three times wider than the window. The wider the curtains are than the windows, the fuller they look.
Multiplying the width of your window by a factor of 2 gives you standard fullness, a factor of 2.5 gives deluxe fullness, while a factor of 3 gives ultra fullness. We have an article about how wide curtains should be. Read it for more information.
After multiplying the window’s width with the appropriate factor, round the figure up to the nearest whole number. Let’s use a 72-inch window, for example. For standard fullness, you’ll need 144 inches (72-inch x 2) curtains.
Rounding this figure to the nearest full number, you’ll be using curtains that are 150 inches wide for a nice, elegant, and full look.
The length of your eyelet curtains depends on whether you want them touching the floor or hanging an inch or less from the floor. Check our article on how long curtains should be for more information.
Buying the right curtains and rods
Rods and Curtains are available on Amazon!
The width of your eyelet curtains isn’t only the important thing about them as the grommets are equally important. For one, buy eyelet curtains with an even number of grommets as this allows the edges of the curtains to lay properly against the wall.
While you can use eyelet curtains with an odd number of grommets, the curtains’ edges may not lay properly against the wall.
We don’t think we need to spell it out to you that the color and design of your eyelet curtains should complement your room.
The width of the grommets should also be considered ensuring you buy curtain rods that can pass through them. While most rods should pass through the grommets of your curtains, it’s never a bad idea to double-check.
All you have to do to know the width of your curtains’ grommet is to ask the supplier or check the packaging. If this doesn’t work, grab a ruler and measure the width of the grommet.
We’ve found out that curtain rods that have widths ranging between 1 3⁄8 to 1 1⁄2 inches (3.5 to 3.8 cm) will pass through the grommets of most eyelet curtains.
Your curtain rod should be about four inches wider than the windows. This will help you choose the correct rod length. Some curtain designs have rods that extend up to 10 inches beyond the frame of the window.
Go for rods that have the same shade and color as the grommets of your curtains. Imagine using dark silver grommets on a light silver curtain rod. You get the gist.
You may also need to buy finials, which are ornamental stoppers, for both ends of your curtain rods to prevent the curtains from slipping off the rod.
Installing the brackets
Range of curtain brackets are available here on Amazon!
After determining the width of your curtains and the length of your curtain rod, the next step is to figure out where to install the brackets.
Brackets are installed about 3 inches from the frame of the windows and about 4 to 6 inches above the window frame.
You can mount your brackets higher, as high as just below the ceiling, if you want your room to look bigger. Note that how high you hang your brackets will determine the length of your curtains. And it’s more common to see eyelet curtains slightly touching the floor.
After determining how wide and high from the window frame you want your brackets to be, put the brackets against where you intend to install them.
You can use a level to ensure the bracket is straight. Then, use a pencil to mark the screw holes on the brackets.
The pencil marks will serve as guide marks for drill holes. Remove the brackets and drill holes on the marked spots. After drilling the holes, replace the brackets and then attach them to the wall by using a screwdriver to drive in the screws.
Do the same for the other bracket.
With both brackets installed, the next step is to set the rod on the brackets. Adjust the length of the rods if needed.
Attaching the curtain to the rod
Ironing your curtains
Your curtains are ready to be attached to the rod with the brackets and the rod ready. As we always say, check your curtains for wrinkles and iron them if they are wrinkled. Wrinkled curtains don’t straighten out after some time, and it’s only after you iron your curtains that they’ll drape naturally.
Check the package or label of your curtains for instructions on how to iron them. Ironing curtains is a unique task, and you need to be careful to avoid damaging the curtains. Also, you iron the backside of the curtains, not the side facing the wall.
We recommend you give your curtains to laundry or ironing services near you to straighten out any wrinkle.
Attaching and hanging the curtains
Take the curtain rod off the bracket to attach the curtains to it. If you have used finials on the rod, remove one of the finials and be sure to keep it where you won’t misplace or lose it.
To attach the curtains to the rod, turn the curtains such that the front (the side with the pattern) is facing you. Then slide the curtain rod down through the first grommet and continue until the rod has passed through all the grommets. Start bypassing the rod from the front of the curtain, else the edges of the curtain won’t lay right.
If you have only one panel, you are done as soon as the rod comes out of the last grommet. But if you have an extra panel, repeat the above process until both panels have been attached to the curtain.
After all, panels have been attached to the curtain rod, adjust all panels so that they are positioned correctly before you put back the final. Removing and attaching the finial is easy. Now, the curtain rod is ready to be mounted on the bracket.
Finishing touches
You can carry out a few extra steps to make your curtains more appealing or for your convenience. One of such steps involves adjusting the curtains such that the outer grommets are outside the brackets. And you do this by ensuring the first grommet is on the outside of your bracket when mounting the curtain. If you have two panels on the rod, do the same for the other panel.
While the first grommet is outside the bracket, make the last grommet inside the bracket as this allows you to move the entire panel back and forth with ease.
There will be excess fabric after hanging your eyelet curtains, depending on how wider your curtains are than your windows. Tuck the excess fabric on each side of the panel such that they rest against the wall. Your eyelet curtains will look fuller, more elegant, and will have a nicer finish.
Naturally, eyelet curtains develop folds after you hang them. You can always adjust the folds of your eyelet curtains to make them all uniform. However, if your curtains don’t develop folds after hanging them, there is no reason to worry. Just open the curtains up and create folds by running your fingers from top to bottom. But this is unlikely to happen.
While eyelet curtains are usually not tied, you can also mount tie-back brackets. Eyelet curtains are more attractive when they fall. If you are to install tie-back brackets, they should be mounted about two-thirds down from the top of the window frame.
