There are several factors to consider when hanging curtains. One of such factors is the width of the curtains, and one of the most searched questions online is about whether curtains should cover a window frame.
Your curtains should cover your window frames to make your windows feel grander, let more light in, and make your room feel bigger. An exception is when you have detailed window frames you don’t want to cover, in which case you should use an inside mount.
The width of your curtains contributes to the theme you intend to achieve. In the following paragraphs, we’ll discuss whether curtains need to cover the entire window and other tips about how to properly hang curtains. It’s going to be fun, so stay tuned.
Do curtains need to cover the entire window?
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Yes, your curtains should cover the entire window. This makes the panels look ample when closed. Also, your windows will feel grander, and your room will look bigger.
As a rule of thumb, your curtains should be about 2 to 2½ times wider than your windows.
This dimension will be too much if you intend to hang curtains to frame a window. In this situation, you should just use your curtains that are just 1½ times wider than the window.
For best results, mount your curtain brackets outside your window molding and on the wall above. This creates a good aesthetic effect as your curtains fall gracefully.
As we said earlier, use the inside mount if you have detailed window frames you want on display. For those not familiar with inside mount, it involves hanging your curtains within the frame.
Other tips about hanging curtains
1. Hang Curtains Above the Frame
It’s important you hang your curtains high above the window frame. This makes your window look taller and your room larger.
Depending on the length of curtain you want, you may hang your curtain rods four to six inches above your window frame, just below the ceiling, or halfway between the ceiling and the frame.
2. Be sure to use enough fabric
Curtains that feel full look stylish and intentional. And therefore, you should make sure your measurements are correct to make sure your curtains don’t feel skimpy.
Remember to prioritize functionality before style when choosing fabrics for your curtain, especially if your curtain is long enough to touch the floor.
You also have to find a balance between durability and luxury. While some materials are elegant and aesthetically pleasing, they may not be as durable and be susceptible to sunlight. You also have to consider the ease of cleaning the fabric. Quality materials for curtains include polyester, silk, and linen.
Polyester has an excellent combination of functionality and style. It’s also easy to clean polyester. However, the material is flammable and isn’t suitable for a kitchen.
3. Hang your curtains in the right length
We published an article about the different curtain lengths to use for your home. To remind you, curtains can slightly touch the floor of your room (floor-length curtains), form a puddle or pool on the floor (puddled curtains), or hover an inch or less above the floor.
Hovering your curtains more than an inch isn’t stylish. It looks like you didn’t get your measurement right when buying the curtains.
Puddled curtains will help you achieve a dramatic yet sophisticated look. Floor-length curtains are considered the most stylish, and curtains that hover slightly above the floor are not without their appeal.
4. Don’t avoid the iron
Ironing curtains isn’t exactly a simple task, but wrinkled curtains don’t look good either. The mistake most people make is to think wrinkled curtains will somehow become unwrinkled after a few days.
We’ll break it to you.
Wrinkled curtains aren’t going to magically become unwrinkled. Steam iron them! Yes, steam ironing curtains isn’t easy. However, you can always use laundry services around you to steam iron your curtains for a small fee.
Don’t forget to pay attention to how heavy the curtains are. Yes, your curtains are the main event, but your hanging hardware is just as important.
Curtains that are very heavy will require a rod with extra support to properly hold the curtains. Finally, consider the style of your curtain rod and ensure it matches the style of your curtains.
How Do You Hang Curtains Inside A Window Frame?
While it’s more common to see curtains installed outside the window frame, sometimes it’s okay to install curtains inside your window frame. One of such situations is when you have an eye-catching window frame you don’t want to hide.
Hanging your curtains inside your window frame can also help you achieve a minimalist or modern look. And all you need to hang your curtains inside the window frame is a tension rod or installing a curtain rod inside the window.
Tension rods are specifically designed for this type of curtain installation. By using a spring to generate force, tension rods allow you to hang your curtains between two flat surfaces.
However, tension rods are not as durable as traditional curtain rods, although they have the advantage of being easier to install and not requiring additional tools.
How Long Should Curtains Hang Below Window Sill?
Curtains are designed to touch the floor or even puddle on the floor. This is the modern approach to hanging curtains, as short curtains are considered to be outdated. And when you consider the benefits that come with long curtains, you’ll see that long curtains work best for most rooms.
Short curtains can make a room appear smaller than it actually is. And this effect is even more pronounced when short curtains are used on short windows. But this doesn’t mean short curtains don’t have their applications.
There may be instances where you can’t use long curtains. One of such instances is your bathroom, where the curtains are going to get wet and dirty really fast. Another situation is if your window is over a radiator or a cabinet. You can also opt to use short curtains in children’s bedrooms to keep the curtains out of reach of children.
Short curtains are of two types, namely sill-length curtains and apron curtains. Sill-length curtains are at the sill of your window while apron curtains reach the apron of your window. Apron curtains are usually one inch below the sill, while sill-length curtains are exactly at the sill or one inch above the sill.
How Much Curtain Rod Should Extend Past The Window?
If you want your curtain to be wider than your window frame, then the curtain rod will surely extend past the window. The width of your curtain will determine how much your curtain rod will extend past the window, which will be about 2 to 3 inches past your window. This way, your curtains will still cover part of your window when you open it.
While the recommended or should we say standard length by which the curtain rod should extend past the window is about 2 to 3 inches, how much your curtain rod goes beyond your window is totally up to you. It’s possible to see curtain rods extending as far as 15 inches past the window’s trim (the frame of the window).
In the above scenario, you can expose the entire window when you open the curtains, should you desire. This curtain rod design is more common when the window has an appealing design that the person wants to show off. The curtains are opened to reveal the windows and could then be tied up for a classy look.
Check for any rod sagging and correct it. It’s possible for your rod to sag a little in the middle, depending on the type of rod you are using and how wide it is. This will be more pronounced where the smaller rod piece is attached to the larger ones.
Even when your curtain rod is well secured to the well, the skinnier rod in the middle may look like it’s sloping down to your eye.
Most curtain rod packages usually have a third hook that you can hang in the center of the window, but this should be used when you reach a certain span. If not, using an extra support bracket when your curtain rod isn’t very wide would be overkill.
What Is The Best Material For Window Frames?
Window frames are made from a variety of materials, with wood being the most common material. This is because it’s easy to install wooden frames.
However, wooden frames are susceptible to the elements. Also, insects can cause serious damage to wooden frames.
If you want something more stylish and durable for your window frames, composite is a suitable material to look at. Composite window frames are also fairly affordable, reliable, and can withstand the elements.
Other materials you can use for your window frames are aluminum, fiberglass, vinyl, with each having its advantages and disadvantages.
