Nothing makes a house a home like beautiful sheers, valances, draperies and scarves, all cascading across decorative curtain rods. Unfortunately, shopping for draperies is often an intimidating and daunting task. With styles, colors and patterns in every combination possible, it’s no wonder some people simply put blinds on their windows and call it a day!
How it all measures up
First, it is important to note that you do not have to have precise window measurements for every window in your home before you head to the store. If you can have a close guess as to how wide the window is, you are well on your way. The general rule of thumb is that once you figure out or guess how wide the window is, buy double the width of curtains. So, if your bedroom window measures four-feet wide, you need to buy enough curtains to cover 96” of width. This will ensure that all of your window dressings are able to “bunch” across the rod as they hang, giving the window a full appearance.
Curtains generally come in three different lengths: 63”, 84”, and 92”. Of course there will be some variance among manufacturers, but you will find that most stick approximately to those three lengths. Now you will factor your window’s height into the shopping equation. 84” panels are the most common and are made to hang from just above a standard window to just above the floor. If you are going for a more dramatic look, perhaps for a sitting room or a formal dining room, you may choose the 92” panels and hang them again, just above the standard window, which will leave them to pool on the floor below the window for a striking and unique effect. The 63” panels are for smaller windows, sometimes those in a bedroom that may fall behind a bed and not be seen, or sometimes they are used in casual dining areas or windows in children’s rooms.
Let the light shine in…
In order to let light in through your windows yet still maintain privacy, layering your treatments is the best course of action. To achieve this effect, buy double the width of the window in sheer panels. Sheers are light, gauzy, see-through window treatments and are available for purchase in the same area of the store as the curtains. You will need two different rods: one basic utility rod for the sheers, and one decorative rod for the curtains. Secure the utility rod just above the top of the window frame, ensuring that the ends of the utility rod do not extend to much farther out (maybe three inches on each side) than the window itself; here is where you hang the sheers.
Next, hang the decorative rod, but do so about 5 inches above the utility rod and a bit further out from the top edges of the window. Finally, hang your curtains. This will allow you to open your main curtains and let in sunlight while retaining privacy.
