This post offers seven easy DIY window treatment ideas to beautify your home. These include creating a personalized Roman Shade, no-sew IKEA drapes with hem tape, DIY cafe curtains for small spaces, upgrading black-out shades with a custom fabric twist, sewing pinch-pleat curtains with pleater tape, sewing drapes with hidden tabs, and adding unique trim to inexpensive drapes for kids’ rooms.
The experts at HGTV.com have curated 18 of the most DIY-able, swoon-worthy window treatments on the web. Window treatments can be an ideal place to incorporate pattern, as they are easy to swap out with time and are relatively low. To add more coziness, double up your panels and use two panels on each side if your window is large enough.
This blog post is your ultimate go-to resource for affordable and stylish DIY window treatments that will enhance both privacy and aesthetics. Create your own curtains that will make your home look warm and cozy. Some of the best window treatment ideas include layered curtains for depth, repurposed sheets or tablecloths, DIY Roman Shades, luxurious drapery on a dime, chic bamboo matchstick shades, and using classic fabrics and patterns like burlap, gingham, and plaid.
These 49 gorgeous window treatment ideas will enhance your home with natural light, from blackout curtains to sheer accents. The collection includes simple and minimalist window treatments and curtains for living room, bedroom, and other spaces in your home.
📹 7 CURTAIN MISTAKES that can make your home look AWFUL
00:00 Intro 00:52 Curtain mistake no. 1 02:33 Curtain mistake no. 2 04:12 Curtain mistake no. 3 05:41 Curtain mistake no. 4 07:19 …
📹 Cozy Modern Bay Window Coverings
Sharing how I decorate for cozy modern bay window coverings in our home- bedroom bay windows, kitchen bay windows and …
There is a reason why they sell short curtains that fall down to the windowsill, called apron/windowsill curtains. That is actually a style on its own, and second, those are used when you have to put furniture against a wall like a desk, for example, but the curtains would be in the way if they were longer.
I enjoyed all your tips. Here are some of my thoughts. I used to make drapes professionally. My preferred length is about 1/2″ to 1″ off the floor. They hang better. They don’t get dirty from floor dust. Plus, over time they settle and stretch a little. I despise puddling drapes. They never hang the same from one panel to the next. Always fussy. Finally, you should not walk into a room and the first thing you notice are the window treatments. They should showcase the windows and view beyond and blend with the walls.
i prefer the length curtains you speak of, but with 7 dogs (yup. 7!), 4 of which are great pyrenees (so super long hair fluffy white dogs) and living on a farm covered in red clay, dog hair and red clay dirt and dust are constant (even with daily sweeping and mopping and the dogs being outside 90% of the time). So for MY house (sigh…..) the curtains need to be a few inches above the floor, to help keep them getting covered in said hair and red clay. Sigh…. oh well. Welcome to my world lol
Many thanks for this! I still have horizontal blinds that were all new throughout my home when I bought it 15 years ago. I want to replace them with drapes with sheers behind because I have neighbors on all sides, plus I live in the desert Southwest U.S. I’m glad you mentioned Home Depot, we don’t have an IKEA nearby. I sent this article link to my email for future reference. I will hunt through your articles for more info on hardware and how to hang the drapery rods/sliders, etc., or maybe you could do a article on that subject. You have the best DIY home decor website on YouTube – the most clear and concise delivery of information that gets to the point, with useful information! Cheers!
Remember one thing, your drapery from the exterior of your home should look as nice as the interior . So when you choose coloured drapery you should line with a neutral or pick a neutral blind or neutral shutters . There is nothing that’s looks so unprofessional as pink in one window and orange in another etc . A retired drapery professional .
Great tips! I follow them all, but you forgot one: A lot of people have small windows that aren’t very wide. A common mistake is not hanging the curtains far out enough. Mounting the curtains much wider than the windows will make the window look larger. Thank you for your great articles! I really look forward to them. ❤️
I love your articles, Christine, and I think you are so talented with decor. However, I have to say that I don’t think there are necessarily ‘mistakes’ in how one decorates. Everyone’s taste is different and your home should be cozy and pleasing to you. For example, I really dislike curtain rods that are hung several inches above the top of the window. Don’t like the look of that gap. And I hate curtains that puddle on the floor – a cleaning nightmare! Most of my curtains are made from sheets, which are much cheaper than actual curtains and are custom to my tastes. I also have a window where my couch is partly under it, so curtains to the floor would not work. My point is – decorate your home how YOU love it and if it makes you happy, there are no mistakes. ♥ Thank you for sharing your ideas. ♥
I’m so past all the do’s and don’ts of decorating. I put up window treatments that make me smile and are situated that make it easy to clean the floor. I don’t mean any disrespect, but we should decorate our home in a way that makes us feel comfortable and joyful. Too many houses have no character and look the same as everyone else’s house.
Interesting tips. I had the “gently puddle” drapes before. Here’s what I remember. Chic for a day. Then dust bunny collector. Fave bed for kitty. Difficult to vacuum around. Since then I’m more practical, with clean white moldings and top-down, bottom-up cellular shades. I got the newer S-curved vertical for door wall, and they are amazing! Hang with no gaps.
From someone who worked for years in a high end drapery dept. 1) Drapes should always be 2-3 times the width of the window, except in the case of pinch-pleat drapes which are naturally fuller. You should allow for 12 inches on either side of the window for “stack back” to the entire window is on display when the drapes are open. You should NEVER tie your drapes in a knot in the middle as it simply looks “trashy” or childish. Use tie backs, hold-backs, even simple ribbon can make a nice tieback. Drapes should not be mounted at the top edge of the window frame, but higher to draw the eye up. They should graze the floor or be no more than 1/2 to 1 inch off the floor. (1/2 in better for tile, 1 inch acceptable for carpet) Puddling is fine, IF… you have no children or pets. Otherwise, you’ll find drapes become “hiding” or sleeping places. Shorter curtains are best for windows with issues below them (radiators, air vents, counters) or in kitchens, but even then, the drapes should ALWAYS extend 1-2 inches BELOW the window sills. Drapes also help INSULATE your windows which is important in really cold or really hot climates. Sheers can ALWAYS be used behind drapes but should be the same length as the drapes. NEVER longer or shorter! And remember, as they hang, your drapes WILL stretch (especially looser woven materials!), so take that into account. And if you DIY your own pinch pleat drapes…. learn to do it correctly and stop cheating with cheap-looking pleater tape. I learned to do this is 8th grade home ec.
The house we moved into last year had wood horizontal blinds and no curtains. I changed out the wood blind in the bedroom for a blackout cell blind which worked better for me as I sleep late. I got so used to the look, I decided we didn’t need to put up curtains at all. Hubby doesn’t care one way or the other.
I personally like shorter curtains that fall just below the window sill. It’s practical and easy. My parents have long drapes in their living room and when it comes to drawing the curtains at night it’s always an annoying process because right in front of the curtains are a table and a large armchair. The curtains are too large. For practical reasons I prefer shorter curtains….so much easier to manage. Less dust too.
I do not agree with the ceiling to floor statement. This only looks good if the window goes all the way to the ceiling, or almost to the ceiling. Otherwise, it looks out of place to me having that big gap of wall halfway to the ceiling with no window under the top part of the drape. Looks goofy not elegant to me.
Really enjoyed your article! Thanks for all the great tips! I plan to add curtains or valances to 3 windows in a bedroom that has roller shades. I need to soften the look. One concern I have with full length curtains is one (of the 3) window has the headboard again the window (don’t really have other option for bed) – between the bed and night stands curtains seem to me, would be crowded. I’m considering valances since I already have roller shades, and don’t really need the privacy. Any thoughts on valances in a bedroom? I’ll check out some of your other articles. Thanks! Tina
I really have to disagree with her on a few points – one I think it looks stupid – and I really mean stupid – to hang curtains halfway between the ceiling and the top of the window.. Either go up to the ceiling or stay at the top of the window. Also – there is nothing wrong with hanging curtain to just below the window sills. I used to live in a home that had furnace vents under each window at the floor. If I’d of hung curtains all the way down the air from those vents would have been blocked. I chose to hang my curtains about 4″ under the windowsill, thus allowing free flow of air from the vents – also preventing the curtains getting dirty from the vents blowing on them.
I like patterned drapes, never been good at choosing them. I have to say, your choice for your breakfast nook are, in my opinion perfect. The type of design, I would like to achieve, not everything patterned, but definitely a big, impact, without looking gawdy, tacky, assaulting. Well done, thank you for sharing what you know. I will be looking for drapes, here in the U.S.A., at Wayfair, IKEA, and HomeGoods.
Of all the pros and cons brought out, here is one I haven’t yet seen pointed; personal safety. Drapes that puddle or just “skim” the floor, for those that have mobility issues, be they young or old present a serious safety hazard. Sneakers with the rubber around the edge can easily tangle you up quick. High heels likewise. For me, it was my toenails that were too long and caught on a small snag I didn’t see. I almost pulled the curtains down in the resulting fall. So much for the puddled “romantic” look. (No pun intended.) LOL
I agree, I came to this same conclusion years ago, but being a senior with physical limitations, my DYI days are sadly and considerably much more limited for from when I was younger ! And being 9f limited fixedincome, a DIY budget, with need of a handy person to hire. So although my curtains now are light and airy, which I personally prefer; are not my rod’s location presently they are too low and my curtains would then be too short, I prefer a slight puddle for a more relaxed and romantic context. But I just live with it and enjoy these types of informational article’s! And what I dream of,if I were able, I like natural tones and textures for accessories and nature inspired art, and organic natural materials and decor. Kind of a boho chic vibe, with some traditional pieces of furniture, offset with mixed eclectic pieces, an artsy, unique style.. Coordinated but not show room matchy, matchy or the stark modern minimalist look, like no one actually lives there, magazine photo shoot, that seems to be prevalent in these types of DIY sites. Relaxed, calm, intimate, cozy welcome home aura, I am still a free spirit, but now through the Holy Spirit, kind of rebel, go against the flow, color outside the lines, person; cultivated back in the Flower Children Movement of the late 60’s and early 70’s, but tempered with age and life! But I still dance to the melody of a different tune! Individualism, imaginative, and creativity are qualities, I tend to gravitate too. I am finding a very much the same trend, in these article’s which is great if that is what you are comfortable with, but risk being a little redundant and repetitive when you watch as many of these decor article’s as I do, I see the same trend in a slightly varied style each time. But I enjoy looking at them, because they are pretty to the eye. I just always have to break free for myself. But then I am trapped in a aged body, with a youth spark on the inside, hard to maneuver! Thankyou for sharing your beautiful home and kind spirit❣🙏 🤲🕊🤝🙌❤ All of God’s best for you. Blessings ~ -|- <>< ": } ✌
If I want the pattern to be visible, should I go for less fabric? I have a thick vintage Scandinavian cotton fabric. I want the bold colorful pattern to be a feature. I worry that if the fabric gathers too much, the pattern won’t show up, and I’ll only see the colors that make up the pattern. Thoughts?
Oh heck, I made some MONUMENTAL curtain mistakes when I was in my 20’s!🤦🏼♀️ I got them nye on perfect in my first home, a lovely cottage style new build that I was really happy in. Sadly we had to relocate within 2yrs, and I instantly despised the next house. It had absolutely NO redeeming features, and In hindsight I wonder if I struggled so hard to make it look good, due to my being so darn miserable living there… I must have glumly spent hundreds of £’s trying to create a comfortable and cohesive space and curtains were an enormous sticking point, no matter what I tried I hated the look. Thankfully I now have a lovely and quirky little loft apartment that I adore, decorating and dressing it is a pleasure. I love your tips though!
Thank you for all the fabulous tips. I discovered the theory of hanging curtains only about 6 months ago. You are absolutely right. To low shrinks the room and so I moved them all about 2 Inches from ceiling and what a difference. It adds flow and symmetry. I am definitely a neutral girl, although my home now has a lot of color in it. I just bought new drapes for my bedroom. It’s a beach theme room so walls are a Pacific blue color so, I chose a navy curtain with gold floral on it. It’s one of those 5 piece sets. I was so mad when I got them. It’s like the whole thing was sheer, the valances were different lengths and they had small rips and snags in them. Needless to say, they are being changed to a beautiful white floral sunblocking drape. Sorry for the long story, I just get so wound up over curtains. It’s like what makes or breaks the room. Thanks again ❤
Another issue is buying the wrong size curtain pole for the weight of your curtains. Thin Poles can bend under the weight of a heavy curtain. IKEA is ok for budget curtains but you cannot beat a pair of made to measure curtains made by a talented seamstress who has seen it all before and can advise you on what will suit your taste, budget and be practical for your requirements. It can cost less than you think and you will get a pair of curtains which will last way way longer than off the shelf curtains. I love English country style with all the mixes of colours and florals but each to their own. Just because you like something which is not “en trend” that doesn’t make it tasteless. Homes would be very boring if we all chose beige and white.
Thank you so much I love the 2 inches from the ceiling down to the floor and I always put them 3 inches away from the window and I think it looks awesome and I to love Ikea and Wayfair if you not in a hurry they always have amazing sales on some very pricey stuff at least once a month for each department
Sheer/semi-sheer are fine if you just want a little privacy but need lots of light in the room. I had them in my last home and whenever i took the down to wash them, the room seemed way too dark – light shining through sheer semi-sheer can really brighten a room. RULE #8 DRAPERY MISTAKE – getting drapery based on what someone online is saying is the way to go and not getting something you like because someone on line tells you it is wrong, Actually that applies to everything as everyone’s taste is different, example I could never live in your home, your kitchen would drive me nuts and it is soo different than my kitchen, you most likely would not like my kitchen, but I love it
Hi, some great ideas and tips here. Your tips about mixing patterns was really helpful. One problem that we have here in the UK, is that we often have heating radiators under our windows. This is a problem if we want to hang full-length curtains, as the radiators will be on in the evening when the curtains are closed (in the winter) so the heat is prevented from entering the room. I’ve never found a decent solution to this, other than shifting the radiators, which is a major thing and not always possible. So we end up hanging short curtains which is a practical solution but looks awful. Any suggestions would be welcome. I already have plantation shutters as well as short curtains in the bedrooms, but need both to keep out security lights which everyone seems to have on all night (houses in the UK are generally squeezed up close together so neighbour’s lights are shining into our windows…). I love the look of sheer white curtains but they never seem to look right in our wet and gloomy climate. However, one solution would be to have summer and winter curtains I suppose. One thing I’ve done to solve the too narrow problem is to buy two pairs of curtains, and sew each pair together along the length, or if you have two windows to cover, buy three pairs total, split one pair in half lengthwise, and sew a half-width to the other four curtains to make them wider.
I happen to really dislike the newer idea that putting your rods a foot above the window looks weird! Your example showed a very light colored room/drapes with multiple windows with very dark rods- so there were like six very noticable very dark rods on every wall. All you saw was dark horizontal lines !! All the highly placed rods were light colored blending with walls/curtains
Personally I don’t like curtains that puddle on the floor but that’s just a matter of style. For my dining room and kitchen I prefer curtains that come to the edge of the window in other words the shorter curtains. In my bathroom I also have the shorter curtains but that’s because my window is so high and then I have a small dresser sitting under the window. Once again it’s all on how you’re going to style your room. For the living room yes I prefer longer curtains that just touch the floor or maybe our 1/4 to 1/2 inch off the floor but no more. If you can get super long curtains yes put in your curtain rod up high makes your room seem taller. If you extend your curtain rods and hang your curtains more to the side you add width to your window it makes your windows appear larger also this way you can open your curtains all the way up and all of the window can be showing to let in more light which makes the room look better. But once again it’s a matter of taste. And my living room curtains have vertical stripes of various shades of blue and brown. since the living room goes into the dining room then my dining room curtains are a solid blue but they are the same color of blue that is in my living room curtains. However my kitchen curtains are white. I love a nice bright white kitchen. I also have sheer curtains hanging behind my living room curtains which are also blackout curtains because I get evening Sun this way in the morning I can open up my curtains and then as the day goes on and the Sun starts coming in my windows in the living room I can slowly close the curtains.
If you are going to add crown moulding, I would highly recommend finding a master craftsman that can put in plaster moulding. We have had both wood and plaster. Never a problem with the plaster but constantly had joint separation issues with wood. Yes, you will pay more for plaster but wow, the craftsmanship is incomparable
Your drapes are too low. Either all the way up to the ceiling or just above the window. My take. Also, “grazing” the floor is dirty and the curtains tend to start smelling. One should never wash their high end drapes, but put them in the clothes dryer on cool to dust them. If your wash them or dry clean them, you ruin them. So 1/2 inch off the floor for me.
Nice that you have a contractor husband, but how many of us can say the same? Curtains go on rods on the window frames. Period. Alwaysdid, always will. As to the curtains, they’re available as 84 inches and 95 inches. Period. Lucky you to have an Ikea next door. Or maybe your contractor husband has a car and drives you there. And you sew? Me too, but I haven’t lived in an area with a fabric store since 1974. Count your blessings, lady, you have curtains that hang all over the floor. I have clean curtains that hang just below my window sills and I love them just the way they are.
The examples shown for the perfect hanging curtains are all shown on huge almost hotel like luxury room. Of course they do look more grand as they are featured in a grand room. However, if your bedroom was small for example, would you really want huge curtains from top to bottom drowning the room with all that fabric? I understand that you wouldn’t want the effect to be a flat sheet when then curtains are close, however, if you’re double up the size or more to ensure lots of pleats are visible when open, then consider this will reduce the light coming into the room as the sides will be bunched up fabric.
I found this article literally as I was finding curtains for my living room. I bought 2 pairs at HomeGoods to see how they would look in my space with the furniture. So this was perfect timing. It was as if my thoughts were heard and your article appeared to answer the questions I had. Thanks for all the helpful tips!!!!
I love when curtains touch the floor but ideally I like them an inch or two off the floor so it’s easier to clean and don’t have to worry about anything Our windows and walls are so high but I’m hoping to get new ones soon, the person that put the rod made it high however it’s not long enough it finishes before the wood shelf on the window and only has one curtain so it doesn’t look as great closed, and not my style, it’s grey semi blackout with sheer white panel and large rings visible hopefully can get some new neutral earthy blackout linen curtains more my style that match closer to the wall but still stands out, soon maybe for my birthday
Would be great to see decorators help people who can’t afford fancy homes with big windows… let’s see ways to drape small windows that are not in rooms with high ceilings. Also if your fireplace is an enclosed wood stove those pretty white curtains would need to be laundered so often that they would fall apart before winter is over. And some houses have deep window sills, I didn’t see any of those in this article. But they do exist, lol!
These are great tips, thank you. I feel badly for people who don’t understand how to measure for window treatments as I was one of them and spent a lot of disappointed money. The rule of 2-1/2 – 3 times the width of the window makes all the difference, especially when they are closed. If, when closed, they look like a sheet or separate in the middle, there is not enough fabric and you will hate them every time you look at them. Buy all the fabric or curtains you need at the same time. Nothing is worse than running out of fabric or needing another pair of ready made, only to find they don’t match the initial product. Different runs in the factory will often produce colors that are ever so slightly off in shade or hue even thought the color number is the same. Better to have to take some product back than to run out. My pet peeve with ready made is buying several packages of curtains, only to find they differ in length, sometimes substantially enough to notice. Does anyone have suggestions on how to sew single panels together to eliminate the vertical hem between panels. After I hang the darn things, that’s all I see when I look at them. Enough palaver from me.
I dream of having these really long curtains and even the pooled look. But I have radiators which cannot be covered. Most designers never address this issue. Putting side panels looks great but provides no usefulness to the curtain if they can’t be pulled shut for light transmission or heat/cold block. Pooled curtains are great. They look so luxurious. But they are dirt catchers and your pets will destroy them. And then if it rains and you left the windows open just throw them out. They will also be subject to being pulled down from the wall if someone like a house cleaner or child steps in them. Just another thing to move when the cleaners vacuum. Probably they will just skip the area to avoid sucking the curtain in the vacuum and tearing them off the wall. I would really like to hear a designers solution to putting curtains up around steam radiators or whether you should cover baseboard radiators. Not everyone has the dreaded forced air system. But alas these issues were not covered here either.
IMHO I like your opinions about curtains but you present your opinions that “if you don’t do this you’re making a MISTAKE” is wrong. This is YOUR opinion and works for you. I don’t think that you should make people feel like they’re wrong or have made a mistake if they don’t follow your suggestions. You even state you’re not a pro at this. With everything costing so much more these days, making someone feel bad about their curtain choices and telling them they should buy 2, 3, 4 panels is bad advise. This is MY opinion.
I enjoy a calming space. So, I go for the neutral look, so beige’s, whites, greys, with a light pop of color like a lavender or a turquoise or berry or the analogous look, but mostly in washed out colors. My husband on the other hand is all about black and tan. I also like the farmhouse look, where your walls are mostly white/off-white, but with black fixtures (door hinges, knobs, wrought iron stuff for the fire place OR AS the fireplace as a wood stove). It seems really New England to me. I don’t like pooling. It makes me feel frumpy. Black out curtains are a MUST is the bedroom. I had to buy fabric from a store online instead of going to a place like Walmart to get the black out curtains, because their curtains do not black out anything. Also, I like to pair high mounted, wide mounted, and low profile (meaning closest to the wall as possible), with black out curtains, to maximize the black out ability. If you have a baby that doesn’t want to take a nap, ANY light coming in will draw their eye right to that crack of light and in my case, they will not go to sleep. Anyway, I enjoyed your article. Thank you for linking some resources.
Curtain mistake #8-Be sure to wash any cotton fabrics before you hem Ikea curtains. (🤦🏻♀️ I’ve forgotten this and regretted it) Curtain mistake #9-steam, dry clean or iron your curtains before hanging them so they look as pretty as they can even if they are affordable. I’ve seen people use painters drop clothes as curtains and I never knew until they told me…great affordable tip. 🪟
I’ve bought Ikea linen curtains and had to trim them, but no matter what I do, I can’t get the bottom edge straight (so now they’re almost too short after all the adjusting). I especially struggle with the more loosely woven ones. I think it’s not entirely my bad: it seems they are originally not cut / sewn evenly. Any suggestions? (Also, living in a rental, the only option I see is to hang the curtains on no-screw rods inside the window frame, below the blind rollers, which looks worse than anything you’ve shown here.)
The long curtains look great. However, I don’t care for long curtains that touch the floor because it’s hard to clean around them with the vacuum. The pooling them around the floor just makes them dirty and collect dust. Especially if you have kids or pets. That doesn’t look expensive to me. Beside I don’t have the room that a lot of these house pictures do to keep my furniture away from the walls and windows so the long curtains would just get in the way, anyway. If I had a bigger house with bigger rooms, I might follow your advise. They look nice, but it isn’t very practical, for me.
The size of curtain pole is also an issue. People buy curtain poles with diameters too small for the weight of the fabric. IKEA is ok for budget curtains but you can’t beat having curtains made to order by a talented seamstress. It can cost less than you think and you are getting advice in most cases from someone who has seen it all when it comes to curtain styles and fabrics. English country style is my favourite look but it is each to their own. Good to be different and if you like something which is not “en trend” so what. Interesting article with good advice.
No curtains on the floor because I don’t want any scorpions or and dogs sitting on the curtains or cats sitting in the curtains. Also like to clean base boards and window sills. I live in the country and I do spray but being near the lake and around rocky hilly terrain have to watch out for spiders. So no curtains touching near the floors.
Loved your tips…What do you think for super high ceilings, we have 25 foot ceilings in our great room with a row of 5 huge picture windows (facing into back yard), then a row of windows above that go almost to ceiling. I am considering ceiling to floor panels, but not sure!?! I don’t want too formal of a feel, the house is transitional, my style trends to modern farm house but we’ve merged homes with my parents, who are traditional antique folks. So trying to blend this in the great room which is shared our most shared space and has their grand piano, and antique dining table with formal chairs and my overstuffed white couches 🙂
So this wasn’t mentioned in terms of the length of curtains. Under the window is the vent that allows the heating and the air conditioning to come in to the room the problem is when drapes are installed that curtain is in front of that vent. This may not be a problem during the day when the shades are up and the drapes are drawn to let in the light but in the evening it’s a problem as there’s no heat nor air conditioning circulating due to the drape placement. I have seen in other countries where the length of the drape is below the cell, covering the woodwork. That doesn’t seem to be a look that’s been promoted in the states. But it seems practical to me given the vents placed under the windows. Maybe you could consider a article approach and solutions for my kind of situation of the length of drape.
Curtains have become the equivalent of wall to wall carpeting to me. I use ceiling to floor blackout curtains in our theatre room. I didn’t think it though when I custom built my home with eyebrow arch windows. We use blinds that each rung can be removed and cleaned. Our allergies can barely withstand blinds.🙈 I miss the aesthetic of curtains.
I have always loved the puddle or grazing the floor. I’ve done this for years and when I got into staging and decorating I was thrilled to see this was a thing! It makes the room so much more luxurious and inviting. In my own home we have more of a modern rustic vibe but still love the luxury floor to ceiling (or moulding) curtain look. Thanks for your tips!
Great tips; I have become interested in the Munsell color system which significantly varies the complementary colors (yellow/purple blue-not purple; red/blue green–not green, blue/orange; green/red-purple–not red; green yellow/purple; and various tones in between). Makes a visually nicer graying of complementary colors on the palette as well as to the eye … not as much jarring vibration. Am wondering how this Munsell color system would relate to interior decorating….thanks.
Cotton, linen, a lot of Indian fabric’s stay clear of as they shrink majorly and then cost you a fortune to replace. It’s good to have rubber backings or suede backings or even detachable linings which are fantastic as then when you want to replace your curtain top fabric you don’t need to replace your linings. Linings also keep your house cool in summer and warm in winter and fading doesn’t occur to your top curtain fabric…..
Thank you so very much. I couldn’t figure out what was missing in my window dressings. I usually get very light sheer panels, and sometimes when on sale I get lacy pattern panels. Unfortunately when I was very ill, people came to my house to help, because I was in the hospital for three months. All of my beautiful lace panel curtains (still in the package) disappeared. Don’t have the budget like I did back then, and I don’t shop at fabric stores anymore. I live in the Bishop Art’s Neighborhood of Oak Cliff in Dallas, Tx. When people committed “white flight ” many of our stores just disappeared. I used to love driving all over my old neighborhood (adjacent to Highland Park) and buy my supplies there. But I don’t do that anymore. Too bad my little old bones are showing more than my actual age, but your articles are extremely motivating. May the good Lord keep you and your loved ones healthy and safe. St. Jude pray for us in Jesus name, AMEN. God bless you darling, Mona
What is the correct length when there are baseboard hot water slant-fin radiators? If the drape is to the floor the heat from the radiator goes right up behind the curtain. In the bedrooms there are window sills but in the living and dining rooms we do not have window sills so there is not an obvious spot there. I have some nice drapes to hang (planning to hang them high above the window with a cornice to cover the wall above the window when they’re open) but I can’t figure out how long to hem them. Help!
My curtains change with the seasons. I change my pillows and other accent decor as well. In winter, I prefer to warm up the room with bright curtains, in spring and summer, I go for colors that blend into the wall by being the same basic color, but higher intensity. I have a cozy cottage house with lots of painted woodwork.
My husband works nights and my house faces the west so the sun heats up my living room. Black out curtains are a must for that room. We will be remodeling our home and I plan on raising my curtains but still keeping them long. If your rooms get hot black lining does come in different weight and saves you money on utilities.
OH MY, diy mommy, here we go with rules from people with absolutely no qualifications. There are no rules, just doing what makes you happy with your home is the important thing. Short curtains make you happy ? Do It ! Listen to the spoutings of someone who calls window coverings ‘drapes’ instead of the proper draperies (drapes is a verb, not a noun) gives me cause to suspect amateurism.
I appreciate you sharing this information and I will definitely be less stressed now about buying new curtains for my Living room. I get anxiety when I go to look and usually buy something that did not work at all for my space! Everything you talked about I have done. Buying curtains is very confusing and I hate trying to do it alone. Finding the style, weight, measurements. Rods, if you need a sheer, if you want the rod to show, how many panels you need …… Thanks. I am perusal again.
Please stop saying what are a “mistake” in someone’s house! Everyone do not have the same style nor taste in style. What may not looks good to you, but looks good to someone else is NOT a mistake!! I’m not big on curtains, but if I did I would NEVER do white, off white, or egg shell white & I would definitely not have any floral or patterns curtains at all!!
Tying my curtains up after I have to turn my ELECTRIC HEATERS ON has probably saved my life so…….I really don’t care what anyone else thinks about my “style.” These aren’t MISTAKES, they’re snooty preferences. I rent and CANNOT hang anything “close to the ceiling.” Do whatever makes YOU comfortable! It’s YOUR SPACE!
No puddling sucks! Draps are dirty all the time and makes it harder to open and close. Your example of “too short” curtains, there was a desk in front of the window, the curtain is the right length in order to close the curtain at night any longer would be a hassle. Personally, I think the large gap between the top of the window and curtain rod actually looks cheap because larger windows are more expensive. The picture you showed as the don’t actually looks far more elegant and expensive that the cheap hang the rod higher to hide that fact we have small window play. Plus, your example of hang the curtain high are actual floor to ceiling windows, NOT hide the fact they are NOT large windows.
Thanks, this was very so helpful. I made many of the mistakes you mentioned the first time I decorated my living room 14 years ago but we are getting new lighter-colored furniture so I am getting a second chance! I have a pair of windows that flank my fireplace and the media niche above it, I was wondering what you recommend as far as the curtain rod placement outside the window well itself in inches. Maybe add 8 -10 inches or so if I have them open from the center of each window? Conversely, I could add those inches to the right for the right-sided window and to the left for the left-sided window. to define the room a little since we have an open-concept living/breakfast/kitchen area. I am so not good at this!
This is an older article but just found it while searching for curtain decorating inspiration. Here’s my dilemma – I love the look of long to the floor curtains and sheers. BUT when the curtains, and especially sheers, hang to the floor they are against the heater and invariably they turn brown- regardless of washing. Grrr any suggestions???
Okay 2:48 Looks freaking awesome. LOVE the stark contrast of the curtain rods and the height is perfection. If they had raised them higher it would look weird. I agree with most of them but this one is just right. I’m Goldie Locks. 😂 If only my Ranch had tall ceilings. I think people in the seventies were Oompa Loompas.
Great advice, thank you! But more people need to be were of how black out curtains get very hot on a South/ Southwest facing window. A family member lives in a house that wasn’t insulated very well, it became really hot by the curtain! When there’s a heatwave or heat dome it is better to hang heavy cotton in a light shade, or even a quilt! They do have air-conditioning bit it has become very expensive to cool your house with that ;))
The long curtains look is a beautiful look when they’re closed yet for me The curtain rod or the blind holder have to be just above the window. Had to go through this with an installer he was going to put my vertical blinds up way above the top of slider. There was the 2 images 2 images with full length one right on above the top and then the super long the thing is it wasn’t apples for apples you weren’t showing the same image and having it adjusted because I thought the 1 that had the dark balance above it was pretty cool and it would look very odd being that same projection but long they were a full coin and that’s There was the 2 images 2 images with full length one right on above the top and then the super long the thing is it wasn’t apples for apples you weren’t showing the same image and having it adjusted because I thought the 1 that had the dark valance above it was pretty cool . It would have been interesting to take that photo in a long gate editor you know how to adjust it up but you show the different view totally so it’s really hard to make a comparison Truthfully I like both looks and sometimes Like myself I have no curtains. I have Blinds No other adornment around them The big window is the picture it doesn’t need a frame.😀
All your drapes look nice, but they have two unspoken goals: to sell a lot of expensive yardage and to cover up utilitarian window frames. My modest house was built in 1913, with small windows but beautiful woodwork. I buy short drapes that fit inside the frame, showing off the woodwork and making small rooms look bigger. I use curtain rods with springs inside, so no holes have to be drilled.
Isn’t this just a matter of preference? If you like your curtains a foot over the top – great enjoy that! But if I don’t, that is ok too. We just have different styles. Many years ago everyone was covering their beautiful hardwood floors with carpeting because it was stylish. Now they tear out carpeting. Styles come and go.
All good information. One thing I don’t recall you mentioning which I noticed the importance of during my 20 years or so of experience of selling and installing custom and ready-made window treatments is IRONING. Few things can make it look like an installer took less care with a window treatment installation than a grid of creases where the product was folded for packaging!
Yeah, I’m going to get white, not machine washble linen curtains that pool/puddle on the floor. The toddler’s going to pick his nose and wipe it off on the drapes, and tha cat/dog hair will be all entwined in the puddled fabric on the floor. The majority of designer decorating us not for real living.
I love these ideas about drapes. But I do have a question. The windows in my house have wood blinds. In my master bedroom I would like a textured sheer curtain over the blinds. Just for a nicer look. The window sill is 4 feet above the floor. There is a short bookcase about 10 inches under that window. Should the sheers fall to the floor behind said bookcase or would shortening the sheers look ok? Thanks in advance for any thoughts you may provide.
I rarely watch youtube articles, but was linked to this one from a kitchen curtain website I was viewing. I was pleasantly surprised – you are very charming and your enthusiasm is quite appealing. However I would like to share my opinion on hanging curtain rods close to the ceiling. I think it looks pretentious and contrived – especially in a typical middle class home, such as I would expect most YouTube viewers live. I think it’s unfair to say hanging curtain rods at the top of the window makes your house look cheap. It’s a traditional look and one which many people prefer – not a decorating faux pas. And while I understand that IKEA is an option for shopping on a budget, using anything from IKEA will definitely make your house look cheap.
#1 Mistake, those God awful drop clothes! I have no clue why ppl. Think those in anyway look good! They are horrible! They go around showing there beautiful curated home & in the background, there is that sloppy looking piece of dropcloth, laying all horrible bunched up with those clips! If they would just take a look at the article. They would stop doing this! It’s ugly, ugly, ugly! And throws the whole design into completely a design mess! Just my opion, but I don’t get it! Going to so much trouble to design your room & putting up an ugly pioneer design or you just didn’t have enough money to buy a real curtain! It’s not classy or any kind of design really. Come on ppl. Wallmart has beautiful curtains for a very low price. Don’t waste your money on putting the cloth you cover your floor to keep the paint off. Use it for painting!
Go to high end areas that have thrift or Good wills, etc near by where they would send their custom made draperies, pillow, linens, etc. people with more money than they know what to do with — get stuff redone all the time and send the old year to two year old stuff to thrift. If you live near places like Atlanta, Hollywood, Miami, NYC and other such places — take a weekend to visit — go on Friday and come home on Sunday. But try to check out what they have before visiting. Same with thrift stores, many times when pieces come in, they aggressively sell the first month and then start to decrease the pricing each week until it’s nothing and then give the owner a week to come get it and if they don’t, it belongs to the thrift store. And they will be in a place to bargain cause they need it gone. Ask them where do they send things they no longer want in the store, good will, what other thrift. Maybe they have a sister store. It’s like pillows, you can find some great dresses or coats, etc on sale custom made high end but don’t let it stop you that it’s a size 6 and you are a 14. If you really like it buy it and take it home. Break it down and do it yourself or have someone else make pillows for you, or placemats, or pet projects, curtains for single windows, whatever. You just have to 1) plan on lots of visiting week after week, don’t give up. Don’t forget private school charity sales K-12, and college, they are a great choice for lots of really expensive items. Find out when their annual charity sales are and make a plan.
You didn’t even mention valances. They can add much needed cover at the top of your drapes when you are using multiple rods and your curtains don’t have the same size overhang at the top. I love to have sheers behind my curtains, that are all blackout curtains so I can control the temperature in my home better, so that I have privacy during the day but let the light in and then close the black out curtains over them at night for insulation. I don’t mind blinds behind my curtains, but my husband thinks blinds look apartment cheap. His words not mine, so to compromise with him we have sheers instead. Also, I change out my curtains every season. My walls are a light beige which I love because I’m an earth tones girl, so spring and summer my curtains are blue and fall and winter they are brown. The valances go with the season and I made them myself. Pine cone print for winter, fall leaves for autumn, blue roses for summer, different blue floral with hummingbirds for spring. I’ve gotten lots of compliments on them. :)❤ Don’t forget the valances! 😉
Nice article. Hey DIY Mommy, got a question for you. Have these huge windows in the living room. Currently have venetian blinds that were wrecked by the kitty (floor to ceiling roughly with usual height drapes). I want drapes with a purpose but would be nice if they looked good too. Haha, you’d die if you saw what I am using now to keep the cat from getting freaked out at the window. What my friend and i were thinking were sheers and half drapes. I really like one thing about my crazy bad solution was that the half curtain thing makes the room warmer. Two sets would be more likely to discourage the cat too. I wouldn’t want black out in here at all. Any comments. I live in NM so the fact that they cool the room down isn’t a bad thing either. BTW, people seem to think floor to ceiling is a McMansion thing. Not so. Very modest house with a huge southern exposure.
vos commentaires sont bons mais arrêter de bouger les mains c’est insupportable. La pièce avec un feu ouvert a une décoration tout à fait ratée car beaucoup trop chargée et sans classe, ainsi que les rideaux fleuris noirs et blancs, cela n’est pas très joli et c’est trop chargé pour ce petit coin de vie
I agree with all these tips! We had to get out curtains made to fit the space because we couldn’t find any long enough (230cm) or wide enough (to fit a 205cm wide window) in Australia. Looking at IKEA now, it seems they only have one option in the 230cm length but 64 options in the 195-200cm range. Which ones are you buying?
Thanks for the tips.. we are currently under construction with the remodel, doing all new everything, and all new windows.. My living, kitchen, and dining room is one big open space, with french doors, a breakfast nook with a window bench, and one more set of windows.. going for a mix of farmhouse and Boho vibe.. my kitchen backsplash is tile, with and intricate leaf design, small green leaves, on hand painted cement tiles.. and I just don’t know what window coverings to do to help my esthetic, and not clash with the existing decor.
Hi Cristine, great tips. quick question, we are moving to our new home where formal living rm walls are white and we are going to have off white or white sofa/love seat. Planning to purchase beautiful cutwork grey/blue curtains for the window and matching color pillows. Is this a good idea? Also, if i have brown leather sectional in family room, will teal color curtains look good?
I have an open floor plan. Should I match the drapes and sheers from the kitchen dining room to the living area? Or should I go complimentary or analogous? Thanks for the very helpful tips, you don’t know how long I’ve fretted over this. 😅 Just thinking and thinking about it. I just want some overall cohesiveness. I also want more of a personalized style, with little details that look interesting and thoughtful.
I have curtains that I tried cuddling on the floor and I also adjusted them so they could just be grazing the floor. The problem is is in some homes I know from mine I have a heat register by my window. So if I have a puddling and I go to close my curtain now there’s no air conditioning and there’s no heat coming out of my vent. If I have a grazing the floor I ran into the same problem so I had to lift them up above the heat register so that I can close them and still get the airflow out of my vent that I need to happen. If something like this doesn’t look right how else do you suggest? Because there are some of us that are vents are the kind that the wall in the floor meet and the vent comes out like that it might not be flat on the floor and it might not come out of the ceiling. I live where it can be very warm so I need my air conditioning going and also when it’s cold you want the warmth and I pull my curtain Shut everyday in the evening. I do love Ikea though that I will say their curtains so many different items we love Ikea
You are a breath of fresh air. I was looking for advice and ideas because I’m redoing my living room and so many “do’s and don’ts” articles come off so pompous and almost condescending and mean girl-ish. I appreciate you giving tips and advice without making people feel like they suck and have no style because they aren’t a professional interior designer. Lol.
I detest puddled drapery UGH looks like someone forgot to measure them properly If I have drapery in a room, I typically want them 1/2″ off the floor so they don’t collect dust that settles on floor – nope, I do not dustmop daily 🙃DIY MOMMY I do not like your drapery in your Bfast nook – it is the first thing you see when heading in to that room (other than that very odd pink floral thing) and it is overpowering and they don’t seem to go with the room at all You have too many colors going on in there, creamy color & black cabinets, metal stools, rattan chairs, 1/2 white wall, 1/2 wood wall, grey wall behind curtains too many colors and textures going on in there and the pink flowers are a big NO you need a lower centerpiece for your table and then the mirror reflects all that’s going on in there making it doubly too much going on. You just flat out have too much going on in there
Curtains and drapes should be an inch off the floor. To the sill or a few inches below the apron. Baseboard heating? They should be 3 inches above the baseboard to prevent fire. Curtains should be 2 times the width of the window for fullness. Didn’t hear you mention drapery stackback. I was asst manager of a Drapery business for 10 years.
Why r people using white on every room in the house?? I honestly don’t understand because it looks so boring to me. I know it’s everybody’s own choice and I’m not putting anybody down in any way, but I honestly would like to know why. Please, nobody be offended ok?? I don’t mean my question in a bad way…. Thank u. I really like it article. 👍
Hi Christine, I do like how it looks with the curtains grazing the floor. However, not to be picky,are there other things you look @ when dreaming what length curtains to use. At timestamp 3:31, the curtains were a bit shorter than floor grazing. Do you take in consideration the baseboard color? Please advise.
I would love to have longer drapes or curtains but I have heating units that run along the bottoms of all my windows and are almost a foot high. 😔I tried just below the window and thought they looked way too short (63″). 84″ is too long and 72″ is a bit above the heater. Too expensive to change my heating system. What can I do?
Ive had bare windows for about 1yr. I didn’t know what style I wanted. At least now I know I was higher, closer to the ceiling. As far as the rod . I have to go with brass because I have more of a traditional decor and more brass. I love bare windows, but Summer is here . I know I want the heat out, but I love natural light. So, I kept thinking 4 different curtains like sheer, lace,solid and print. I’m thinking of getting them made and having sofa and love seat reupholstered along with chair pads and pillows. I love the Waverly Fabrics and how I can combine diffrent patterns to bring in the and look of a whole room. Im not buying any furniture . If,I need something I going to work with what I have . If I need to buy something to finish the entire room . I’m going to the Salvation Army or antique shop. Anyways,Im excited! Thank you for the inspiration. I needed some ❤
I think it depends on the room and the type of decoration of this room.Personally, I hang curtains so that they don’t touch the ground. I also don’t like it when I see curtains that are 2 inches or more too short. The ones hanging on the floor look better because they can be cut and adjusted. I like the romantic ones hanging slightly on the floor in the bedroom. However, when cleaning, you should always lift them up. Or short and folded. It looks as if the owner of the apartment didn’t care about them at all his decoration or if he couldn’t afford something more tasteful. We don’t have to be designers to hang something nice. And it doesn’t matter in which store we buy it. If we hang the curtains on a thick field, they can hang just above the window and it looks good. Personally, for me your curtains hang too high and it looks a bit strange. Especially since the window on the wall on the left is small/short and without any curtain. Moreover, this white molding shortens your wall. If it were not for this molding, the wall would look much better… I think this molding is too high. And the curtains could hang 2 inch above the window and it would look more tasteful. I like hanging curtains high on such thin curtain rods and when the room has a high ceiling. Or right under the ceiling as we saw the brown ones. If the room has too low a ceiling, hanging them too high will look strange. It all depends on the appearance of the wall, window, from the standing furniture and from the curtains themselves.
This is extrenely helpful. I close on a modest condo today and needed advice on how to address curtain needs for 2 bedrooms and a livingroom patio door. I now have a better understanding of a few issues. Also subscribed so I can enjoy more of your articles. You explain things so very clearly! (former educator here).
I really liked this article and thought you gave some really good tips. I like my curtain to graze the floor. It does give an elevated look. I love ikea. Have 5 windows in my bedroom alone plus a sliding glass door. Ikea is very affordable. I did my daughter’s bedroom which has 7 windows with white linen ikea curtains for her beach theme.
Just today I had a drapes fiasco. I normally have a modern minimalistic monochromatic home. Neutrals like light mocha and champagne. I ordered floral drapes for a change but they were all wrong: I tried them and no. No no no. Returned them and ordered a solid color with a bit of sheen to go with sand-textured walls. This has worked in the past and I like it. Can’t wait for them. The floral was too traditional and didn’t go with my home or my personality. Your article is helpful and I love the blues and greens together!