How to Hang Curtains and Drapes

Thanks to Barn and Willow for sponsoring today’s post. As always, all views expressed are 100% my own.

When we did our dining room makeover a few years ago, I wasn’t able to find any window treatments that I really loved.  I ended up “temporarily” using some old white sheers that we had used previously in our bedroom but was never really satisfied with them.  Well… three years later I finally found my perfect draperies!

These are the Belgian Linen Natural Drapes from Barn and Willow.

I am so happy with the quality of them and they are just what I was looking for.  The linen is beautiful and they come lined with a simple white cotton.

I don’t actually do a lot of online shopping for home items because I am often worried that the color won’t look the same in real life as it does on the website.  I’m a visual person and like to be able to see things in my own space.  That is why I love the fact that Barn and Willow will send you up to 5 free fabric swatches to try in your home before deciding if the colors work for you. I had thought that I would order the mist grey for our dining room, but after I saw the swatches, I realized that the natural linen was a perfect match with our dining chairs and provided a nice subtle contrast with the wall color.

If color swatches are just not enough to help you make your decision, you can now try Barn and Willow’s unique “Try Before You Buy” program.  With this program you are able to order as many full sized curtain panels as you would like for $10 each and keep them for up to 7 days.  Once you have made your decision, simply drop the panels back in the mail with the pre-paid shipping label that is provided.  When you place your order, the $10 cost of trying out the sample panels will be refunded to you.

If you, too, have been looking for new curtains or drapes, here are some tips on how to hang curtains and what to look for when you are deciding what to purchase.   Always remember to measure twice {or even three times!} – it’s easy to make a silly mistake.

Determine Your Hardware Placement

As a rough rule, the drapery rod should be placed approximately 6-8 inches above the top of your window trim and extend approximately 8 inches out on either side of the window frame.  If you would like to make your windows appear wider, you can even go up to 12 inches out on either side of the frame {just be sure to account for this when you are determining the panel width for fullness}.

I guess it is just a personal preference, but for me I find it easier to install the hardware first if I am doing custom drapery {since I can then measure whatever sized drapes I would like} but wait until after I have the curtains if I am using pre-made panels.  This allows me to make small adjustments in the placement of the curtain rod to get the curtains to my desired floor length without having to do any hemming {or even worse – have them too short!}.

Determine Your Panel Length

Measure from the bottom tip of your curtain rod to the floor.  If you are going to be hanging your curtains on clips or rings, deduct 1 inch if you want your drapery to break on the floor {this is what I chose}.  If you prefer slight floor clearance, subtract 1.5 inches or for a light curtain puddle add 1-2 inches.  It is totally just a matter of style preference.  If you still have to install your curtain rod, measure from the top of the window trim {instead of the curtain rod} and add 6-8 inches to account for where you would like to mount your hardware.

Determine Your Panel Width for Optimal Fullness

Your panel width will determine how full your curtains look when they are hung.  Generally you want your total panel width to be approximately double the length of your curtain rod.  For example, if your curtain rod is 80 inches long your total panel width should be around 160 inches.  If you are going to be using a panel on either side of the window, you would want each panel to be 80 inches.

If you can’t seem to make any decisions about what drapery to go with, Barn and Willow can help you out with that.  For assistance with picking the right color, pleat style and dimensions for your window treatment, you just need to snap a couple of photos of your windows and send them in.  A designer will then get in touch with you with a few recommendations for your specific room and decor.  For those of you that like to do things on your own, there is also a new customization section on the Barn and Willow website where you can design your own custom drapery and get an instant quote quickly and easily. 🙂

As you can see the dining room is all dressed up for Easter and spring {you can see details of the spring tablescape here}.  I’ll be back on Friday to show you the rest of the space and all of the other details.  For now, head on over to Barn and Willow and check out their beautiful draperies, throw pillow, and throws!