How To Install Curtain Rods 5 Simple Steps

Bear in mind that the curtain will only draw back as far as the brackets holding the curtain rod, and the style of the curtain will determine how much they can be compressed. If you want to install your curtain rod in the wall, make sure to install it in a stud. If you cannot locate a stud or must install the rod in drywall, you will have to use drywall anchors. [2] X Research source

Bear in mind that some styles of curtains have ruffles or pleats that extend above the top of the rod; subtract this section from the measurement. If you want your room to appear taller, hang your curtains closer to the ceiling to give the illusion of height.

Be careful not to get too close to the edge if installing in the casing, as this will make the material too fragile and cause the wood to crack. Adding 3 inches (7. 6 cm) on each side of the window will give you as much light as possible when the curtains are drawn. Measure for a mid brace if needed. Though most curtain rods are adjustable, you don’t want the distance between the brackets to be so wide that the rod sags in the middle. In general, you shouldn’t increase the length of the expanded rod by more than 50%.

Use a stud finder to find the studs in your wall. {“smallUrl”:“https://www. wikihow. com/images/thumb/e/ed/Install-Curtain-Rods-Step-4Bullet1. jpg/v4-460px-Install-Curtain-Rods-Step-4Bullet1. jpg”,“bigUrl”:"/images/thumb/e/ed/Install-Curtain-Rods-Step-4Bullet1. jpg/v4-728px-Install-Curtain-Rods-Step-4Bullet1. jpg",“smallWidth”:460,“smallHeight”:345,“bigWidth”:728,“bigHeight”:546,“licensing”:"<div class="mw-parser-output">

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<br />\n</p></div>"} Screw anchors will expand inside the drywall panel to the weight of the rod and curtains and will prevent the screws from pulling out of the wall. If you can’t screw directly into the wall, or if you want to hang café curtains, use a tension rod instead. Place the tension rod inside the window frame, twist it to unlock it, and let it expand until it is tightly suspended between both interior edges of the window frame. [6] X Expert Source Karen ParzialeHome Stager & Interior Designer Expert Interview. 30 June 2021. {“smallUrl”:“https://www. wikihow. com/images/thumb/6/65/Install-Curtain-Rods-Step-4Bullet3. jpg/v4-460px-Install-Curtain-Rods-Step-4Bullet3. jpg”,“bigUrl”:"/images/thumb/6/65/Install-Curtain-Rods-Step-4Bullet3. jpg/v4-728px-Install-Curtain-Rods-Step-4Bullet3. jpg",“smallWidth”:460,“smallHeight”:345,“bigWidth”:728,“bigHeight”:546,“licensing”:"<div class="mw-parser-output">

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Drapes are typically made from heavy, pleated material and are hung by attaching drapery pins to the pleat and then hanging them on the rod. {“smallUrl”:“https://www. wikihow. com/images/thumb/6/6f/Install-Curtain-Rods-Step-6Bullet1. jpg/v4-460px-Install-Curtain-Rods-Step-6Bullet1. jpg”,“bigUrl”:"/images/thumb/6/6f/Install-Curtain-Rods-Step-6Bullet1. jpg/v4-728px-Install-Curtain-Rods-Step-6Bullet1. jpg",“smallWidth”:460,“smallHeight”:345,“bigWidth”:728,“bigHeight”:546,“licensing”:"<div class="mw-parser-output">

<br />\n</p></div>"} Panel curtains, eyelet curtains, and tab top curtains are meant to hang from a plain round rod. They may have a pocket along the top to push the rod through, or the rod may be threaded through eyelets or tabs. {“smallUrl”:“https://www. wikihow. com/images/thumb/9/94/Install-Curtain-Rods-Step-6Bullet2. jpg/v4-460px-Install-Curtain-Rods-Step-6Bullet2. jpg”,“bigUrl”:"/images/thumb/9/94/Install-Curtain-Rods-Step-6Bullet2. jpg/v4-728px-Install-Curtain-Rods-Step-6Bullet2. jpg",“smallWidth”:460,“smallHeight”:345,“bigWidth”:728,“bigHeight”:546,“licensing”:"<div class="mw-parser-output">

<br />\n</p></div>"} Café curtains cover only the bottom half of a window, to let light into the room while affording some privacy. They are typically hung on tension rods. {“smallUrl”:“https://www. wikihow. com/images/thumb/5/58/Install-Curtain-Rods-Step-6Bullet3. jpg/v4-460px-Install-Curtain-Rods-Step-6Bullet3. jpg”,“bigUrl”:"/images/thumb/5/58/Install-Curtain-Rods-Step-6Bullet3. jpg/v4-728px-Install-Curtain-Rods-Step-6Bullet3. jpg",“smallWidth”:460,“smallHeight”:345,“bigWidth”:728,“bigHeight”:546,“licensing”:"<div class="mw-parser-output">

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A general rule of thumb says that you should choose curtains that are 2 times the width of your window. The wider your curtains are, the more they will fold and bunch, while narrower curtains will hang flat. Keep in mind that thinner materials will bunch less, while thicker materials will be fuller. [10] X Research source If you opt for tab top curtains, make sure the curtain length doesn’t include the length of the tabs. Floor length curtains should end 1/2 inch (1. 25 cm) from the floor, unless you live in a humid environment, in which case they should end 1 inch (2. 5 cm) from the floor, because they will stretch more on humid days. If your ceiling is low, curtains can give the illusion that your ceiling is higher than it is: opt for long curtains (like drapes or panel curtains), and install the curtain rod closer to the ceiling. Alternatively, don’t let your curtains end a few inches above the floor, as this can make your ceiling seem lower. Your curtains may extend beyond the floor—a style known as puddling. If you plan to puddle your curtains, measuring is pretty simple: you only need to ensure you have plenty of material left over for the puddle. Curtains that hang below the sill should extend 4 inches (10 cm) below the sill, long enough to cover the edge of the casing below the window. Sill-length curtains should skim the sill.

To determine the length the return should be, measure the width of the curtain. Curtains that open completely will give you as much sunlight as possible, but keep in mind that concealing the edge of the windows will give the illusion that your window is bigger than it is.