We simply put in roughly a million curtain rods at our duplex (okay, truly simply 16 of them) so we needed to share a easy trick we used to hurry up set up, whereas nonetheless conserving the whole lot wanting stage and equally spaced. This could take lots of the headache out of hanging new curtains, particularly in the event you’re doing multiple window in your room. Plus, the trick is completely free!
For this set up, we’re utilizing reasonably priced curtain rods like these which you can get at most large field shops and these ring clips. We are also hanging easy $14 white Ikea curtain panels utilizing this trick for making Ikea curtains look expensive. Collectively, the following pointers saved us a whole lot of {dollars} throughout the entire home!
Earlier than we speak about HOW to put in your curtain rods, let’s speak about precisely WHERE to place them. Right here’s some fast curtain fundamentals:
How HIGH Ought to You Hold Curtain Rods?
There’s no agency rule for this, however most individuals agree that curtains look finest once they’re hung (say it with me!) HIGH AND WIDE. As in, greater and wider than the window itself. This not solely creates the phantasm of an even bigger, grander window, however it additionally makes your room really feel taller and attracts the attention up. The under has 9ft ceilings, and you’ll see how good it’s for the window trim to get to breathe slightly, and for the attention to comply with the curtains from ground to almost-ceiling.
Talking of the ground, most specialists say that your curtains ought to often contact or almost contact the ground itself. Some like them to hover barely above the bottom, others love a dramatic pool of material on the backside. We sometimes like them to graze the ground ever so barely – like under in our showhouse’s dining room. We discover this helps hold them in place higher.
The exact placement of your rod depends upon a couple of components (ceiling top, curtain size, trim & molding fashion, and so forth) so I can’t provide you with a tough and quick measurement for the place your rod ought to all the time go… however typically, we like
However the essential factor to notice is that we’re hanging them in relation to the ceiling, NOT the window. It’s the belief that your curtains have to relate to the window that causes lots of people to hold their curtains too low.
That being stated, generally the window trim is basically near the crown or ceiling and chances are you’ll not have 3-4″ inches of area to work with, like you possibly can see within the picture under.
Additionally, any tremendous tall rooms or areas with sloped ceilings are particular circumstances the place you’ll need to make a judgment name and chances are you’ll not be capable of decide your curtain rod top in relation to the ceiling.
Finally, our favourite strategy to affirm the proper curtain top is to carry half of the rod up and have another person step again to double-check that it appears good. You are able to do this with only one curtain panel hooked up (after you’ve washed, ironed, and done whatever else would possibly change the peak of your panel – apart from hemming, that ought to occur as soon as they’re hung so you will get the proper size).
How WIDE Ought to You Hold Curtains?
This additionally depends upon a number of components, just like the window dimension, what else is on the wall (particularly if there are OTHER home windows close by), and the way tight or unfastened you need your panels to look. Usually, we like to put the rod hooks about 8-11″ from the outer fringe of the window trim.
By barely protecting the perimeters of the home windows you create the phantasm that the home windows are wider than they are surely. In different phrases: THE CURTAIN PANELS ARE HANGING IN FRONT OF THE WALL NEXT TO THE WINDOW – NOT IN FRONT OF THE WINDOW (which makes it look smaller and blocks mild). Sorry for shouting, however it makes such an loopy good distinction.
If the 2 home windows are nearer collectively (like in our bed room under) you will have to cheat your rod nearer than that 8-11″ distance from the window trim. Conversely, we would dangle the curtains even wider if we’re making an attempt to fill a big wall area.
You possibly can even dangle the rod wider on one facet than the opposite if we’re making an attempt to make a window look much less off-center (extra on that here – it could actually make all of the distinction!). So it truly is versatile.
Our Straightforward Curtain Hanging Trick (On Video)
Understanding the width (your required distance from the window trim) and top (your required distance from the ceiling) is what makes this simple trick attainable. John demonstrates all of it on this video under (additionally look ahead to my tremendous cool footwear cameo). There are extra photographs after the video, however I’d strongly suggest coming again to view it when you possibly can.
NOTE: You can even watch it here on YouTube.
Instruments & Supplies Wanted
Aside out of your curtain rod and the included hanging {hardware} (brackets, screws, wall anchors), there are only a few objects you’ll want to hold it shortly:
- Power drill
- Small drill bit (like 3/32″) to make pilot holes
- Bigger drill bit (like 3/16″) to make wall anchor gap
- Tape measure or ruler
- Pen or pencil
- Scrap cardboard sheet (just like the one which got here along with your curtain panels)
- Stool or stepladder
Methods to Hold Curtain Rods
Right here’s a fast overview of the steps we’ll cowl:
- Decide measurements
- Make a cardboard template
- Drill pilot holes
- Drill bigger holes & add anchors
- Set up curtain brackets
- Add rod & curtain panels
Step 1: Decide Your Measurements
We held up one curtain panel on the rod to finalize what spot seemed finest after which held the curtain rod bracket in place to take measurements. Utilizing a tape measure, we decided that we needed to put our curtain rods 10.5″ from the surface of the window body (weirdly particular, I do know) and three″ down from the ceiling. These are our measurements to the highest screw gap within the rod bracket since we discover it best to work with the measurements of the place you’ll truly have to drill.
Step 2: Make A Cardboard Template
We used a scrap piece of cardboard to make our template – marking 10.5″ from each side (see white arrows) and three″ down from the highest (yellow space). This was truly the cardboard that got here within the curtain package deal, so that you might need one thing prefer it readily available already! As soon as we marked our traces, we lined up the curtain rod hook and marked the 2 screw holes on BOTH 10.5″ marks.
Step 3. Drill Pilot Holes
Load up your power drill with a small pilot gap bit (we used a 3/32″ bit) and maintain your template above your window with the high edge flush to the ceiling and the facet edge lined up with the surface fringe of the window body. Then you possibly can simply drill small pilot holes by your two template marks.
A be aware about conserving issues
Fast Tip: Dealing With Sloped Ceilings
Acquired sloped ceilings? Don’t panic! Whenever you’re hanging the rod near your ceiling, you truly need the rod to comply with any slope within the ceiling! Will probably be your eyes’ closest reference level for a straight line, so it’ll possible seem stage even when it isn’t. That’s why a stage isn’t required for this course of.
Step 4. Drill Bigger Holes & Add Anchors
When you’ve made pilot holes on the opposite facet of the window utilizing the opposite half of your template (this is the reason you marked 10.5″ from BOTH sides of the cardboard) you possibly can proceed. For those who hit any studs, skip to the following step. In any other case, you’ll want so as to add anchors, that are sometimes offered along with your curtain rod
Swap out your drill bit for the right dimension that works along with your anchors (ours wanted a 3/16″ drill bit) and drill into every premade pilot gap to make bigger holes to your anchors. Bonus – the template acts as an effective way to catch drywall mud!
With all your anchor-ready holes drilled, gently faucet in your anchors in with a hammer or mallet. For those who’re capable of push your anchors into the wall by hand, you’re making your holes too massive! Change to a smaller bit or hold your drill steadier as you drill. Free anchors may cause your rod to sag or fall out of the wall over time.
Step 5. Set up Your Curtain Brackets
The remainder is fairly simple – hammer in your anchors and safe your curtain rod hooks to the wall utilizing the offered screws. We do all of this in real-time within the video above if you wish to see precisely how fast this complete issues goes.
Step 6. Add Your Rod & Curtain Panels
With each brackets secured to the wall, you possibly can dangle your rod along with your curtain panel already hooked up. Now you’re performed… until your panels require any hemming. Or you would simply conceal the bottoms behind a mattress like we did under. Ha!
Bonus Tip: Right Any Rod Sagging
Relying in your rod and the way broad it’s, chances are you’ll discover that it seems to sag slightly bit within the center – particularly the place the smaller rod piece connects into the bigger ones. Your package deal could include a 3rd, middle bracket to hold within the middle of your window, however usually a 3rd brack can be overkill for any window that’s not tremendous broad – so we depend on this bizarre little hack as an alternative. Emphasis on WEIRD.
First, I take a number of the protecting plastic finish caps that come on the curtain rods (they’re simply packaging) and use a utility knife or scissors to chop off some small slices.
Then we tuck a chunk contained in the curtain rod at no matter connection level is sagging. It’s essential that you just put it on the TOP facet of the rod and in the event you can’t slide all of it the way in which in, simply rotate your rod barely so it’s hidden from view as a result of nobody is viewing your rod from the highest.
I do know it’s REALLY bizarre, however it has been a simple means for us to appropriate slightly little bit of rod sag which makes my coronary heart very blissful. Simply belief me – there’s a noticeable distinction and it now not appears prefer it’s unhappy and droopy. Plus it’s free and I’m scrappy. So yeah. 5 stars, would suggest.
Extra Curtain Hanging Recommendation
And once more, you possibly can try our tips for hanging inexpensive white curtains and making them dearer alongside the way in which.
If all of this nonetheless looks like an excessive amount of hassle – you can get away with no curtains in your room too. We wrote a information for when curtains don’t belong in a room and what you are able to do to your home windows as an alternative. Spoiler: some rooms shouldn’t have window therapies in any respect!
P.S. Wanna know the place we bought one thing in our home (or what shade’s on the partitions)? Click here. And we made the identical
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