This post contains affiliate links.
One of the greatest finishing touches to a room are curtains! They have the power to soften the look of a room, give the illusion of taller ceilings, create a focal point, and expand the width of a wall. But curtains can also do the opposite if they’re not installed right. While I’ll always encourage you to do what you like best, there are a few curtain guidelines I highly recommend. Let’s dive into the do’s and don’ts of curtain placement.
DON’T position your curtain rod directly above the window frame.
Hanging your curtain rod just above the window frame brings the eyes down, making your ceiling look and feel shorter.
DO position your curtain rod directly below the ceiling.
For standard 8 ft ceilings, position the rod approx 3-5 inches below the ceiling or crown moulding. If you have taller ceilings (9-10ft) with windows that are significantly lower than the ceiling, position your rod approx 8-12 inches above the window trim. This gives the illusion of a taller ceiling and creates a much grander feel in the room.
Black curtain rods I love
DON’T use a narrow rod that forces your curtains to cover part of the window.
When your curtains cover part of the window, this limits the sunlight your room receives and makes your window look smaller.
DO extend the rod approximately 8-12 inches wider than the window frame.
The space between your window frame and the edge of the rod is called stack width. When your curtains are pulled back, they should cover just the window frame and nothing more or less. This does three things – it allows more light to fill the room, it makes the window look bigger, and it allows your curtains to hang neatly without being squished to the side.
Brass curtain rods I love
DON’T use curtains that are too short.
We don’t want high water curtains. This looks like a measuring error that never got fixed.
DO use curtains that kiss the floor.
Pick curtains that reach the floor. You can choose to either use curtains that stop 1/4″-1/2″ above the floor, kiss the floor (which means they just barely touch the floor), or puddle on the floor (which is when a large excess of fabric delicately rests on the floor). The most recommended option is curtains that kiss the floor.
Neutral Curtains I love
DON’T use a panel on just one side of the window.
In most scenarios this looks unfinished and unbalanced.
DO hang panels on both sides of the window.
If space allows, use panels on both sides of the window (even on narrow windows). This creates symmetry and balance within the room.
Colorful Curtains I Love
DON’T use just one panel on each side of the window.
If your curtains panels are not very wide, it can cheapen the look. When open, they appear insufficient. When closed, they should not be flat. They should still look full with ripples in the fabric.
DO use extra wide panels on both sides of the window.
Wider panels produce a more custom, “designer” look. If you have the budget to order custom drapery, purchase extra wide panels. Most custom drapery companies will provide the appropriate measurements for your window size. If you intent to use pre-made curtains, use two 54″ wide panels on each side of the window. Tip: use iron on hem tape to connect the panels.
When it comes to curtain placement, little changes can make a huge impact! I hope this gives you guidance moving forward.
Patterned Curtains I Love
Save the graphic below for future reference!
Leave a Reply
DO YOU WANT
The Inside Scoop
Where behind the scenes, exclusive advice, and candid conversations are sent straight to your inbox every week.
Wow. What an informative article. I had never heard of “stack width” and understand now why my curtains didn’t have the effect I was looking for. Thanks Nadine!
Yay! I’m so glad you found it helpful! 🙂
I had floor length curtains with my rods placed 3 inches from the ceiling. Well, I could not find the pattern of curtain that I wanted in the long length for my dining room to replace them. With my 8 foot ceilings, I was forced to purchase 84 inch curtains instead of the 95. So, what do I do now? Leave the rod where it is or lower it so that the curtains kiss the floor? Thoughts Welcome!
Thank you for your helpful post, Danica! I wish more designers would post such clear, useable information. One question… How do you decide how big the drapery “stack” should be on each side of the window? And under what circumstances might you just extend the drapes across the entire wall to the corner? For example, I have a bedroom with a 7′ window centered on a 13’9″ wall, leaving about 40″ wall space on each side of the window. I’m tempted to cover the entire wall with drapes, allowing them to stack within the 40″ space. Would you recommended doing that, or not? Is there is some design standard or formula that uses dimensions/proportions for determining this? Thank you in advance for your insights.
Hi Brenda! If space allows, I generally do a minimum stack of 8″-12″ on either side of the window. If you have a large floor to ceiling window, you can definitely get away with a wider stack!
Hi. Wanted your opinion if you’re open to it. I have this hideous odd shaped sky light over my sliding patio doors in my beach house. Right now I have the curtains above the doors, but am wondering about installing the rod up toward the ceiling with longer panels to the floor. using the recommended extended rod.
My living/dining room space has two large windows adjacent to each other. They are the same size. In one window the ceiling is sloped so I can only hang a 84” curtain to touch the floor. The other window is under a 10 foot ceiling and can hang a longer curtain. Would it look better to keep them both 84” or have two different length of curtains but keep the same curtain so they match? Really appreciate your feed back on this as it’s a new home and I don’t want a bunch of holes in the wall trying to figure out what looks best.
When you say "Do position the rod 8-12 inches wider than the window frame", do you mean 8-12 inches wider from EACH side of the window frame? Or total length of rod is 8-12 inches wider than the total width of window frame?
Also, will it be different if doing 4 panels vs 2 panels?
I prefer the rod to be 8-12" wider on each side of the window. When you have 2 curtain panels on each side, I would extend the rod wide enough that the panels don’t cover the window.
Danica, I have 2 windows in my dining room. One is 78 inches high the other 68 inches high. Should I still place the curtains 6 inches from the ceiling for both. I want a uniform look. One window is a lot shorter in appearance. Thanks, I love your blogs.
Great site and feedback on dos and don’ts. What are the when and when not to place curtains behind crown molding. It seems to make the room appear taller, however I wonder if it matters how tall your ceiling is whether this makes sense. Also in my case, its french doors and their side windows on each side that I am trying to use drape coverage for. Thank you!
Hi! We have baseboard heaters that span the entire wall of every outside wall in our home. I don’t have the option of putting curtains that are floor length on the outer sides of the window because there are no “breaks” in the baseboard heaters. I’ve read that curtains should be at least 6 inches above the baseboard heaters for safety issues. I feel like this is going to look funny…any suggestions? Please help!
I love these tips!One question: Do I need to use a center support bracket? I’m putting black curtain rods on white walls, so I think it will detract from the look. If I need a bracket, maybe I’ll use a different finish.Thank you!
Wow, the graphics are a great help in seeing the how a room looks with the different placements. My question is, with the curtains so high up, how would you open and close them if they are pleated and hooked on to rings (on a rod)? Thank you.
I’m so glad! With standard 8-10ft ceilings, the rings should slide easily on the curtain rod!
What would you suggest for a sliding patio door 4 ft wide per side = 8 ft wide of glass . 1 curtain or 2? Width and Height of Curtains? I have 8 ft ceilings. Thanks.
Thanks for this post , what would you say are the best type of luxe curtains , pinch pleats or found t or box am confused
Any curtains with a pleated header tend to look more high end, but I’m partial to tailored and pinch pleated curtains!
I have a wall of windows in my master bedroom (9ft ceiling). Could I do a panel on each side or is it still best to a full panel?
This article is so helpful! I have mounding on the sides and top of my window that basically extend to my ceiling, giving me no place for the rod. Is it a big No to drill directly into the mounding ? Any suggestions? Thank you!!
I have heat registers right below the windows so I am unable to have curtains to the floor. How far below the window should they hang? How high above should I attach the curtain rod?
I’ve got just the blog post for you about heat registers under windows – https://nadinestay.com/blog/qa-curtains-and-heat-registers
What about for a floor-to-ceiling window with a ceiling beam blocking one side. I can’t hang the curtain rod above the window trim 🙁
Does the same height rule apply for rod caps that are more bulky?
What do I do if one side of the window space is smaller than the other side. It’s about 5 inches on right side and 28 inches on left
I have 2 windows with the tv between . On each side of the tv there is only 8” then the window frame. I was only going to put one panel on the outside of each window. (I.e. treat the window TV window as one unit with the panel on the outer side ) however, after reading your don’t on second, guessing myself, your thoughts, please. The curtains will be only to soften/add texture to the room. I don’t need them to actually function curtains.
On “Do” #2 should the rod extend 8-12 inches past the window frame on each side or total?
I prefer to extend it 8-12" on each side!
I have a baseboard register, what is the rule for that when hanging curtains? If they are too low it blocks the heat/ac. Thank you.
I have a blog post about this exact thing! You can read it here – https://nadinestay.com/blog/qa-curtains-and-heat-registers
How high do you recommend rod placement with coved ceilings? The ceilings are 8 feet tall with the coving about 12 inches from the ceiling. Got any suggestions? I’m baffled and because the walls are plaster, don’t want to drill holes willy-nilly to anchor the rods. Thanbks.
I would hang the rod just below the coving to maximize the height without messing with the coved ceiling!
Hi I have just honeycomb blinds on my living room window , it looks quite blah I was wondering if I could just put curtains just on the outside area of the window to make it look warmer?
Thanks for the tips, they have been of great help.
I have a window on either side of a fireplace on the peaked wall of a family room with a cathedral ceiling. Where should I hang the curtains… even with the lowest point of the wall? or somewhere else?
Great advice!
I love reading these tips! So many times I have made mistakes and regretted my decisions, this time I’m doing my home work.
My window is offset in our bedroom. To add to the problem we have a tv bracket on the smaller side, restricting the size of the wall usage. Removing the tv is not an option. I’ve thought about a blind on the inset. This won’t work either because of window locks, so it has to be curtains.
Any suggestions?
Thanks for the awesome tips! But where should I hang rods when I have 9’ (108.5”) ceilings and the top of the window is 11” from the ceiling. I bought 98” curtains and I’m trying to figure out a way to make them still work!
I’d still hang the rod near the ceiling! I have several windows with an 11" gap between the window frame and the rod and it looks natural.
Hi , great tips thanks !!! question what should I do with different height ceilings in the same room?
That’s tough, maybe mixing shades and curtains would be a good route to go. Or just shades on all windows!
Because I bought into the high and grand business with my 8ft ceilings, I am in the process of hemming, a little bit, thirty-two (32) panels. THIRTY-TWO!!! Measure carefully, maybe buy one panel before you commit. Or maybe it’s my fault because I am too cheap for custom drapes.
I have 4 windows in my living room on one side. 3 are placed as 1 with separate blinds close to my fireplace and the other is about 6 inches away from the other close to my back door. What would be the best way to hang my curtains
I came to ask kinda the same question. I would cover up part of the window because of the fireplace. Do I not put curtains up?
I have 2 windows, one is a door on both sides of a fireplace that lead to a sunporch. I have 8ft ceilings. I was going to hang curtains pretty close to the ceiling but only do a curtain (maybe 2) covering the outside window of both sets. I hope that makes sense. Your article says not to do just one side. I am assuming not to do one if it is the only window on the wall. Mine would still be “balanced” I think. Curtain, glass door, fireplace, glass door, curtain. The rod…should it go the length of the window and door or just enough over the window part, like 2 feet or so?
I have 3 matching windows on one wall of my living room. We have installed shutters and I’m thinking about adding curtains to soften things a bit. Should I treat the 3 windows as a single unit and hang curtains at each side or should I install panels between each window? The windows are 36" wide X 75" tall and are about 8"-10" apart.
I want to do a curtain wall behind my headboard and to cover a really weird off center window( like it was never there) I was thinking about how to do that without seeing a break in the middle of the wall. Should I go all the way up to the ceiling? I’m not sure how to approach this. I was also thinking of adding a piece or crown molding so the curtains are tucked behind it. Thoughts?
I have a double door for a balcony and a 210x130cm window (both finishing at 210cm height) on the same wall. Below the window, there is a heat radiator.What kind of curtains should I put on the window so that it looks beautiful, yet doesn’t cause trouble with the radiator?P.s. I looove ceiling to floor double curtains. 🙂
Hi Dragana, I’ve got another blog post all about this question! Check it out here – https://nadinestay.com/blog/qa-curtains-and-heat-registers
If my ceiling is 9ft tall, would 96" Curtains work? They would be about 15" Higher than the window frame.
It’s hard to say without seeing it, but in most cases I recommend putting your curtain rod at the ceiling or just below. The exception to this is if your windows are significantly lower than the ceiling in which case you can drop your rod down a handful of inches.
The window upper frame is 27" below the ceiling. The 96" Curtains would be about 12" Below the ceiling.
So I guess I’ve been doing it mostly wrong!!
haha well now you know! 🙂