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How High To Hang Curtains
Height of curtains:
- For 8-foot ceilings, hang your curtain rod 2-3 inches from the ceiling or bottom of your crown molding.
- For 9-foot ceilings or higher, hang your curtain rod 8-12 inches above the top of your window trim.
Width of curtain rod:
- Your curtain rod should extend 6-12 inches on each side of your window(s), not including the finial.
There are two major mistakes that are quite common when hanging curtains. One is hanging curtains way too low. The other is not buying a wide enough curtain rod.
The fix is simple and I’ll be going into detail on how to get the best-looking curtain placement!
I have spent SO much time researching the best curtain height. I’ve also hung many curtains in my home, and my friends’ homes.
So when I say you’ve come to the right place for all of the answers about curtain placement, know you’re in good hands! 😉
How High Should I Hang My Curtains?
Curtains should hang higher than you think. I often see curtains hung a couple of inches above a window compared to a couple of inches from the ceiling. This will make the window look small and the rest of the room feel short.
Hanging curtains high will elongate the room and make your curtains look expensive!
8-foot ceilings
With 8-foot ceilings, you should hang your curtain rod 2-3 inches from your ceiling or the bottom of the crown molding (if you have it).
I will always recommend buying 96-inch long curtains for those with 8-foot ceilings. The next common size down is 84 inches.
Given we are hanging our curtain rods several inches from the ceiling, you can easily see why 84 inches isn’t going to cut it. This will leave too much space between the bottom of the curtain and the floor.
So for all you “8-foot ceiling” people out there, always buy 96-inch curtains.
And if you are wondering whether curtains should touch the ground, I have a post that talks all about it.
The general consensus is YES, curtains should touch the ground. If they don’t they are too short.
But you also don’t want your curtains puddling on the floor if that’s not your intention.
The perfect look here is called “kissing” the ground.
9-foot ceilings or higher
For 9-foot ceilings, you can:
- Stick with the method of hanging your curtain rod 2-3 inches down from the ceiling and most of the time this will look really nice!
- You can also hang your curtain rod 8-12 inches above the top of your window trim if the windows in your room are lower to the ground or not proportional to your space.
Since every window is slightly different, you will need to use your best judgment on this! 😊
For any ceiling higher than 9-foot ceilings, it’s best to hang your curtain rod 8-12 inches above the top of your window trim.
Curtains (similar) | Pillow | Faux tree
When you go to hang your curtain rod this high, 108-inch long curtains will most likely work for you. 96-inch curtains will not work here because they won’t make it to the floor.
The “floor to ceiling” method doesn’t work as well for ceilings higher than 9 feet since there is typically a lot of space between the top of the window and the ceiling.
Since you may have taller windows that go further up the wall than others, I always recommend measuring before you buy any curtains!
If you buy a curtain that is a couple of inches too short or too tall, I recommend moving your curtain rod up or down slightly to make it perfectly “kiss” the ground. Curtain rod height is a range for a reason!
If you have massively tall windows, like in a great room, then you should still follow the advice above. The only switch-up is that you will need to find curtains that are long enough to kiss the floor.
How Far Should Your Curtain Rod Extend Past The Window?
Whether you have a single window you’re hanging curtains above, or a grouping of 2-3+ windows, this answer is the same.
Curtain rods should extend 6-12 inches past each side of the window – not including the finial. That means when you’re shopping for a curtain rod, look for one that is 12-24 inches wider than the entire window (or window grouping), again not including the finial.
What is a finial? Simply put, a finial is the end cap or decorative shape on either end of the curtain rod. Not all curtain rods have big, cutesy finials. The most basic ones will have what looks like a cap or sphere that screws onto the end.
When it comes to finials, I like my curtain rods to have more of a modern, simple look to them. So the craziest I’ll get with curtain rods is buying one with a ball on each side – I know, crazy right? 😂
Back to curtain rod width…
When you give 6-12 inches of breathing room on each side of your window for your curtain rod, this allows you to be able to push the curtain completely to the side of the window.
Why does this matter? It allows you to let in the maximum amount of light when needed (without a bulk of the curtain consistently covering a portion of the window). Additionally, it makes your window look bigger!
Which is key if you’re hanging curtains in a small room. And we’re all for making small rooms feel bigger here.
Curtain rod bracket placement
Be sure your curtain rod brackets are installed far enough to the sides of your window so your curtain can still slide out of the way of your window.
I made the mistake of installing curtain rod brackets too far in (or too close to the window) one time and have never made this mistake again. One time is all you need to realize the pain of reinstalling a curtain rod that you just installed. Trust me!
Ideally, the bracket isn’t up against the finial or end cap of your curtain rod. You should allow at least an inch or so between the edge of your bracket and the finial so things don’t look cramped.
How to Hang Curtain Rods
So do you measure from the ceiling first when determining how high to hang curtains? What tools do I need to install a curtain rod?
In this section, I’ll lay out the exact tools and steps you need to successfully hang a curtain rod.
Tools and Materials
- Screws and drywall anchors (which usually come with the curtain rod)
- Drill and drill bits
- Level
- Stud finder
- Tape measure
- Pencil
- Measure upwards from the top corners of the window 8-12 inches. Make a horizontal mark in line with the sides of your window. If you have 8-foot ceilings, make a mark 2-3 inches down from the ceiling in line with the side of the window.
Tip: Pretend the horizontal marks you make are the edges of your window. Now we’ll measure to the sides.
- Now, use your level and tape measure to measure 6-12 inches from the side.
- Line your bracket up with the mark you made. Use your level to ensure your bracket is straight. Then make pencil marks in the holes to indicate where you need to drill for screws.
- Use your stud finder to determine whether you’ll be drilling into a stud or if you’ll need to use anchors for installing your curtain rod.
- Take your drill and appropriately sized drill bit (according to the curtain rod instructions), and drill pilot holes for your screws or anchors.
- Install your first bracket. Repeat the process for the second bracket. But first, hold your second bracket in place and measure to ensure it’s aligned with the first bracket.
- Hang your curtains on the rod before hanging it up. Insert the rod in the brackets and tighten the screws to hold the rod in place. And that’s it!
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