Drapery 101

HEIGHT

I think a big mistake people make when hanging drapery is that it’s always too low. They typically hang it right above the casing because that is the height you get when buying at a big box store. If you’re able too, hang it as high as you can. A good rule of thumb is to hang the rod halfway between the top of the casing and the ceiling or bottom of crown molding.

WIDTH

Hanging your drapery panels wider than your window creates the illusion that your window is bigger than it is. Another good rule of thumb is to hang your rod 12-18” longer on each side of the window to create that illusion. Obviously if the space allows for it.

PLEATING

When selecting your hardware for your drapes, I suggest selecting a 1 3/8” rod at minimum. If you have really tall ceilings and a more traditional style, a bigger size or a 2” rod would be great. I think 1” or smaller works on a cafe curtain but for traditional drapery panels, you need the bigger diameter. A smaller rod on a large window looks chintzy.