My mom seemed surprised to learn that I’m hanging curtains in the family room at 11 ft up – at the ceiling, instead of just above the first set of windows. So, I thought I’d talk about how high to hang your curtains today.
Here is a great diagram that essentially sums up my thoughts on this topic.
The key is, high and wide. Why? We want to draw the eye up and use the height of the room, as well as make the window look wider and more substantial.
Frame your window, think of curtains as artwork. Use them to soften the space and make a design statement.
Though the two windows in the drawing are the same, the window on the right (#2) will look larger, provide more light, and look more custom.
So hang your curtains/ drapery close to ceiling height (on 8-9 ft. walls), and, out onto the wall area next to the window,
I like to extend the rod 12″ wider on either side of the window, (if room permits and other walls and windows don’t prevent that). Cover a couple of inches of window with the curtain so that it doesn’t seem disconnected. When hanging, don’t forget to allow for the height of the finial.
Let’s take a look at some examples so you can take special note of how these curtains in gorgeous rooms are hung.
I like to keep draperies fairly simple. Simple straight hanging panels compliment any decorating style. For a slightly more custom and upscale look, I prefer a lined pinch pleat curtain hung with rings. For a more casual feel, I love curtains with grommets.
With vaulted ceilings, hang curtains a minumum of 8 or 9 ft, but above the highest window if you can.
What gets me is that the majority of ready made curtains come in 84 inch length, which is 7 feet. Too short! You don’t want high waters and you don’t want them hung too low. Stores need to get with the times. My favorite places that sell longer curtains are IKEA, West Elm, and Restoration Hardware. What are yours?
Great tips! I always tell people to do this too and they think I am a little crazy! I only have 8 foot ceilings, so it is easy to find panels long enough. Ikea is my usual go to though.
I completely agree! Curtains can really make a room feel polished and cozy but if they’re hung wrong, or too short, or one of the hundred other things that can make curtains look wrong, then they just become a huge eyesore in the room!
Laura
http://www.HappyroostBlog.com
I love Ikea because they make longer lengths. I hate to see too short curtains on a window.
I love the look of hanging curtains higher, but unfortunately my husband hates it. I’m going to try to get away with it in our living room, but I have to choose my battles…
I had to make all of mine! Stinkin 84″ L is ridiculous, who came up with that length in the first place!?
True, true!!! People hang them high!!!! Couldn’t agree more!!
Hi
I agree that curtains should be hung higher and wider than the actual window. However, I personally do not like the look of them when they are at the ceiling. I think they look a bit odd that way. In my apartment, I have the curtain rods about one foot above the top of the window, which is about one foot lower than the ceiling. I like to see a peek of the wall color above the window frame, especially since I have white molding on my ceiling which is offset by the color of my walls.
I also agree one of the above commenter about using IKEA as a curtain source. I looked around for a while at curtains, because I wanted a nice quality but didn’t want to spend a lot of money. IKEA won out, after searching through many different stores, and I was really impressed with how many different options they had, the price of said options, and the quality of said options. I’ve had them for over a year now and love them. I recommend IKEA as a curtain source to all of my friends.
Love the blog! I don’t comment much on any blogs I follow, although I’m trying to change that, but I’m a big fan of what you do!
Great comment! I appreciate you commenting. Each situation had its nuances are is a little unique. For instance, if I hung my curtains a ft below the 11 ft crown molding, it’d be right across some small upper panes. It wouldn’t work. Yet, if someone else hung them snug to the ceiling, it may seem too snug and you may want to feel like it’s breathing a tad. So, you do it as the space allows, but these are some general tips to follow. I think the main thing to take away is just not too low, like the 84 inch panels would seem to dictate. I’m sure your curtains look fabulous~! I agree, IKEA has great curtains for the money. I bought my breakfast room panels from there and so far, I’m very pleased.
That is my biggest grip with stores that sell curtains, and why I always just make my own
Great tips!
Great tips and guidelines, thank you!! I’ve been quietly following for over a year now and love your style! Slightly off-topic but do you have any tips for how to treat functioning walkout sliding doors, like your third image example? I am STUCK on what to do with my sliders…they only get used seasonally but are in my living and dining rooms and I’m sick of the plain Jane, sliding bamboo panels! Thanks so much!!
I totally agree with you about curtain height. JCPenney’s has a great selection and you can order from the store and they will send directly to your home. They had quite a few that had a lot of different length options!
We just moved in October and I finally got new cutnrias for my master bedroom a couple of weeks ago. (we live in the middle of 10 acres of wooded land and really don’t need them) I would like to make some for my kitchen window and those little grommets would look nice..
Hi Kristy,
What would your recommendation be for a height to hang a curtain rod in a room with 9 foot ceilings and a window height of 7 feet? Do I put the curtain rod near the ceiling and have a 2 foot gap between the rod and top of the window frame? Do I put the rod 12 inches up from the window and have the rod visually split that area in half? Or do I put the rod a couple inches above the top of the window frame? I don’t love the idea of any of my options:)…please help!
Thank you!!
Beth
Ceiling to floor. So, within 6 inches of the ceiling if possible. Hope that helps.
Buy drapery? No way! I have never purchased drapes. I make my own. If you can sew a straight seam, that’s all there is to it. I can get the style and length I want in a wider choice of fabric. I line them so that they have more body and aren’t so transparent. By shopping sales and online wholesale fabric sites, I save a ton of money. I made full length drapes for 3 rooms (a total of 5 windows–3 double and 2 single) in my daughter’s new house. Each room only costs about $80.00 each–and most of that cost was in grommets and hardware. It takes about 1-1 1/2 days per window to make a set of drapes. The drapes hang from just below the crown molding to the floor with 8″ ceilings. She gets tons of compliments on them.
Definitely the way to go if you can. Im not to confident in sewing straight lines yet. Haha. Do you live in Austin and want to come over to help? Haha. Lucky daughter.
Hi Kristy!
I have vaulted ceilings that are at a a 30-35° degree left angle, starting from around 12 ft. down to 8 ft. and 3 windows that are about 2 feet apart from each other, I love your ideas about hanging the curtains high above the windows but I don’t want my living room to seem like a theatre!
Need help please!
Those are the trickiest. You pretty much have to hang at the tallest vertical height which sounds like 8 feet. There isn’t much way around it. Sometimes in spaces like that, it’s better to do window casings and nice bamboo or roman shades rather than curtains.
How wide do you suggest to go with a door width of 74″?
Depends on things like ceiling height, purpose of the curtain, surrounding things, and so on. But, in general, if the ceiling is 8-9 ft, half to 3/4 (towards ceiling) between the door and ceiling.
I am trying to hang my drapery higher and wider than the window but am running into 2 problems. First I have old plaster walls and ceilings that I don’t dare attempt to place hardware into….have heard of brackets which install onto window trim and extend or adjust up higher above window, but have not been able to find them….any sources? And secondly, when extending the rods wider, thereby drapes not obstructing the glass, can’t pull drapes closed past the brackets which get in the way (mounted to the window trim). Any solutions?
They make bypass rods, but I don’t think that’d work in this case. I’ve never tried to hang curtains in a situation like yours. I’d try to call someone in this specific industry and ask their thoughts. Wish I could be of more help.
Hi,
I have 12 ft ceilings in a loft now and have 108 inch drapes, I have the rods placed just above windows so you can see the brick which worked perfect but I’m moving into a condo with standard 9 ft ceilings, what height should I tell the landlord to install the rods? I noticed there are no crown moldings at the top, we will have a juliet balcony with a bit of window above it in the living area and sliding glass doors in the master bedroom, can I still use my 108 inch drapes in those areas? And do you think the rods should always go to ceiling no matter where the windows are?? Also any recommendations on window coverings for garden basements? Thanks
Those are general rules, but all rules can be broken. The size of the windows would come into play, as well as the distance between the top and the ceiling. At some point it can get awkward.
For what you describe, I would really need to see photos.
In general, you’ll want all curtains in one room to be hung at the same height, if that helps. If they are 9 ft ceilings and the windows are within a couple of feet of those ceilings, I would consider hanging them about 8 inches from the ceiling and trimming the curtains a bit so they barely puddle on the floor.
Garden basements… that can be a tough one. I do not always do curtains or window coverings for that. If you need a covering and will not rely on the window for light, you could consider fudging it a bit with a bamboo blind or roman shade mounted on the outside of the window and then flanked with curtains a little higher up. Hope that is helpful, but feel free to email photos.
I have a question regarding drapery rods. I had some curtains made for my master bedroom sliding doors that are 12′ wide by 8′ tall. I just want a very simple iron rod but I cannot seam to find them that wide. Is there a trick to hanging curtains over very large areas? I also will be installing some over our large 20′ span of sliding door and I am clueless as to where to purchase that long of hardware that also looks good. Please help??
thank you
lauren scott
What about 18 ft ceilings with stacked windows? I have honeycomb blinds only on bottom set if windows, but have 2 other stacked rows of windows above. Suggestions? Would love some tips. I could provide photos
I have a question regarding rods , I understand to hang high and long but what if there is no space above but I have space to go long . Should i purchase to short rods and place them on the long sides or should I use something else all togather.
Hi! I have run into an ‘issue’ at our new house. I want to hang curtains in this manner throughout the house, however in my son’s room, he has 2 windows on the one wall. One window works out fine, space-wise. The window on the right side, however, is all the way to the right, almost touching the wall. So there is not a lot of space for curtain rod with finials. I already had picked out his curtain rods (have a rounded almost pinecone finial). What can I do with this window? Hang the rod, but leave off the right finial and put some sort of cap on the end?
What I’ve done before is to remove that finial and butt the rod up to the wall. Hope that helps!
Hi! I have 11′H ceilings in my family room. Should I place the rod at 8′-9′ H or go higher? I also have (3) windows side by side in the same room. Do I put (6) panels on the window or (4)? Thanks for your help!
I’d go higher, but if there is a space greater than 3 feet between the top of the window and the ceiling line, keep the rod about a foot from the ceiling line so the space seems a little smaller. You can do the curtain panels in either configuration. If the windows are within 10 inches apart (fairly close), I’d just do the side panels on each side. For a fuller effect, you can put two on each side. But, if they are further apart, then I’d do the six panels. Hope that helps.
hi there,
my name is marianne
i have never written on a blog before… i am enclosing a picture of my living room.(sent via email) i have drapes as you can see but feel like they are not high enough and plan on getting new ones the same kind color as the wall as I like that look. How high would you suggest I hang them? the ceilings are about 10 ft high.
thanks so much,
Marianne
After seeing the photo (thanks), But, I’d move them up half way between the door trim and the ceiling. But, if there are other curtains within eye distance that are hung closer to the ceiling, I’d match that height so it’s visually consistent. Hope that helps!
Have 8 ft ceilings with no molding on top. How high should I hang curtain panels? There is 12 3/4 between top of window frame and ceiling
Sorry for the slow reply. I would do them about 4-6 inches from the ceiling. That way there is plenty of room for finials. Hope that helps!