Each curtain panel should be at least as wide as your window. Measure from the spot you plan to hang the rod (usually four to six inches above the window, but a minimum of two inches) to the floor to figure out the length of the curtains. Add more length if you want the drapes to pool.
DO Hang High
The higher the curtain rod, the taller the window will appear, so fix your curtain rod closer to the ceiling than the top of your window, if you can. One rule of thumb is that they should sit 4-6 inches above the window frame.
In most spaces, a rod with decorative finials hung on the wall outside of the window frame will look best and provide the most coverage. Allow about 3 inches on each side of the window. Mark the wall with a pencil to indicate this area. By doing so, you'll make sure you get adequate light when the curtains are open.
The national average is $50 to $600 per window for curtain installation, including the curtain cost, hardware, and installation. A set of professionally installed linen curtains on a single rod for a standard-sized window costs about $300. The price varies, depending on the amount of work and curtain cost.
Zebra Shades are a very modern alternative to a horizontal blind. Zebra Shades are Roller shades that allow you to transition between sheer and privacy. The blinds can be adjusted so that the 3" zebra stripes line up-offering privacy, light control, and insulation.
Curtains and Drapes: Typically, drapes and curtains cost an average of $100 to $250 per panel. However, this can range between $7 to $1,500 overall, depending on how fancy you want to get.
As a general rule, drapes will be open during the day, so make sure the curtain rod extends at least four inches on each side of the window's inside frame. To create the illusion of a wider window, extend the rod up to 10 inches beyond the window's frame.
While fashion once dictated a “flood level” bottom line for curtains—one that hung just past the window sill, short enough that it would not get wet in a flood—today, style calls for curtains to either hang down to within ½-inch of the floor or even puddle slightly.
If you have the space between the top of your window frame and the ceiling or crown molding, though, you should hang the rod over the window. I like to go 3 to 5 inches down from the ceiling. Doing this visually extends the length of your wall, making your ceiling look higher.
The proper position is ½ inch above the floor for free hanging curtains. This distance allows for mopping and cleaning while creating the illusion that the curtain touches the floor.
Hang the Curtains as High as Possible
In order to make your window and the whole wall seem higher, put the curtain rod as high above the window as possible. Attaching the rail close to the ceiling tricks the eye into believing the wall is bigger. Thus, it visually expands the whole room.
It is often best to use the 4 to 6 inches above the window trim rule here unless the windows stretch close to the high ceilings. If there is little space between the trim and the ceiling, then hang the curtains from the ceiling.
When you buy them in stores or online, there are two standard lengths: 84 inches and 95 or 96 inches. The length of the curtain dictates the height of the rod. If you buy 84-inch-long curtains, the rod must be mounted roughly 84 inches from the floor if the curtains hang from the rod without rings.
The top of most of our windows are 8ft, and we used 108″ panels almost everywhere. So we hung our curtain rod about 13 inches above the windows. The higher the curtain rod, the taller your window will appear. I recommend to always install a rod closer to the ceiling than the top of the window.
How High to Hang Curtains 8 Foot Ceiling. An 8 foot ceiling is pretty standard for a residential home. With this standard height will be safe to put the rod about 6 inches above the top of the framing of the window. This avoids any extra framing and gives space between the frame and the rod.
It is normal for curtains to touch the floor. Some styles even need more length to produce a certain look. Using any of the curtain length styles is fine as long as it enhances the beauty of your home.
If you hang short curtains, aim to hit a perpendicular mark on the wall. For instance, the curtain lengths should meet at the top of the baseboard, or the bottom of the windowsill.
Hanging long drapes on a short window is one of the easiest ways to increase the importance of the window and bring it into proportion to the room. Short drapes on a short window call attention to the size of the window and reduce the significance of the room, window and drapery style.
If you are interested in a curtain with grommet tops, there will usually be an inch and half of fabric above the top of the grommet. Therefore, an 84 inch length curtain with grommet tops will have an actual hanging height of around 82.5 inches.
Thread the curtain rod through the grommets of each panel similar to how you'd do a shower curtain. Then hold the curtains rod so the right side of the curtains is facing out. Fasten the curtain to the brackets and screw on the finials to the ends of the curtain rod. Arrange the curtains as desired.
Curtain rod brackets are installed into the wall, onto a window frame or on the ceiling. Mounting traditional curtain rod brackets typically requires nails, screws and drilling. There are also curtain rod brackets that don't require any drilling.
Blinds are generally the cheapest choice and are considered “hard” treatments because they're made of metal or wood and arranged in slats. Stock vinyl and aluminum mini-blinds cost as little as $5 for a 2-by-4-foot window, making them a popular choice for rental apartments.
For eight windows, roughly the number found in two large living areas plus two to four bedrooms, that adds up to between $345 and $750 for blinds. Curtains are usually pricier—from $50 to $250 per window, or $400 to $2,000 for eight windows—because they take more material and time to make, and more time to install.
A basic roller shade could be as little as $20 per window, while a roman shade with a high quality fabric and motorized lift could be quite a bit more. Shades are available with many more custom options, so they have the potential to be more expensive than blinds on the high end.