Interior designers note the bottom of your curtains should fall to the floor, and you can even let them “puddle” a bit. However, if you don't want your curtains to drag on the floor when you open and close them, let them stop about an inch from the floor, but no more.
Hovering an inch or less above the floor
Another stylish option is to have curtains hover very slightly above the floor: no more than an inch. This style makes opening and closing the drapes or curtains easy, so it's a great option for windows that will be used often.
Whilst floor-length curtains are usually the most popular option, your chosen curtain length really depends on the overall look and feel you want in a space, as well as where they are being hung in the home. Designers tend to agree that curtains that don't touch the floor are less common in contemporary homes.
However, it's preferable that curtains are between 4 and 6 inches taller than the window. This will lead the eye upwards, giving the impression of a room with generous ceiling height.
True Puddle (6-16 inch)
A true puddle is, as it sounds, the original puddle. Adding somewhere around 6 to 16 inches of material to the bottom of your drapes will result in an elegant and sophisticated train of fabric.
If you decide on above-the-windowsill curtains, measure to your windowsill and take off 1cm (0.5 inch). For an apron drop, measure 15cms (6 inches) below your windowsill. For full-length curtains, measure to the floor and then take off 1cm (0.5 inch).
Curtains can touch the floor so that they skim or, as some designers say, 'kiss' it. It's a stylish choice, and one that's many people's preference. However, you might want to consider instead a length that allows the curtains to float just above floor level, say half or quarter of an inch.
'In the design world, we refer to the moment the drapery touches the floor as the "break" and the material that's beyond that sitting on the floor as the "puddle",' designer Becky Shea explains. We never recommend going beyond 1/2" for the puddle and in some cases just skimming the floor is enough.'
Your eye stops at the bottom of the curtain instead of extending all the way down to the floor, which makes not just the curtain, but also the ceiling and window look short.
For curtains below the the sill measure 4″ to 8″ (10cm to 20cm) below the sill. However if you are choosing this length to avoid a radiator please adjust this measurement to allow the curtains to stop a couple of centimetres above the radiator. For curtains to the floor, measure to 1cm above the floor.
Are puddled window treatments outdated? As with any fashion, puddled curtains have gone in and out of style over the years. However, they remain a classic. You can find puddled curtains on floor-length windows in formal dining rooms, libraries, and living rooms.
As a general rule of thumb, curtain width should be two to two-and-a-half times the width of the window.
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. This lets the hem of the curtains brush the floor. How formal or casual they feel depends on the fabric (cotton versus velvet, for example) as well as the hanging mechanism.
Fold the top of the curtain over so the curtains are the right length. Measure the length you want your curtains to be, then fold them over from the top. Make sure the fold goes toward the back of the curtain. Don't worry about spoiling the look of your curtains—you won't be able to see the fold from the front!
For an 8-foot ceiling, your curtain panels should probably be about 91 inches long. If you don't want to get custom window panels, you can buy 96-inch ones and hem them so they are floor to (almost) ceiling.
Just hitting the floor or sill
This look is classic and tailored; it makes sense if you'll be opening and closing the curtains a lot (they'll easily fall back into place every time you move them). The fabric should just touch the floor or hover 1/2 inch above.
Making Your Room Look Larger or Smaller with Curtains
High-hanging curtains with long vertical stripes create the illusion of height, which is excellent for low ceilings. However, short curtains and horizontal stripes shorten your wall height and make the room appear smaller.
'Dark window treatments typically help anchor a space,' Marie explains. 'However, if you use very heavy curtains on small windows in a smaller room, it can have the effect of making things feel smaller.
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.
Can you really hang curtains over baseboard heaters? The answer to that question is YES as long as they are above the heaters. These are the new curtains I just purchased and I made sure that the length of the panel hovered above the heaters. They hover above the baseboard heater a couple of inches.
So, are there any set rules on whether your curtains should be lighter or darker than the walls? Ultimately, experts agree that your curtains can be whatever color you want them to be, it completely depends on the style, mood and function of the room you're decorating.
Yes, most of the time curtains should lightly graze the floor or sit just a centimetre or two above it. Of course, there are a few exceptions to the rule, but in most situations, floor length curtains provide a stylish and practical look.
Whether or not you should puddle the curtains at the bottom is really a matter of personal preference, but for the most aesthetically pleasing and appropriate look, curtains should run to the floor. If you choose to puddle, you'll want at least 3-4 inches of fabric or so to make the puddling appear deliberate.
— Closing your curtains won't just give you more privacy at night, a new study finds it can also protect your heart while you sleep!
Choosing the right length of curtains for your home can be a pretty intimidating task. Not only do you have to decide on the fabric, color, and pattern, but you also need to make sure that they are the right length. Too long and they will drag on the floor; too short and they will look awkward.