Do curtains typically drop after hanging? We've researched this to get the answer for you. Your curtains may drop right out of the box, but more than likely, they will flare at the bottom. You need to train the curtains for three days to two weeks after unboxing them, so they take on a more appealing shape.
Adding a simple blackout liner to the back will add even more heft to your curtains – causing them to fall and lay even better and nicer.
Figure about 20 minutes per window for a basic rod with brackets, and 45 minutes per window for a track rod. If you would rather do it yourself, hanging ready-made curtains is not that difficult. Rods usually come with mounting hardware and instructions.
But fact is, new curtains rarely ever fall in straight folds right out of the package. They need to be 'trained'. Below are a few simple steps to ensure your curtains look fabulous soon after the unboxing. Most fabrics develop minor wrinkles and creases in transit or during the unboxing.
The most popular length for a curtain puddle is about 16 inches. The least amount of curtain length needed to create a curtain puddle is ½ inch. There are the three primary puddle styles that you can use for your drapes and curtains: Break Puddle (1/2 inch to 1 inch)
Puddled drapes can add just as much grandeur and drama to your home today. Depending on what fabric and style you choose, puddled drapes can give make a space feel more formal or casual. Go with velvet, silk and heavy weight fabrics for a fancy look, and linen or other gauzy fabrics if you want a relaxed vibe.
So should curtains touch the floor? The short answer is yes... usually. But when making any decision about your window treatments, whether they're drapes, blinds, or shades, it's important to consider every aspect of style and function so you can choose the best option for your windows and your home.
The drapes get longer and longer. Drapes may stretch. Fabric is made of threads woven together, and there is no glue holding these threads in place. Knowing how the fabric may react after hanging will help you choose fabrics that should not stretch.
New curtains can be stiff and may have a strong starch smell. Washing new curtains before hanging can help them hang better, can get rid of odor, and can help your new curtains look more vibrant. Washing them before hanging is an excellent idea.
If you purchase curtains that are washable it is very important to wash them prior to hanging. They normally shrink the most the first time they are washed. I washed mine in hot before hanging them the first time to get all of the shrinking behind me.
How High to Hang Curtains. A rule of thumb (from Architectural Digest) is that curtains should be hung between four to six inches above the window frame, so install your curtain rod accordingly. When you hang the curtain rod high, it will make the window appear taller.
Your best move is to hang curtains within 8 inches of the top of the window frame. For very tall windows, which are popular in many modern homes, that means placing the rod as close to the ceiling as possible—in fact, you might want to install rods designed to actually hang from the ceiling.
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.
Mix a small amount of laundry detergent with water and dip a clean rag into it. Rub this gently on a small corner on the back of the curtain where the face fabric folds over to form the hem. Rinse the corner with a few spritzes of water. If the color bleeds, do not use any further wet methods to soften the curtains.
You can hand sew a couple of stitches around the chain at either end of the hem to prevent it from sliding around if you lift the drape up. Because chain weights provide weighting along the entire bottom of the curtain, this is often considered the best way to weight curtains.
Getting Started: Iron or Steam to Remove Creases
If in doubt, lay a clean towel over your drapery fabric and iron over the towel on low. However, just ironing your curtains will cause your drapes to spread out at the bottom rather than hanging uniformly along with the built-in pleats.
Even if your window coverings are made of a washable fabric, the linings and seams could shrink in the wash.
Believe it or not, dry cleaners have an acceptable level of 'shrinkage'. This is between 3-4% of the material, so don't be too alarmed if they are returned to you slightly smaller than before.
This is actually why most manufacturers will include a few folds of extra fabric at the base of the curtains to handle any possible “shrinkage”, but not at the sides. Unfortunately, once the curtains are made without fabric pre-shrinking, there is no way to reverse the situation.
Yes, curtains should be long enough to touch the floor. With a few exceptions, the longer the curtains are the more stylish and elegant it will look. This is why most standard ready-made curtains are lengthy.
The two are related; generally, longer curtains require more fullness to look balanced. For floor curtain lengths, a good rule of thumb is to take the width of your window and double it, or multiply for 1.5 for a more tailored look.
You should aim for your curtain hem to be about 3/8" to 1/2" above the floor. Not only is this an easier length to measure for, but it also makes it simple to vacuum and sweep. It's a great option if you plan to open and close your curtains a lot since you won't need to rearrange them each time.
Curtains are still in fashion and there are various styles and patterns which are liked by modern home owners.