Hang your curtains halfway between the top of your window trim and the bottom of the ceiling, plus an inch or two to avoid dissecting the space exactly in half, ideal for average-height or taller ceilings. Hang your curtains about 8 to 10 inches above the window trim, ideal for very tall cathedral ceilings.
If your space has crown molding, you'll need to hang your curtains just below the molding. Additionally, if your ceiling happens to be exceptionally high, and the top of your window doesn't come anywhere close to the ceiling, that's also a good reason to bring your curtains down to just above the window.
Incorrectly placed rods can make your curtains look out of place and disrupt the room's aesthetic balance. The curtain rod should be placed at least 4-6 inches above the window or up to 2/3 of the distance between the top of the window and the ceiling.
For the ideal middle ground, curtains should hover just above the floor. To find the right curtain length, measure from the floor to where you'll hang the rod (usually 4 to 6 inches above the window frame).
You want to know the ceiling's height and how high you want your curtains to hang. Measure the height from ceiling to floor. Once you've measured the distance, add 1 or 2 inches to your curtain length if you want the panels to touch the floor when hung.
As a guideline, leave approximately 4 to 6 inches above the window trim for cathedral ceilings. No matter the ceiling height, the minimum distance from the top of the window casing to the curtain rod is 2 inches. Mount the drapery rods close to the ceiling to create the illusion of height.
We recommend hanging most curtains at least 4-6 inches above the window frame. A general rule is two-thirds of the space above the window. To maximize the illusion of height many companies manufacture special ceiling mount drapery hardware.
Keep in mind that there is such thing as going too short when it comes to curtains—designers agree that they should always at least kiss the floor.
If you want to make a window look bigger, you should place your curtain rod brackets higher, perhaps even just below the crown molding. Otherwise, the accepted height for a curtain rod is a couple of inches above the top of the window frame. More on this below.
Typically, the right length is 1 cm off the floor so the curtains move back and forth nicely, don't gather as much dust and hang beautifully as well. If you have some extra space above the window, fix the pole as high as you can, while it still looks good. This will make your windows look grander.
The best practices for how to hang curtains with crown molding at your ceiling are pretty straightforward. If you have crown molding at the ceiling, typically, the best place to hang your curtains is an inch or two below the crown molding.
When hanging curtains in front of baseboard heaters, the curtains should fall 1″ from the floor and hang 2-3″ from the edge of the heater. For me, that means that my curtain length shortens by 1 inch and curtain rod brackets become an issue. I know that my baseboard heaters stick out about 2 3/8″ from the wall.
Hanging your drapery at ceiling level maximizes the light that shines through your window and it makes the room feel larger because the walls look taller. This works well in a small space, but may not be ideal in a room that is already too large.
For standard drapes, the typical height for hanging is halfway between the top of the window trim and the ceiling. If you have vaulted or cathedral ceilings, you typically want to leave four to six inches above the window trim as a guideline.
You should not install crown molding on cathedral or vaulted ceilings or in rooms connecting to another room with a varying ceiling height.
Crown molding should never be installed in rooms with a ceiling height of less than 8 feet. A low ceiling accentuated with trim will make the room feel smaller than it is.
Hang Your Curtains High & Wide
For width, a good practice is to extend the curtain rod about 12 inches beyond your window frame on both sides. These practices create the illusion that you have taller, wider windows and can even help your entire room feel bigger and more spacious.
Pole brackets should be fixed so there is room for at least one ring (or eyelet/tab) between the outside edge of the bracket and the finial. About 5cm (2”) is usually about right for rings. If there is a centre bracket, this must be fixed at the centre of the pole.
Choosing to mount curtain rods or tracks closer to the ceiling instead of a few inches above the window itself is a trick many interior designers and decorators have been using for years to make rooms and windows seem larger than they actually are.
Kitchen and bathroom floors are also cleaned more often so keeping curtains away from the floor will make this easier. Another example of when curtains should not touch the floor include bedroom windows that sit over a bed or dresser. Yes, your curtains should be floor length in most situations.
In simpler terms, the rod should be closer to the ceiling than the window. If space is tight between your window and ceiling, aim for a placement about four to six inches above the trim, ensuring a minimum of two inches between the curtain rod and the ceiling, regardless of the ceiling's height.
FLOOR LENGTH CURTAINS
The length of these drapes depends on how high you hang the curtain rod, but 84-inch and 96-inch curtains are popular choices for this style, as they graze the floor with a subtle touch. Opting for floor-length curtains that do not touch the floor has its advantages.
DO position your curtain rod directly below the ceiling. For standard 8 ft ceilings, position the rod approx 3-5 inches below the ceiling or crown moulding. If you have taller ceilings (9-10ft) with windows that are significantly lower than the ceiling, position your rod approx 8-12 inches above the window trim.
Float-length drapery should be no more than 1- or ½-inch off the floor because any higher than that and your curtains may look like they were ordered too short.
Count the number of gliders or rings that you have on your track or pole and then divide by half. This is the number of hooks that you need to attach to each curtain. Before you put the hooks into the pockets it's worthwhile placing them loosely on top of the heading tape.