18 Pointers For Hanging Curtains & Blinds, gathered in one list
If there is one thing that we can count on like clockwork, it is a flurry of curtain & blind-related questions in our inbox each and every day: where should I put curtains? where can I find good curtains? how do I hang curtains? So we are here to answer a slew of them in one fell swoop. Hold onto your hats people, this could get crazy.
Q: What is your general philosophy on window treatments?
A: We believe that curtains and blinds can make for the biggest change in a room next to paint. They are hugely essential for a major makeover, and can add height, drama, breezy ambiance, softness, and even a punch of color to any space- and we certainly encourage everyone to give them a spin! We are generally not big fans of valances, but we enjoy the floor length curtain and blind combination and we consistently hang them “high and wide” as we say so frequently.
This means that we like hanging outside mounted bamboo blinds or roman shades a few inches below the ceiling to “cheat” a window up, and create the effect that it is much taller and grander than it truly is. Then hanging a curtain rod at the same level as the blinds, but extending the rod about 18″ wider than the window on both sides creates the look of a much wider window and allows the curtain panels to hang in front of the wall instead of encroaching on the window and blocking plenty of much-needed light. When in doubt, go high and wide- it’ll make your ceilings feel taller, your room feel brighter, and your windows look LARGE!
Q: Where Do You Shop For Affordable Curtains?
A: Ikea, Target, Walmart, West Elm, JC Penney, and Bed Bath & Beyond are all strong places to turn to when you are hunting for curtains. Here are our ultimate go-tos hanging on our living room window above (Ikea Vivan panels that are oh so low-cost and classic- plus they come in two distinct lengths and have no-sew iron-on hem tape for straightforward installation that looks crisp and custom).
Q: How Do You Find Blinds Long Sufficient For Large Windows?
A: Here is the secret: you can in fact use two bamboo blinds hung next to each other to create the look of one for about a tenth of the price of a long custom blind! In fact, in our quite own living room (pictured above) those are in fact simply two especially low-cost bamboo blinds snagged at Walmart and hung right next to each other (thanks to the textured bamboo material, no one’s the wiser). Beyond checking your local Walmart for a bunch of low-cost bamboo blinds in many sizes, you can also try Target, Bed Bath & Beyond and even JC Penney for similar options.
Q: Where Can I Find Affordable Curtains For My Especially Tall Ceilings (11 feet)?
A: For your curtain sitch in the room with the 11′ ceilings (what an excellent problem to have!) we’d suggest simply hanging the longer Vivan curtains from Ikea (118′ long) since they’ll add a strong amount of height and softness without needing to go all the way to the top of your 11′ walls (and they are deliciously low-cost to boot).
Q: How Should I Treat Curtains For 3 Windows Along One Wall With Space In Between?
A: Certainly go with one long rod. It will look seamless and less visually broken up… and it might even create the look of one big window instead of three smaller ones next to each other. We know that JC Penney sells curtain rods and extender pieces that can stretch those rods far beyond 12′ which should solve your problem on the double. For a visual, check out Blayne’s living room makeover that we helped her with a few month’s back. You can see how adding curtain panels where there are slivers of wall creates a breezy effect and makes smaller side-by-side windows look like one big wall of glass (and you can see how she cheated them about a foot and a half higher than the window and it looks strong):
Q: What Window Treatments Should I Hang In My Bay Window?
A: Simply do what we suggested for one our lovely readers (strong job Nichole!). She took out her old swagged valance…
…and used a bay window curtain rod (available at Smith & Noble and JC Penney- or you can use three regular rods and remove the finials on the ends that meet to create the look of one seamless rod) to follow the contour of the bay window and hung some breezy curtains for softness along with inside mounted 2″ blinds for privacy.
Is not this window transformation astounding?! That is the power of curtains, people!
Q: How Can I Use Curtains To Make A Curtain That is Off Center Look More Symmetrical?
A: We’d totally vote for cheating the curtains over a bit for the appearance of a more balanced window. Once the panels are in place no one will know where the wall ends and the window begins! We in fact cheated the heck out of our living room window and even the bedroom window with long floor length curtains (since they are both not centered) and it adds a lot more balance and symmetry to each room.
Q: I already have inside mount blinds. Can I still hang curtains high & wide?
A: We certainly think the curtain panels would still look lovely hung high and wide with white wood blinds, but instead of hanging them right at the ceiling height, you will want to mount the rod about 6″ above the window so they are cheated a bit higher but they still have a visual relationship with the blinds below. Nearly everyone cheats their curtains at least 6″ above their windows these days, simply because hanging the rod right at the top of the window can look oddly invasive and heavy… it needs a little air to breathe! And the bonus height and drama that it brings is the icing on the cake. Since a picture’s worth a thousand words, here is another room makeover that we whipped up a while back to show simply how lovely inside mount white wood blinds can look with curtains hung about 6″ above the top of the window:
Q: How Do You Keep Ikea White Curtains Clean?
A: With a dog and countless home improvement projects going on at all times, it is safe to say that white curtains can be simply as straightforward to maintain as any other color (our living room ones even survived a nearby kitchen remodel). We like to wash our Ikea curtains before we hang them so they are pre-shrunk (in case we need to launder them to refresh them once a season, we do not have to worry that they’ll shrink up and look like highwaters). Then it is simply about tossing them in the wash a few times a year to keep them looking bright. A lot of moms even tell us that white is their go-to upholstery color since it can be bleached or oxycleaned and consistently looks crisp and fresh.
Q: What Do You Do For Window Coverings In A Bathroom?
A: Both of our bathroom windows are blissfully bare. We are lucky that they each overlook the backyard (so privacy is not an issue), but we like the look of shades, blinds, or even frosted window film or spray. There are plenty of options for the bathroom, so as long as you do not go with floor length curtains you will be a-ok. Sometimes the best idea is to peruse a shelter magazine or the internet for a bathroom you enjoy and see how they addressed the windows and follow their lead. Inspiration is everywhere!
Q: What Do You Do About Privacy With Your Blind / Curtain Combo?
A: We in fact never lower the bamboo blinds or close the curtains for privacy (we have a good amount of space between the houses in our neighborhood and we hang out in the den at night, which is not visible from the street (it is behind that front fireplace that you see in our header- so there is no front window to watch the house team Show from the street).
That being said, we do have those low-cost-o white inside-mount roller shades in the bedrooms to block the light at night. The strong thing is that they tuck right under our higher-mounted roman shades so no one’s the wiser that they even exist when they are up. Anything from an interior mounted hidden roller shade to some pull-up 2″ blinds are ideal to use for privacy (since you can pull them up and “hide them” behind your bamboo blinds or roman shades when they are not in use).
Q: What Curtain Length Do I Use On 96″ French Doors?
A: Good news! The Ikea curtains are strong because they come with iron-on hem tape (no sewing, simply fold the curtains where you wish they’d stop and iron the hem tape onto the bottom for an instant no-sew hem). But even though they are straightforward to hem, it is even easier to simply hang those 98″ panels above your transom (wash them before you hang ‘em to pre-shrink them to make sure they do not look too short for your perfectly mounted rod!). It’ll look strong. And if you simply hoped to mess around with the hem tape for lively, you could consistently get the 118″ curtains and hang them about 6″ above your transom for a bit more breathing room and height (and then simply break out that iron, baby!).
Q: What Color Or Finish Curtain Rod To You Prefer?
A: We typically like oil-rubbed bronze or black rods best for our home (they feel classic without drawing a lot of attention to themselves), but chrome rods can look remarkable and become more of a modern touch in contemporary rooms (especially with grommeted curtains). White rods can certainly work in certain situations but we find that thin white metal rods can feel a bit too dainty (you want your rods to be understated but not to look too flimsy for the long floor-length curtains they are supporting). There are tons of vivid options out there though (our den ones, pictured below, are from Target), so it is truly simply a matter of personal preference!
Q: Would It Look Weird To Have Distinct Height Curtains On On Wall? We Have A Sliding Glass Door Next To Windows…
A: I’d use the blinds and the curtains on both the windows and the sliding glass door for instant cohesion and balance. I’d also go out of my way to hang curtains at the same level (cheat one set higher so they look more symmetrical and balanced). Voila: height, softness and elegance to spare.
Q: What would you folks suggest for windows that have vertical blinds that cannot be took out (we rent)? Also, in a room that has contemporary black furniture, would you suggest white panels or black panels on those windows? Do you match your curtains to the main color of the room decor? Thanks so much!
Q: What About Curtain With Veritcal Blinds? We Rent.
A: When it comes to your curtain debacle, I’d generally steer clear of solid black curtain panels (since they can seem fairly heavy and dark) but something with a pattern that includes some black to tie them into your furnishings would be strong (we enjoy these from Ikea with white, black and green stripes). You can also choose to tie your curtains in with the wall color for an expansive and layered look or even with the upholstery on your sofa (say it is tan, a cream curtain would complement that beautifully without feeling matchy-matchy). And when it comes to you vertical blinds, drawing them to one side and hiding them behind your curtain panels will make them virtually invisible (but they can still be used by pulling them back out when you need them). Similarly, horizontal blinds can be pulled all the way up and obscured behind bamboo blinds or roman shades when they are not in use. Oh glad day.
Q: I know you folks are crazy about using white curtains for that light and airy look, but can bright saturated curtains work too?
A: They sure can. Check out this kitchen makeover that we helped Carla out with a few weeks back. This is her space before our accessory intervention…
And this is the same space after some paint and a few new accessories (including the vibrant green curtains that truly make the space).
Q: Can I Use Blinds Or Curtain On Sliding Glass Doors?
A: Beth in fact took our white-curtains-with-bamboo-blinds suggestion to heart when it came to her sliders, and here is the remarkable transformation. This is her valanced sliding door before…
… and her light and airy after:
The best part is that if you still want privacy (or are a renter) you can keep your vertical blinds pulled to the side and tucked behind one of the curtain panels to hide them when they are not in use.
So there you have it. About a million curtain related queries and some lovely eye candy to demonstrate the power of curtains and blinds. Glad hanging everyone. And for more curtain related pointers, walkthroughs and photos, check out our living room’s curtain & blind combination, and our den’s not-naked-anymore windows.
Update – Wanna know where we got something in our house or what paint colors we used? Simply click on this button:
