Solve All Your Window Treatment Problems

Don’t slack off when it comes to getting your drapes just right—they’re one of the most important parts of every room in your home. Elaine Griffin offers her favorite curtain rules to live by.

1. Always hang curtains as close to the ceiling as possible. As a rule, you’ll need to leave an inch for access, but that’s it.

2. You can have both blinds and curtains. It’s all a question of how tailored you want your space to be. If you’re going for a more formal look, opt for shades and curtains.

3. Don’t ever worry about your windows being too large. It’s like being too pretty — it’s just not possible. If you don’t want curtains to overwhelm a space; choose a fabric that matches the wall color and doesn’t create contrast.

4. Make sure your curtains complement the rest of your furniture. In a room you have four major elements: floor, ceilings, walls, and furniture, but only one can be the star. The other elements are featured in a supporting role, so if you want a leopard print curtains, you don’t want a leopard print couch and vise versa.

5. When choosing between wood slat blinds and roman shades, it all depends on how much light and privacy you want. Slatted blinds allow you to adjust the amount of light a room gets, while roman shades don’t let any light in.

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6. With bay windows, you have two curtain options. One, you can hang them on the either side before it starts to bay, and then do a roman shade on the inside of every window. Or, you could do curtains on each window, one on the left, one where the windows join, one where the other windows join, and one on the outside.

7. Curtain length is a matter of personal preference. I like my curtains to just kiss the floor, creating a cleaner look, but some people favor a puddle. The modern puddle is three to four inches.

8. For bedrooms, blackout blinds are best. They’re made with heavier material that completely blocks light.

9. If you need to regulate blinding light, try solar shades. They’re roller shades that are made of perforated vinyl, so they allow only a certain amount of light through.

10. A one-inch wide curtain rod is perfect. As for the finial, a simple look is classic.

11. When hanging curtains, make sure you get proper fullness. You’ll want your curtains to be twice or even two and a half times the size of the window.

12. If you’re buying ready-made curtain panels, buy the longest ones you can. Have your dry cleaner hem them for a more custom look.