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Insight Horizon Media

Which side of curtain should be inside

Author

Mia Smith

Published Apr 08, 2026

Feel the surface of blackout or dimout lining; one side will feel smooth, and one will feel rougher. The rough side is the right side, and it should orient to the road. (“Rough to the Road”).

Which part of the curtain is the top?

Curtain or Drapery Header Terms (Tops) These pleats are what give the fullness to drapery and where they are attached to either a traverse rod or pole rod with rings by using drapery hooks or clips.

Where should curtain rods be placed?

DO Hang High The higher the curtain rod, the taller the window will appear, so fix your curtain rod closer to the ceiling than the top of your window, if you can. One rule of thumb is that they should sit 4-6 inches above the window frame.

Should you hang curtains above window?

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.

Should my curtains touch the floor?

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. But the reality is that various decorating styles use different curtain lengths.

How do you hang curtains to make a room look bigger?

Hang the Curtains as High as Possible In order to make your window and the whole wall seem higher, put the curtain rod as high above the window as possible. Attaching the rail close to the ceiling tricks the eye into believing the wall is bigger. Thus, it visually expands the whole room.

Should you hang curtains to the ceiling?

Hanging your curtains 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.

How far below the window should curtains hang?

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.

Do bedroom curtains have to touch the floor?

Like most other rooms, curtains should extend to the floor (give or take an inch). In the bedroom, curtains should only be short when something would interfere with their ability to reach the floor. For example, the headboard of a bed or a radiator placed under the window.

How do professionals hang curtains?
  1. Hang them high. Especially in rooms with low ceilings, be sure to hang your curtain rod as high as possible. …
  2. Hang them wide. …
  3. Hang them in the right length. …
  4. Hang the right amount of panels. …
  5. Hang the right style of panel.
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How far should drapes hang above the floor?

The proper position is ½ inch above the floor for free hanging curtains. This distance allows for mopping and cleaning while creating the illusion that the curtain touches the floor.

How far should curtain rods stick out from wall?

General Installation Recommendations. When installing curtain rods, hang the rod so that it extends at least 3 or 4 inches beyond the window on each side. This allows your curtains to overlap both the window and the wall to prevent light from leaking in around the window’s edges.

How many curtains should be on floor?

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. 4. Trouser: 2″ more than the length to the floor. Tailored and sophisticated.

Where should curtains drop to?

The drop of your curtains, also known as the length, is a matter of taste so just consider the following as a guide. Generally people choose one of three options: just above the windowsill (by 1cm), below the sill (by 15cm), or floor length (ending 1cm above the floor).

Should curtains touch the floor or puddle?

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.

Do curtains drop after hanging?

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. … We’ll also discuss how to fix stiff curtains and what the appropriate curtain length should be.

How wide should you hang curtains?

Each curtain panel should be at least as wide as your window. Measure from the spot you plan to hang the rod (usually four to six inches above the window, but a minimum of two inches) to the floor to figure out the length of the curtains. Add more length if you want the drapes to pool.

Can you hang curtains too high?

The height you hang our curtains can make or break a space. … That being said, even if you want the window to look larger hanging the curtains above 8 inches from the frame can cause the room to look awkward, especially if you have other uncovered windows, or sheer curtains that show where there window really is.

Can you use long curtains on short windows?

Hanging long drapes on a short window is one of the easiest ways to increase the importance of the window and bring it into proportion to the room. … The correct design and length will minimize poor window style and hint that the window is much grander than it actually is.

Does GREY make a room look bigger?

Cool Gray. A great alternative to a white paint color is a light cool gray, which can feel fresh and bright without the starkness of pure white. Cool colors feel fresher and brighter than warm ones, so it helps visually create the appearance of more space.

What kind of curtains make a room look taller?

Classic panel curtains make a room look more spacious when you mount the curtain rod close to the ceiling instead of at the window frame. Sleek, floor-length panels draw the eye upward along the entire length of the curtains, creating an illusion of height.

What colors make a room look bigger and brighter?

So, what colors make a room look bigger? For an optimum effect, go with soft tones like off-white, blues, and greens, and always remember that brighter rooms feel bigger and more inviting. And here’s another hack: Try painting your wall trim and moldings in a lighter color than your walls.

Can short curtains look good?

Short curtains look great when they are almost touching the window sill or extending right beneath the apron. … So, your curtains may end up looking like they were meant to be longer or shorter, which is one of the biggest curtain design mistakes you can make.

Do curtains keep the heat in?

By restricting the flow of air between the warm and cold areas of a space, curtains aid in heat retention. Also, double-glazed windows will allow heat to escape, but heavy curtains will act as a barrier, preventing air from flowing from the main room to the window.

Should curtains be above or below window sill?

Below the sill Typically the most popular choice for short curtains, this drop overlaps the sill to help block out external light and draughts and even has the opportunity to go wider than the window to ensure maximum light when the curtains are open without looking unbalanced.

Should curtains touch window sill?

In formal or dressy rooms, curtains should just touch the floor. … Curtains to the sill, or to the bottom of the window trim (called the apron), look great and are practical in a kitchen. Never hang curtains of any length near a stove.

How do I make my curtains look good?

go wide. The total width of your curtain panels should be at least two times the width of your window. This will help them look fuller when they are pushed to the sides and make sure they cover the window completely when you pull them together.

How do I make my curtains look neat?

Arrange the pleats neatly in folds and then use a steamer (or an iron that produces steam) to apply continuous steam to the lining to help set the folds. Leave your drapes hanging for a few days and then re-fold the pleats and steam the other side for the best results.

Should curtains cover radiator?

The main mistake that people make is to fit heavy floor-length curtains over both the window and the radiator below. This traps the heat in the window space and does not let it into the room. Correctly fitted curtains should not cover the top of the radiator, but should stop just below the window ledge.

What is the normal length for curtains?

Standard curtains come in three lengths—84 inches, 96 inches, or 108 inches. “Generally, you want to stay away from the 84 inch standard curtains unless you have very low ceilings.

How far should rod extend past window?

Curtain rods should extend at least 3 to 6 inches past the window frame. Just as hanging curtains above the window frame makes the window appear taller, Bob Vila writes that extending the curtain rod past the window frame makes the window appear wider.