When it comes to curtains, accurate measurements are key if you want to achieve a nice looking finish. This is why lots of people tend to choose something made to measure.
Even if you’re going to buy curtains off the shelf, it’s important to measure up properly because a couple of centimetres can be the difference between a beautiful and functional window dressing, and something that looks terrible and does not do the job properly.
It’s worth noting early on that not all windows are created equal either. For example, a box window or a bay window can be particularly tricky to measure accurately for curtains. Whereas a normal recess window is a different story and this is probably something that you can do yourself without much trouble.
Measuring The Window Recess
If you have a standard square or rectangular window that is set into the wall then things are pretty straightforward. The only things you really need to consider for measurements are the width and the height of the window.
Taking width measurements for recessed curtains
Recessed curtains fit inside the window recess, as opposed to sitting in front of it. If you are having this type of curtain then make sure you take accurate measurements from inside the window recess, from one top corner to the other. This will give you your total width. All you need to do is divide this number by two so you know how big each curtain needs to be to cover the whole window.
Take height measurements for recessed curtains
This is as important as the width measurement because recessed curtains need to fit perfectly. It’s a good idea to measure the height of the window at a few different points, because people often find that things are not truly square, especially in older homes.
Taking width measurements for curtains and poles
If you are not going to fit curtains inside the recess then you should measure the width of the recess and add 15 cm either side to get the ideal length measurement for your curtain pole.
As above, use a tape measure, simply take a measure from each side of the window. This is going to give you the minimum width of the curtains you will need. It is possible to play around with the width a little because you have a margin on either side.
Don’t go too much wider than the width of your window though. The fabric may gather, which not only ruins the aesthetic quality of your curtains, but may also prevent them from keeping the light out effectively too.
Taking height measurement for pole curtains
Measuring from the top of the window recess to the bottom will help you determine the height of your window. However, you actually need to consider the drop you would like to have on your window dressing. It’s generally recommended to have the curtain pole or rail around 10 cm above the top of the window recess.
You also need to think about whether you want curtains that sit on the window sill, stop below the windowsill, or go right the way to the floor. If you’re going for the first option then you need to make sure to measure from where the curtain pole is going to be. The same is true for the latter two options too, it just doesn’t need to be as precise because you are going beyond the bottom of the window anyway.
What To Do If You’re Having Trouble With Your Curtain Measurements
Some people can spend a lot of time and a lot of money getting things wrong. There is nothing worse than purchasing curtains only to find that they are the wrong size. Not only that, but putting curtains up is not always an easy task, even for the most experienced diyer!
In some cases it can be worth calling a professional company who specialise in bespoke made to measure curtains. This is particularly true if you don’t have a recess window.
Even if you’re confident in taking measurements and ordering your curtains, it could still be a good idea to call the professionals even if you do have a recess window. There are so many choices that it can be overwhelming. What sort of curtain rail or pole do you opt for? Do you want pleated curtains or eyelet curtains? Have you got a colour or particular fabric in mind? You also need to make sure you choose something that works for your lifestyle (e.g. finding something child or pet friendly). So if you don’t fancy going through the rigmarole, why not hire someone who can take care of it for you.
© Copyright 2022 Antonia, All rights Reserved. Written For: Tidylife
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