How Wide Should Curtain Rods Be?

It would be a mistake to ignore curtain rods because of their potential to improve the appearance of your home just as much as the window itself. If you'll like to install curtain rods and you're not sure how wide they should be, here's what we've learned from designers.

Curtain rods are important parts of curtains that need to be part of the home aesthetics. The curtain rod's width should be between 8-12 inches more than the window's width.

If you would like to know more about installing a curtain rod and how to carry out the measurements, read on. We will be covering the basics of fixing your curtain rod seamlessly.

How Wide Should Your Curtain Rods Be?

Choose the measurement that yields the biggest width for your window, and use that. Look for a curtain rod that is the same width as your window, particularly if you don't have much room on either side of your window to hang drapes or curtains.

On the other hand, if there is enough room, it is suggested that you install a curtain rod that extends five inches beyond the window on either side. In addition, you need to make sure that the curtain rod you purchase is wider than the window you have.

This makes it possible to pull the curtains to the side of the window, which gives the appearance that the room is larger than it actually is.

It is recommended that the rod itself be 8-12 inches more than the width of the window. This will allow for a margin of four to six inches on either side of the rod.

How to Measure for Curtain Rod

Measure across from one side of the frame's inner edge to the other side, beginning at one side's inner edge and ending at the other.

Perform this measurement three times to get a good reading, as described above. Make the window's width equal to the measurement that is the least. In addition, the width of your curtain rod will be determined by this.

What Size Curtain Rod Do I Need For 72-inch Window?

A window that is up to 72 inches wide can be effectively covered by a rod that is between 48 and 84 inches in length. This is the size of the window that is the most typical and can be found in a variety of homes.

How Wide Should Curtains Be for 120-inch Window?

In order to properly cover a window with a width of 120 inches, you will require curtains with a width that is at least 1.5 times the width of the window itself.

However, curtains that have a width that is twice that measurement or even three times that measurement for sheers is preferable.

Therefore, to cover a window that is 120 inches wide, you will need two panels that are also 120 inches wide each, giving you twice as much breadth and a sumptuous gather.

How Deep Should a Curtain Rod Be?

Choose a curtain rod that is at least 1-inch thick and keep in mind that heavy curtain rods tend to look cheap and bow under the curtains' weight.

If you want more light to come in when the curtains are open, you can increase the length of the rod by extending it three to six inches beyond the frame of your window.

How Far Should a Curtain Rod Extend Past the Window?

In order for the curtains to be able to be opened during the day, you will need to make sure that the curtain rod reaches a minimum of four inches on either side of the inside window frame.

This is a rule that can be applied to the vast majority of circumstances. If you extend the rod beyond the window frame by up to 10 inches, it will create the illusion that the window is significantly larger than it actually is.

Additionally, this might be a matter of opinion and is affected by the barriers that are surrounding the window area.

The pole should reach about 6-8 inches (15-20 centimeters) beyond the window recess on either side, but this is just a guide. In addition, it should be installed such that it is symmetrical to the window opening.

How Do You Hang Curtains Like a Professional?

Here are tips you should follow in other to hang your curtains like a pro.

Hang Curtain Rods High

Make sure that your curtain rod is hung as high as it possibly can be, particularly in rooms that have low ceilings. When your curtains reach the ceiling, this draws attention upward and helps to enhance the height of the room, which gives the impression that the ceiling is higher than it is.

Are you already endowed with lofty ceilings? When determining where to place the curtain rod in rooms with high ceilings, a reasonable rule of thumb is to either hang it 8 to 12 inches above the window frame or roughly midway between the window frame and the ceiling.

Hang Curtains Far Apart

You want the panels of your curtains to barely touch the outside border of the window frame rather than obstruct any of the glass window panes while the curtains are open.

This easy hack lets the most amount of light stream through, and it also has the bonus of giving the impression that your windows are wider.

To prevent the curtains from obstructing the view while they are in their natural position, the brackets for the curtain rods should be hung approximately six to eight inches beyond the window frame.

Hang Curtains at the Appropriate Length

Choose a length for your curtains that will either hang just above the floor or will come to a point where they just touch the floor.

You can hang the curtains so that they "puddle" on the floor for a more opulent and bohemian appearance; however, you should never hang your curtains so that they are more than a couple of inches above the floor.

Hang Enough Curtain Panels

When the curtains are drawn, you want there to be a little bit of fullness in them so that they don't look completely flat. Multiplying the width of your windows by 1.5 will give you an easy way to calculate the number of panels you will require to cover your windows.

This is the minimum quantity of panel width that you will want to cover your windows with. If your window is 60 inches wide, for instance, you'll need at least 90 inches of panel width to cover it.

Since the typical size range for panels is between 48 and 54 inches, this project will only require two panels.

Do Curtains Have to Touch the Floor?

The short answer is, "yes," although this is only true in the majority of situations. When selecting window treatments, such as drapes, blinds, or shades, it is essential to give equal weight to all aspects of style and functionality.

This will allow you to select the treatment that is the most suitable for your windows as well as your living space. It will allow you to make the most out of your investment in your window treatments.

Curtains ought to be long enough to reach the ground.

There are a few notable exceptions, but generally speaking, the longer the length of the curtains, the more sophisticated and refined the space will appear. Because of this, the majority of ready-made curtains follow the conventional length.

Do Curtains Make a Room Look Bigger or Smaller?

The use of broad vertical stripes on curtains that are hung high creates the appearance of height, making them a good choice for rooms with low ceilings.

However, short drapes and horizontal stripes make the wall height look shorter, which gives the impression that the room is smaller.

Depending on the style of the curtains, they can make a room appear either smaller or larger. It is common knowledge that thick curtains and dark curtains have the effect of making a typical space appear slightly smaller.

On the other hand, sheer curtains made of fabrics with lighter colors are great for assisting in visually expanding the size of a room.

Conclusion

On a final note, curtain rods are important to improve the aesthetics of the house, and knowing the width of the curtain rod is important. Irrespective of the rod style, you need to consider the look of the house before choosing the length and width of the rod you want to use.