Your curtains are up, but something looks off. The window seems small, the panels look skimpy, or the fabric stops awkwardly above the floor. Usually the culprit isn’t the curtains themselves. It’s where they hang and how they were measured.
Here’s how to measure and hang curtains so your windows look bigger: mount the rod 4 to 6 inches above the frame, extend it 8 to 12 inches past each side, and buy fabric that’s 2 to 2.5 times the rod width. Let the hem skim the floor.
The big trick: hang them higher and wider
The easiest way to make a window look bigger is to mount the rod well above the frame and extend it past the sides. Rather than putting it right at the top of the frame, place it about 4 to 6 inches above the window, or even closer to the ceiling if you have standard-height ceilings. That draws the eye up and makes the ceiling look taller.
Width works the same way. Extend the rod 8 to 12 inches beyond each side of the frame, and the open curtains hang beside the glass instead of over it. You get more light, and the window looks wider. Got a wide window? Then a rod long enough to span it matters, and our guide to curtain rods for wide windows explains what to look for in support and strength.
How to measure curtains for width
- Measure the length of the rod you plan to use (or the window width plus the extra on each side).
- Multiply that number by 2 to 2.5. That’s the total fabric width you need so the curtains look full, not flat.
- Divide by the number of panels. A typical panel is about 50 inches wide, but it varies, so check the product listing.
Say your rod is 100 inches long and you want a fullness of 2. You’d need about 200 inches of fabric, which is four panels of about 50 inches each, or two pairs. Sheers look best with more fullness, while heavier fabrics can look good with a little less.
How to measure curtains for length
Measure from the rod, not the window, down to where you want the curtains to end. From there you’ve got three common choices:
- Floor-skimming. The hem stops about half an inch above the floor. It’s clean and easy to live with, especially if you have pets or vacuum often.
- Brushing the floor. The hem just touches the floor. It looks tailored but collects dust.
- Puddled. Extra fabric pools on the floor. It looks dramatic but is harder to keep clean, and it’s not great for small rooms.
Skip curtains that stop at the windowsill unless there’s furniture or a radiator under the window, since short curtains make a room look shorter. Standard lengths are often 84, 96 and 108 inches, so measure your ceiling height first. If you need a custom length, you can have them hemmed or use clip rings and adjust.
Picking the right rod and hardware
The rod has to be strong enough for the weight of the fabric. For heavy curtains, look for a thicker rod and a center support bracket, especially on rods over about 60 inches. Heavy curtains pull hard on the wall, so install brackets into studs or use proper wall anchors. If you’re not sure where the studs are, a stud finder helps.
Then there’s how the curtain attaches. Rings, grommets, tab tops and rod pockets all look different. Rings and grommets slide easily, which suits curtains you open and close often, while rod pockets look neat but can be harder to move.
Choosing fabric and color for bigger-looking windows
- Light colors and sheer fabrics let in more light and make a room feel airy.
- If the window has a nice view, pick curtains that stay out of the way when open.
- For large windows, panels in a solid or subtle pattern keep the look calm. Our guide to curtains for large picture windows goes deeper on that.
- For privacy or cold rooms, consider lined or thermal curtains. Our roundup of thermal insulated curtains for winter covers those. They can help a room feel more comfortable, though how much depends on the window and the home.
Need the room dark for sleeping? Our guide on blackout curtains versus blackout shades will help you decide, and our list of blackout curtains for bedrooms is the next stop if curtains win.
Common curtain mistakes to avoid
- Hanging the rod at the window frame, which makes the window look small.
- Buying panels that are too narrow, so they look flat when closed.
- Choosing a length that stops in the middle of the wall.
- Forgetting that the rod and brackets add inches, so measure your final setup.
- Skipping the steaming or ironing. Fresh curtains come out wrinkled, and a quick steam makes them look much better.
Quick steps for hanging curtains
- Mark the height on the wall with a pencil and a level, 4 to 6 inches above the frame.
- Mark the bracket positions beyond the sides of the window.
- Drill into studs or use anchors, and attach the brackets.
- Slide the curtains onto the rod and place the rod on the brackets.
- Adjust the folds and check the length.
Good lighting and a bit of patience go a long way. Use a stable step stool or ladder, and if the window is wide, treat hanging a rod as a two-person job so you’ve got a spotter.
Frequently asked questions
How high above the window should I hang curtains?
About 4 to 6 inches above the frame, or closer to the ceiling with standard-height ceilings. The higher rod makes the window and the ceiling look taller.
How wide should curtains be for a window?
Multiply your rod length by 2 to 2.5 to get the total fabric width. That keeps the curtains full instead of flat when they’re closed.
How long should curtains be?
Most people go for floor-skimming, with the hem about half an inch above the floor. Measure from the rod down, not from the window.
The bottom line
Learning how to measure and hang curtains right is the quickest way to make windows look bigger: higher rod, wider reach, fuller fabric and the right length. With your measurements in hand, you’re ready to shop, and the roundups linked above can match you with rods and curtains for your window. For more on scale, take a look at our guide to choosing the right size area rug, since the rug and curtains work together to set the scale of the room.