Tips on How to Measure for Your New Curtains

Curtains help to bring colour and privacy to any room, therefore it’s important that they are fitted properly and fit in with your design. Therefore you need to be sure that curtains are measured with a high level of accuracy before you commit to purchasing them. After all, ill-fitting curtains will do little or nothing to aid the style of your property.

There are actually a surprising number of ways in which you can measure up curtains, many of which are based on how you want them to sit. For instance you can size them to literally only cover the window and sit just above the windowsill. Alternatively, you may prefer them to drape down and sit just a few centimetres above a radiator or other feature beneath your window.

Therefore it is important that you properly evaluate what it is that you are looking to achieve before any measurements are taken. It is also vital that you have chosen the type of rail and method of hanging. Extra material won’t be required for those who are simply using a rail . However, if you’re planning on hanging your curtain from pole with eyelets, you will have to take into account the required heading, which can often be a few centimetres.

Width wise, you also need to add a little extra space, not just accommodate any coving, but also to allow the curtains to sit properly, without the need to stretch them each time they are drawn. If you over compensate and get curtains that are too large, then can appear a little unattractive, therefore only add a little over the size of the rail used. Again, the exact measurement will be largely dependent on the look you’re attempting to achieve and the type of fabric being purchased. When you do choose to buy fitted curtains, sizing becomes hugely important of course. If you get the dimensions wrong, alterations can be costly. So take your time and properly evaluate your window area, taking into account any personal preferences or odd nuances that could impact how much material is required.

Of course, if you actually buy the material and create the curtains yourself, you will have a little more leeway for making changes later on in the process. You can also buy a little more material than you strictly need, reducing your risks hugely. By doing this you can simply adjust hems or cut away excess material before tidying it up in preparation for hanging. This does take time though and a fair amount of expertise to boot, so it isn’t a job that should be undertaken without fairly extensive preparation and planning beforehand.

So when you come to size your windows and measure out curtains, there is plenty to consider. Of course you can use existing curtains as a guideline, wherever possible, however this isn’t always possible or practical. Therefore it’s important that you measure the area, take into account how they’re going to be hung and then create the final demands accordingly.

Filed under family by julia on Apr 14th, 2011.