Thursday, July 22, 2010

Decorators’ Handbook: Curtain Length

One of my biggest pet peeves is this:

 



Short bedroom curtains



I know there are probably quite a few things that an interior designer would be ripping apart in the room above, but my main offense is SHORT CURTAINS!

 



If you have a weird window to floor length and your local retailers don’t carry your height size then one of two things can get done:

 



1. Get them made by a seamstress. For me it’s between $70-$80 per panel.

 



OR

 



2. Go with a different window treatments and use a roman shade instead.

 



The proper ways to do curtains is as follows:

 



Brushing the floor: Structured Style



curtainlengthsaragilbane3



Positives: Gives off a clean cut and tailored room. No fuss!

 

Negatives: If you have problem floors then the crisp cut of the curtain will call attention to your uneven floor.

 



Breaking the Floor: Relaxed and Glam!



Mckeon_2ndbdrm1a

 



Positives: Gives your room a softer look. My favorite part about it is that it’s forgiving of imperfect measuring.

 



Negatives: Because your curtain panel will be 1 or 2” on the floor some may be nervous that it will get dirty easier.

 



* Overall this is a personal favorite of mine.

 



Pooling at the Floor: Lush!



curtainlengthsaragilbane



Positives: Gives off a romantic feel with 2 plus inches on the floor.

 



Negatives: Same as with breaking the floor. Plus due to all of the extra floor you will not notice any sort of moulding/trim on the floor.

 



Here is a great sketch of the looks featured above by I dream of drapery:





Floor Length = Brushing the Floor


Trouser Length= Breaking the Floor


Pooling at the Floor = Puddle Length

 



So, who is with me? I can’t be the only that hates short curtains.

 

Images via 1. Google, 2 – 4 Sara Gilbane Interiors, 5 via I dream of Drapery

Labels:

35 Comments:

Blogger Jen said...

ii purchased panels (after measuring of course) and I must not have taken something into consideration because once hung, they were too short. Every time I pass that window I notice it. I've been thinking about ripping out the bottom hem and re-stitching them to add length. Do you think that could work. I thought about adding extra fabric (kind of like a trim) onto the bottom to make them brush the floor but I thought it may look stupid. I'd love to hear your thoughts. The super long pooling curtains are my fave too!

July 22, 2010 at 8:46 AM  
Blogger Scientific Housewife said...

I hate short curtains as well. I might have to make some out of bed sheets for my new guest room but I want them to be long for sure!

July 22, 2010 at 9:00 AM  
Blogger Janell @ House of Fifty said...

I agree!!! And where on earth do you get panels made for that price? Unlined or lined? Wow...Janell

July 22, 2010 at 9:12 AM  
Blogger The Brick Cottage said...

I think short curtains when done correctly can look good but most short curtains I see are ill fitting (like the ones in your picture--it looks like there was no thought as to where the curtains would fall). I love cafe curtains (especially in a breakfast nook) and in casual settings curtains that hit the window sill can look sweet and charming. But with all that said, I do like full length curtains the best.

Jen, I recently added fabric to the bottom hem of some curtains that were too short and they look so much better now. It took me a year to do it and I wish I had done it sooner. Here's what ours look like to give you an idea of what yours might look like (http://thebrickcottage.blogspot.com/2010/05/all-tabbed-out.html). I think I used a fat quarter (? I think that was the term when I ordered my fabric) and I used the entire piece for the two panels.

July 22, 2010 at 9:18 AM  
Blogger Amanda said...

this post made me crack up! short curtains borderline annoy me. hehehe. all of the curtains in our house slightly "pool" and it was just two days ago that SUPER long curtains i bought from ikea finally got a hem to just "pool" a little opposed to "flodding". hahaha. cute informative post here lady! :)

July 22, 2010 at 9:23 AM  
Blogger Elizabeth said...

great post! I like just breaking the floor

July 22, 2010 at 9:29 AM  
Blogger Cassie Bustamante said...

i love the pooled effect, but i have 2 dogs, and one of them likes to take the extra length and make it into a bed and lay on its plushness.... so we have to do sweeping the floor in our house!

July 22, 2010 at 9:33 AM  
Blogger Jade @ Flip Flops + Pearls Design said...

Short curtains is a pet peeve of mine also. People can't think they look good when they hang them up and they are 4 feet off the floor! Definitely like the pooling curtains!!

July 22, 2010 at 9:38 AM  
Blogger Sandi (Meme) said...

So many choices, so little time.....I love the puddles, but not sure I would after awhile. I think I'll stick with the pool, and see how long I like that. I can hem my own, so I'm up $80! Thanks for the great post. Sandi

July 22, 2010 at 10:30 AM  
Blogger Becky said...

I am new to puddling drapes and have a question for you and your readers. Does it look okay to hang sheers under a puddled drape? If so, should they just skim the floor? And how big should the hem be?

I have four of these panels in my dining room and would like a little extra privacy when the drapes are open. http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/product.asp?SKU=110337&RN=2168&

July 22, 2010 at 10:31 AM  
Blogger Kerry said...

You are most definitely not the only one! When we moved into our house it came with all the window coverings. "A bonus", we thought until I realized every single set was TOO SHORT! The worst is in our guest bedroom and the living room. Our living room window looks like it's wearing flood pants. We haven't had a chance to replace them as our money has been focused on reno's... so I'm doing my best to "disguise it". I think I might sew some additional material on the bottom of the living room panels at least so they can brush the floor!

July 22, 2010 at 10:48 AM  
Blogger 1 Funky Woman said...

Short curtains drive me crazy! It is so easy to add a piece of material or fringe to make them longer. I think that drives me crazy just as much as crooked pictures!

July 22, 2010 at 10:54 AM  
Blogger Carollynn @ www.designGumbo.net said...

I'm with you - short curtains are the flood pants of decorating world. Alas, I mis-measured in my den and ended up with two sets of flood pant curtains. Thankfully, both windows have sofas in front of them, so the length is hidden and no one but me realizes the decorating faux pas. But still, I know they're too short.

July 22, 2010 at 10:58 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

totally agree!!! I have short curtins..lol!!

July 22, 2010 at 11:02 AM  
Blogger Robyn said...

I agree with you. I don't understand why companies offer the curtains that are installed at the top of the window, but are just long enough to go below the window molding. I don't mind the cafe curtains because they are meant for a kitchen. You typically don't want the kitchens touching the floor. Capri pants are cute on women and girls not on windows.

July 22, 2010 at 11:34 AM  
Anonymous Nichole@40daysof said...

I agree, hate short curtains. Except for cafe curtains in some instances. Please do a post next on overdone windows. For Example: one window w/ net curtains, silk curtains, and some kind of scarf draped over the top. Is it just me, or is that too much?

July 22, 2010 at 11:42 AM  
Blogger Maria Killam said...

Yes I'm all about a little extra length, drapes that are too short really bug me too!

July 22, 2010 at 12:03 PM  
Blogger Tammy@InStitches said...

Breaking on the floor is my favorite length to make stationary panels. If they traverse then just slightly off the floor so they don't drag.

July 22, 2010 at 12:22 PM  
Blogger Cassie {Hi Sugarplum} said...

Short curtains bother me too...it's all I notice in a room. Instead of what might be lovely, I'm honed in on the high-water curtains!

I have walls with 3 side-by-side windows...a) do they need drapes, and b) where do you hang them?

July 22, 2010 at 12:31 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

I know that you mean, I'd rather my curtains be too long than too short!! Thankfully alot of companies are making longer pre-made drapes and curtains that can easily be hemmed. I buy 95 inch lengths instead of the 'standard' 84 inches. And then just hem as needed :)

July 22, 2010 at 12:40 PM  
Anonymous Kai said...

This is a great post - I have made curtains for my living room (no sew - just used the hem tape), but haven't hemmed them yet because I wasn't sure which look I liked best. I think we'll have to do Option #1 because they're not just decorative and my son likes to play by the window so I'd be afraid of him trampling them.

A thing I have found is the IKEA has great long-length curtains. We bought some cheapo white ones for my girls' room and I think they were 118" - plus they come with the hemming tape - for about $15. I think all (or most?) of their curtains are DIY-hem, so they have long lengths.

July 22, 2010 at 1:47 PM  
Blogger Jill Marie said...

I couldn't agree more! I love the line created by nice long curtains that sort of just plop at the bottom floor. Short ones bother me something fierce...like someone who wears a short skirt even if they've got incredible legs. I think the line created by the length is gorgeous!! Especially with the right fabric choice!
Thanks for sharing!!

July 22, 2010 at 1:52 PM  
Blogger Lissa Pierce said...

I can't stand this short curtain thing! I am also an advocate for going all the way to the ceiling as well (in most cases).

July 22, 2010 at 2:16 PM  
Blogger Susie @ Maddie G Designs said...

Oh this is a huge pet peeve of mine which is why I also always try to encourage clients to go with a professional measure, too!

July 22, 2010 at 2:28 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

That drives me crazy too. I like curtains w/ the rod hung at ceiling height to lengthen a room.

July 22, 2010 at 2:33 PM  
Blogger Teresa Hatfield ~ Splendid Sass said...

After moving everything out of the room and starting over, I would use the puddle length or possibly trouser.
I agree that this is as bad as chalk squeaking on the board!
Teresa (Splendid Sass)

July 22, 2010 at 2:34 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

i have short curtains because i didnt want to spend the money on long ones, and i was too impatient to look for them. how can i turn them into long ones? or should i just bite the bullet and buy long ones?

i'm helpless!

July 22, 2010 at 3:54 PM  
Blogger Stephanie Sabbe said...

I hate this too!! I add fabric to the bottom on a lot of panels.

July 22, 2010 at 5:41 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

I hear ya sister... I can't stand short curtains...

July 22, 2010 at 6:41 PM  
Anonymous Morgan @ PepperDesignBlog.com said...

I have (very basic) curtain panels made for me by my local dry cleaning company for just $10-15 a panel. It's such a simple stitch that I've found them to be by far the cheapest most efficient way to go!

July 22, 2010 at 8:23 PM  
Blogger Tiffany L said...

I too, have the same pet peeve... short curtains! I am moving into a new place and REALLY want to hang long curtains...Love the look, but practically all of the rooms have baseboard heaters. What should I do? Is it okay to hem the curtains so they fall a couple of inches above the heaters? I certainly don't want them going up in flames! YIKES!!!

July 22, 2010 at 10:07 PM  
Blogger Hello Lover... said...

I am with you - I always feel like people cheaped out or forgot to buy have the curtains!

July 23, 2010 at 7:52 PM  
Blogger Megan Elizabeth Johnson said...

I really love your decorators handbook posts! They're so informative. I was inspired by them and I started my own little column on my blog called "Design Glossary" they're for newbies like me (who thought ikat was pronounced with an "i").

Just thought I'd let you know that I mentioned you in my post

http://www.manaynay.com/2010/07/design-glossary.html

- Megan Elizabeth

July 25, 2010 at 9:52 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Am I the only one in an old home with radiators by every window? 63" curtains look fine I think. The long curtains cause the heat to escape up and when you have to bleed radiators, the curtains may get in the way.

April 3, 2013 at 9:49 PM  
Blogger red said...

Help! I just put in a wood burning stove in a corner of my house on a stoned platform leaving the area in front of my huge arched window now to be uneven. One end hits the floor and the other hits the platform. Just purchased material to have curtains made to hang to the floor but what do i do now with the side that is higher due to the platform in front??? was thinking pulling back with curtain hooks, but realllyyyy love the long draping look--need advice!!

March 30, 2014 at 9:25 PM  

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