6 mistakes to avoid when hanging curtains

Introducing curtains into your home can help with privacy, insulation and light control. The huge variety of heading types available ensures you will be able to style them to suit any room. Hanging curtains yourself is a great way to save money, but it's not as easy as the professionals make it look - check out the six most common mistakes made when hanging curtains, and how to avoid them.

1 - Taking the wrong measurements

There's more to measuring curtains than just whipping out your tape measure and having a go at it. Get it right the first time and read on to see how to measure curtains - save yourself the hassle of hemming your curtains or (even worse) adding length.

To measure your curtains correctly, ensure you measure from where you will be installing your rod or track. Make sure to note if your chosen curtains will be hung from eyelets, hooks or on a track, as this will affect how much material you will need to reach the floor.

For curtain width, measure the length across your windows and then multiply it by 2, or 2.5 if you want especially gathered curtains. This will ensure you have plenty of material to cover the length of your window whilst also adding a stylish completed look.

Make sure you are using a metal tape measure, as a fabric one can stretch and provide an incorrect measurement.

2 - Purchasing poor quality hardware

Ideally your curtains are going to last you many years, but can you say the same about your curtain hardware? While they aren't the centrepiece, the rod, track, fixtures and hooks all play an important part in the function of your curtains, and poor-quality hardware can cause your curtains to suffer.

Most important is your choice of curtain rod. A thin or plastic rod can sag under the weight of heavy curtains, like those made of velvet or heavy blockout. Always opt for a heavy duty metal rod or track, as not only are they strong enough to hold the heaviest curtains but they look great too!

Make sure any curtain hooks and fixtures are made of the same material as your rod to add a sense of cohesiveness to your home décor.

3 - Choosing the wrong curtain material

Different rooms in your home have different functions, and the curtain fabric in these rooms needs to reflect this. While it might be tempting to have the exact same style of curtain in every room for consistency's sake, what is right for your bathroom, kitchen and bedroom will probably all be different.

For example, sheer curtains are a lovely way to let in natural light and see the outdoors, but won't be appropriate in the bathroom. Blockout curtains are great for home cinemas and bedrooms but aren't necessary for the kitchen.

Keep in mind function, airflow and light exposure in the rooms of your home to ensure you pick the perfect material every time.

4 - Hanging them at the wrong height

The height at which you hang your curtains can have a huge impact on how large or small your room feels. When deciding how to hang curtains, hanging them from the top of the architrave may seem logical - but it can actually make the ceiling height in the room appear shorter than it is. Instead, place your curtain rod or track close to the roof, at least ½ or ⅔ of the way towards the ceiling. This will create the illusion of a taller room, which is especially handy if you are working with quite a small space.

5 - Choosing curtains that are too short

Short curtains can have the same effect on a room as poorly-measured pants on your legs - it will make them look shorter and isn't very flattering! Curtains that are too far off the floor look unfinished and create a 'hovering' feeling that you don't want in your home.

When choosing how to hang curtains, try to have them only a centimetre or two off the ground maximum - kissing the ground is best. Heavier curtains made of luxurious fabrics like velvet can be puddled on the floor, but avoid trying to puddle lightweight curtains as they will just crumple on the ground.

6 - Choosing curtains that have enough fullness

Curtains are more than just a strip of fabric stretched taut over a window, so make sure you have enough curtain material to let them gather evenly across the window when closed - this will help achieve maximum light deflection as well. You also want them to be able to gather on either end when open, so ensure the curtain rod is wide enough for the curtain to open without obstructing the window. About 15-25cm on either side will give your curtains enough room to extend past the window, whilst open.

Keep these tips in mind when you are hanging curtains, and have a read of our online guide on how to hang them correctly for some more information if you need it. If you have any more questions about our range of curtains online or how to hang them, feel free to head to your nearest Spotlight store and ask one of our friendly team members.