The 5 Biggest Curtains Mistakes (and How to Fix Them)!

By Arlyn Molina

Curtains are like the piped frosting on a cake. They enhance the overall appearance and beautifully blend in with the overall aesthetic. Anything slightly off on the piping, and all the design fails, because one cannot simply look past it. This is why window treatments are SO IMPORTANT. Below I will share the five biggest mistakes I see in design and how to fix them. Ready?  

Not Enough Panels 

Having curtains on each side of a window is not enough. You need to make sure the curtains are full. This means each side should look appropriately thick enough. When you close the curtains over the window, they should not be taut. There should still be waves of material when closed. The solution? Add two times the material needed to each side. If you’re ordering custom curtains, multiply the length needed for the window by 2. If ordering ready made panels, order twice the amount so you have two panels on each side. 

Curtain Rod Hung Too Low

Another huge issue I see often is curtains hung too low. One of the beautiful things about curtains is they create an illusion that a window is bigger than it really is. This can only be done by hanging curtains higher than the window. As a rule of thumb, opt for hanging them as close to your ceiling as possible. For high ceilings, go no higher than two feet. In some cases, you most definitely can go beyond the two feet height and incorporate a roman blind hung higher than the window to create the illusion that the window starts higher than it truly does.  

Short Curtains

Ever had your bangs cut too short? Well, curtains that are too short are pretty much equivalent to this. Only cafe curtains should be short. All other curtains should follow one of these rules for length:

1. Float Length: To accomplish this length, curtains should be about 1-1.5 inches off the floor. This is great for homes with pets and children.

2. Break Length: Also known as kissing the floor, the length allows for the fabric to gently rest on the floor. The material on the floor should be about 1 to two inches. This is my personal favorite and go-to for all my clients.

3. Puddle Length: As you can imagine, with this length the material will puddle on the floor. Excess material along the floor will be about 3-6 inches. This length adds luxury and opulence to any space. If you have uneven flooring, this will also help disguise the unevenness. 

Curtain Rod Not Wide Enough

Curtains should frame a window. This means they should enhance the overall appearance. Oftentimes, curtain rods are too short and fail to accomplish this. I recommend having a curtain rod that extends a minimum of 18 inches on each side of the window. This could be even wider depending on the window, space, and design you’re hoping to accomplish. Make sure to purchase a rod wider than the length you’re looking for to avoid overextending the rod itself and having it bow in the middle. 

Curtains Are The Wrong Material

The curtain design can uphold a design or fail it. It’s important that a curtain is the appropriate material dependent on the design itself. Sheer curtains in a moody room or velvet curtains in a light and airy space are all wrong. To make sure the material is appropriate, I recommend ordering samples to make sure materials are appropriate in your space and lighting. Another option would be to create a mood board where you can visualize all of the items in your space. Source websites and add photos of curtains to your mood board to see a completed design. I can’t stress enough how important it is to see your finished design before your eyes when selecting materials. 

I am confident that with these tips your curtain game will absolutely amaze you and your guests. Some will even wonder whether you hired a designer.

*All photographs credit: Arlyn Molina

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