Curtain Reveal {How to Hang Curtain Rods}
June 14, 2012 by Aimee • 16 Comments
This week I started a new series on my blog, ‘Virtual Window Shopping’ {here}…such a blast having you shop with me! This time we went to IKEA and I found lots of things I love…and yesterday I showed you my favorite, simple and affordable crisp white curtains {here} for my living areas, a total of ten window panels. I’ll also show you how we install curtain rods simply! Remember what it has looked like since we moved into our rancher…
And here’s what I chose, MERETE Pair of Curtains, white {here}. These are usually $24.99 for a pair, but were on sale for $19.99 for both panels. They have a heavy fabric which helps to reduce sound and keep out light. The grommet heading works on curtain rods. These curtains can easily be hemmed to the desired length with an iron-on hem strip. I’m loving that it looks so breezy, in the kitchen they look great with my DIY Yellow Kitchen Cart {here} and Simple Terrariums {here}…And they totally complement my family room rug {here} perfectly. I was ready for a little change…now I’m dreaming up what to do with all the lovely previous curtain material.
When we first moved in, my sweeties were at their grandparents for a week while we took care of tons of details. This was the biggest gift EVER. One of the things we rushed was hanging the curtains. We overcompensated the space needed for crown molding we intend to eventually add. The picture below shows the height now and the picture on the bottom shows how the rods were originally hung. Raising the curtain rods, draws the eye up, making the ceiling appear higher.
Below shows what the curtains looked like before my hubby raised the rods. Thankfully, installing a curtain rod is a VERY simple and quick task. If your room’s window and ceiling have a constant height, decide where you’d like them, then…
- Measure the number of inches you’d like to mount the bracket to the left or right of the window.
- Measure the number of inches you’d like to mount the bracket down from the ceiling.
- Write those numbers down and duplicate the measurements with each bracket.
I have been using the Merete curtains for a little while now, and I have to say they are wonderful. In my family room we open and close them each night and they glide so great. I was concerned while in Ikea that the color wouldn’t be a true white, I wanted to have some contrast between my ivory walls and the drapes. The curtains are very much a true white and look great against the walls, although it did take me a little while to adjust to such a subdued look after having the blad drapes for years. The grommets glide with ease over the rod which is great because these are my only window covering in the family room. I love the modern sleek line and the thickness of the material. And I’m amazed that these were only $10 per panel. I’ll show you the curtains with the rug tomorrow when I show you my finished lamp {before : here}
Raising the curtain rod made a big difference not something I would have thought to do.
Oh…. you’re right!! It does make it look higher!
I’m trying to figure out what kind of curtains to get for my big front window. It’s HUGE and I bought shear curtains last year… OUPS… sun comes right through during the day and at night people see right through them..
We’ve all been there Christine! Do you have an IKEA near!?!? You should look at the measurements, they are cut very wide!!! XO, Aimee
Yes I do… I think it’ll head over there soon. My curtains actually look similar to your ”old” curtains.
I have a huge lv. rm window. I went through Penny’s on sale and purchased the bamboo rolldown shades. I mounted them inside the window. I have two small windows on each side and one large in the middle of the windowframe; that is how the lv rm window is designed. So I purchased two smaller size and one large size. It gives some privacy yet lets in light. Then I purchased heavier drapes and put them on a decorative pole . The curtains then just slide across the rod to close for darkness and privacy. I really like the roll downs. Like in the evening when I want privacy yet not the dark look I have that.
This turned out super cute!
Looks so pretty- great choice! I bought curtain rods from Crate and Barrel recently and they came with a long strip of paper in the package that had the center marked as well as the locations to drill on each end. It was so easy- I taped it to the wall, made sure it was level and centered and had no trouble getting the rod hung in no time at all! I think I’ll make a similar paper helper next time I have rods to hang.
That sounds AWESOME! I’ll have to try that…hopefully a long time from now. LOL! I hope we’re set for a while! XO, Aimee
More really really good advice! I am going to for sure hang my curtains high and use the ceiling for measuring now that you said that! Good thinking! PS want to sell your old curtains LOL, I kind of still think they are super cute! Wonder if ikea still sells them
) Should I be scared that I have over 20 windows that need curtains?! YIKES
Brilliant. You did a great job. I have vintage 3 drawer dresser that I am painting that same yellow in about 2-3 weeks, {once I get my patio furniture painted, my new (to me) danish modern dining table done}. I’ll blog about it soon. anyways, I continue to see more and more yellow items on peeps blogs and I’m going for it, too. Can’t wait! I love the softness the simple white gives the space. I liked the printed drapes, too.
Thanks Renae! I’m excited to see all your new furniture updates! XO, Aimee
I love the new height of the curtains:) The room look so nice and fresh.
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This is awesome! Your dining space is to die for. I love everything about it
Great tips! I recently DIYed some Restoration Hardware knockoff curtains: http://honeysuckleblog.blogspot.com/2012/06/restoration-hardware-knock-off-curtains.html
p.s. my eyes keep going to that yellow cart in the pictures – LOVE!
One thing to always remember though is to make sure that the rods span at least the entire width of the window and preferably beyond.