Hanging Shades and Drapes Properly
At Rachel Brosky Interiors, we know that custom shades or drapes are a solid investment in the appearance of your home. Treating them correctly helps them to look as stunning as they did in the showroom. Many homeowners hang their window treatments improperly. Fortunately, it’s easy to hang your window treatments correctly, and we’re sharing the secrets on how to do it, with tips from our team of design specialists.
The Right Height & Width
We’ve seen so many homes with window treatment hardware installed just above the window frame. (Insert cringe here.) You want to follow the “high and wide” rule when hanging shades or drapes. The rod or roller should be at least six inches above the window frame and extend eight inches beyond either side. The added height will make your ceiling appear taller and your window look more prominent. The extra width is essential for drapery. You will frequently pull your drapes back during the day, and if the rod is too narrow, a portion of your view will be blocked by the stack back.
Fabulous Fabrics
Fabrics help set a room's mood and contribute to your window’s functionality. Hunter Douglas has a library of hundreds of fabrics in all styles. Some of our favorite treatments like Designer Roller Shades, Vignette® Modern Roman Shades are available in a vast selection of fabrics. Choose a lightweight material, such as a cotton blend or linen, to set a relaxed, airy tone. These light fabrics also tend to filter the sun rather than block it, and that’s just what looks best in a kitchen or living room. Heavier fabrics are the best route when dressing windows in more formal settings, or in rooms where black-out darkness is beneficial, like bedrooms or rooms where you want to avoid glare on your devices.
What About the Length?
Too-short drapes are seldom a good look. Unless you’re decorating with cafe-style curtains, you want to err on the side of longer drapery. A small puddle of drapery creates an elegant, romantic aesthetic and is a preferred style in more formal settings. If you’re concerned about your drapes causing trips and falls or becoming dirty, they should break less than an inch above the floor. They will still look fantastic but won’t be a safety hazard or become worn at the edges. Take accurate measurements by measuring from the top of the window trim to the floor. Add two inches to the number for a small puddle or reduce the number by one inch for drapes that break just above your floor.
Shades are usually mounted inside the window frame and require a different technique to achieve correct measurements. Measure the horizontal space inside the frame at the top, middle, and bottom for the most accurate measurement. If your numbers don’t match, use the largest figure. Determine the necessary length by measuring the vertical space inside the frame at the left, right, and center. There is no room for error when measuring for shades, as any mistake will be very prominent with an inside mount. We’d be happy to take expert measurements if you’re not feeling confident with your results.
Start with Samples
The lighting in our showroom is not an exact match for the lighting in your home. We suggest hanging fabric samples near the window where you will install the drapery or shade. Take a look at the examples at various times throughout the day to see how they look with different levels of natural light. Doing this will give you the most accurate feel for what window treatments will look like in place.
Contact Us
We would love the privilege of helping you add custom Hunter Douglas shades or drapery to your home. Our services include custom bedding, home accessories, rugs, wallpaper, and upholstery. We’re proud of our work and invite you to look at our virtual portfolio. Call us at (270) 982-0887 to schedule your consultation. We are located in Elizabethtown, KY, and are happy to serve Elizabethtown, Brandenburg, Vine Grove, and Bowling Green, KY.
