It is not all about the fabric. The way you decide to hang drapes will make a real statement in your room.

Tip #1: Hang the Window Treatment High

This is the most important rule for professional-looking, attractive window treatments: Hang the curtains high to give your room a luxurious illusion of extra height.

Tip #2: Create an Illusion of Height with a Shade

Here is a trick to make the window look tall and important. Hang the pole at least twelve inches above the frame and hang a roman shade under the pole. Combining the two window treatments adds to the design and allows the panels to be hung high without a large space of blank wall showing through.

Tip #3: Extend the Curtain Rod Beyond the Width of the Window

When installing a curtain rod, ALWAYS extend the pole at least three inches beyond each side of the fame. There are 4 reasons for this:
• to give the illusion that the window is large
• to let more sunlight into your room
• to prevent shadows on the sides of the window
• to add visual appeal by revealing more of the glass rather than a cramped curtain.

Tip #4: Press or Steam the Drapes

Press or steam the curtain to remove any folds or wrinkles. This may sound fundamental, but it is amazing how often people hang the panel right out of the bag, thinking that the wrinkles will “fall out” in time. They usually do not.

Tip #5: Leave Room Underneath for Cleaning

The proper position is ½ inch above the floor for free hanging curtains. This distance allows for mopping and cleaning while creating the illusion that the curtain touches the floor.

Tip #6: Adjust the Length of the Curtain with Creative Hem Finishes

A popular hem finish for silk or lined curtains is called a trouser kick. In this case the bottom of the curtain touches the floor about 3 inches longer than flush and breaks forward like trousers do at the ankle on top of the foot.

Another way to finish the bottom of a curtain panel is called a puddle finish. In this case a hem is not always necessary. The curtain is made 9 to 12 inches too long and the excess fabric is tucked and puffed on the floor.