4 common curtain mistakes you can easily avoid
- Karina Dollman
- Consultant
In short
Curtains are not just decorative — they need to be hung well to look good and work properly. The four most common mistakes are hanging them too low, making them too short, not making them wide enough, and skimping on fullness. Get the height, length, width and fullness right and your curtains will both look beautiful and keep your home warmer. A Russells consultant can take the guesswork out of it.
We’ve seen good curtains. We’ve seen GREAT curtains. We’ve also seen some shockers. Not just a style accessory, curtains serve a purpose and some of these common yet avoidable mistakes can ruin them for both. Keep reading so you’re prepared to make the best decisions when choosing curtains.
Table of contents
1. Hanging them at the wrong height
It’s never a good look to just plonk your curtains right on the window frame. All but a few homes will have some amount of wall space above the frame where they can hang. Hanging curtains too low visually shortens the height of the window and the room as a whole. A common height to hang a curtain rod (in houses with ceiling height of 2.4m) is about 10-15cm above the window frame. If your ceilings are higher, go higher, about half way between the window frame and ceiling or architrave. Or you could go full floor to ceiling for a really grand look.
2. Too short a length
Curtains look and function best when they come to the floor at least. The only time you’d ever opt for short curtains is if there is something in the way below the window that won’t allow floor length. Here’s how we once described it in a blog about how and where to hang curtains. Think of a man in a perfectly tailored suit…now imagine how that suave look could be ruined if the pants were too short. Short curtains don’t just look wrong, they lose a lot of functionality (in terms of heat retention) by allowing air to seep underneath. Here are your choices:
Floating - about a finger width of space from the floor.
Breaking - a very slight fold or bend just above the hem.
Pooling – the fabric goes beyond pools on the floor.
3. Not wide enough
Curtains should completely cover the window frame and then some. This is even more important in rooms where you want your curtains to block out light. Ensure your curtain pole/rod/track extends beyond the sides of the window frame so the curtains are partially covering the wall; as a general guide, aim for 8-15cm either side.
4. Lacking fullness
Curtains pulled taut look dreadful – probably the worst of all the looks. They need ruffles/waves to give them fullness. This requires about twice or even three times as much fabric as the width of the curtain rod.
How can you avoid these mistakes and end up with curtains perfect for your space?
Get in touch with a Russells style consultant or course! Custom made curtains won’t fall foul of any of these mistakes like ready-made will. Our style consultants come to you with fabric choices galore, plus all the advice you need to make the right choice. They’ll take expert measurements, taking into account all the things we’ve just mentioned, and can even give you tips on track and rod options, and heading styles too.
Can’t wait to get started choosing your curtains? Click here to book your free in-home consultation.
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Guides
Choosing the right curtains for your home
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Frequently asked questions
How high should I hang my curtains?
In a home with 2.4m ceilings, a rod about 10–15cm above the window frame works well. With higher ceilings you can go higher — around halfway between the frame and the ceiling or architrave — or take them full floor to ceiling for a grand look.
What is the most common mistake people make with curtain length?
The most common slip is curtains that finish too short, sitting awkwardly above the floor. For a polished look, curtains should at least reach the floor — many people are surprised how much longer that is than they first expect, so it pays to measure carefully or have a consultant check.
How far should curtains extend past the window?
Your rod or track should reach beyond the window frame so the curtains cover a little wall on each side — aim for about 8–15cm either side. This matters even more in rooms where you want to block out light.
How much fabric do curtains need to look full?
Curtains need ruffles and waves to look their best, which takes about two to three times as much fabric as the width of the rod. Curtains pulled taut look flat and unflattering.
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