Don’t let them just hang there.
Nothing finishes a room like well-dressed windows. But custom curtain panels sewn in a decorator’s workroom can be prohibitively costly, and window treatments can be incredibly time-consuming (not to mention difficult) to sew on your own. Luckily, with a few simple tweaks, it’s easy to give inexpensive, ready-to-hang curtain panels a designer upgrade. Here, a few of our favorite ways to get a luxe look for less.
1. Hang them high—and wide.
Mount your curtain hardware as close to the ceiling as possible for a high-end look. Longer panels will be able to reach the floor from a high rod, and make your space appear taller. Extend rods past your window casing by at least a foot, which allows panels to hang outside the window opening when pushed aside, letting the maximum amount of daylight in.
2. Use statement hardware.
Upgrade basic panels by adding thicker, more substantial hardware to your window treatments. The larger your room, and the longer (read: heavier) your curtains, the more over-sized your hardware should be. For a more textured, eye-catching look, opt for pieces with a metallic finish.
3. Weigh them down.
Create a long, straight line from rod-to-floor by sewing small, flat weights into the bottom corners of your panels. Use a seam ripper or nail scissors to cut open the bottom of your curtains, then, drop your weight inside and use a needle and matching thread to sew the pocked closed.Re-hang your curtains, step back, and admire the neater, more tailored lines.
4. Train them.
Before hanging your curtains, iron out any wrinkles. Then, hang them on the rod, using your fingers to arrange the panels into even pleats. Finally, tie a ribbon loosely around each bunched panel to hold it in place. Leave the ribbon on for two to three days, then remove. Your panels should now fold naturally into set pleats every time they're opened and closed.
