measuring for curtains

jockettuk

stupid question time.. how exactly do you measure for curtains is it the full width of the window then half the size the length im ok with but i dont want to spend a fortune on curtains that are to wide..

ive not had to measure for curtains for 20 yrs lol but now moving and need to get smaller curtains but not sure abt the measuring ..

Thanks

Rose

and a very happy new year to you all

meadowcat

Really depends how full you want the curtains to be. It is supposed to be two and a half times the width of the window and then divide that in two to get the width for each curtain. IMO you can get away with less than that. With heavier material you don't need them to be so full, but with lightweight material then it is nice to have more fabric.

If you wanted to use a really expensive fabric you could get away with less material by making tab tops.

Nile

Hello jokettuk


I like to buy curtains from a small friendly curtain shop, rather than a department store. If you want (and can afford) lots of gather when you close your curtains, you'll need to order double the width of the window.

I prefer to save some money and go for 1.5 times the window width. The curtains always seem to have plenty of gather when they're closed.;)

For curtains above a radiator, I make sure that the drop (length) is just enough so that they can be tucked behind the top of the radiator............to allow maximum heat into the room and not be trapped behind the curtains.

I have no sewing skills so I get the curtains made to my exact (drop) measurements.

I keep a record of the window/curtain measurements in a ring binder for future reference, along with other helpful house information stuff.

Kind Regards

Nile

flea72

if buying ready made curtains, then you just go by the width of your window opening. they have already allowed for fullness, so you dont need to do the maths.

however one thing to remember is not to measure the window opening for the drop length, you need the drop from the curtain pole level. even thought i know this, the number of times ive bought curtains and then remembered that the pole is at least a foot above the window level. or in the case of tab top curtains, OH has put the pole so low, that the tabs mean the curtain has dropped below the window level, and we have daylight streaming in above the curtain.

Flea

in_my_wellies

Remember that the rail is usually wider than the window to allow the curtain to be pulled back in the day. This is the width you should go by.
Also, if the curtains are lined they don't need to be so full, just one and a half times the width of the window is enough IMO, especially for bedrooms, kitchen, etc. Spend the money in the lounge - those are the ones you sit and look at after all.

I used to do soft furnishings for a living (my mum owned a small friendly curtain shop) and sometimes people would make their own curtains and ask us to make the 'extras' like tie backs, pelmets, swags & tails, cushions, etc whilst other people wanted us to do the curtains and they made all the 'extras'. We were always happy and tried to be helpful, especially if they got in a muddle and came back when they were stuck!

It's worth asking your local shop, just do what you are confident with and let them do the rest. They might measure for you.

moneysaver12

Hi just come across this thread. We are needing curtains for our living room and bedroom. Would like some lined tap top curtains, would be ready made. Now i haven't bought curtains for years so am confused with the measurements.

Living room is 104 inches wide and 72 inches drop.

Bed room is 97 inches wide and 67 inches drop.

Do i need to have one and half the times of the width and then half that for each curtain, so for living room would be 156 inch wide, then each curtain would be 78 inches.