How much to spend on curtains before selling home?

EliotJones

Hello - we're doing up a house before selling it and moving on. The living room, dining room and kitchen have no curtains. The living room in particular has non-standard large windows in a slight L shape, so needs a custom curtain rail fitted.

In general we've only been breathing a bit of life into the house, new paint and carpets etc, rather than extensive renovations.

What's the best solution for our curtains? Should we spend a lot on a perfect solution, or get something rough and ready? What would a buyer want? And if cheap, how should we go about it? We've been quoted £2,500 for putting roman blinds in all three rooms which seems a lot.

Thanks for any advice you can give!

Eliot

olly300

Most buyers, particularly if the windows are odd sizes, would like you to leave the curtains.

This fact doesn't stop you going out and buying the cheapest ones possible that fit to dress the windows just to get the house sold. However if you do don't play around with the curtains.

Wetkitten

Hi there

I did similar last year and recommend making the effort to put something up, but don't spend a fortune - it makes a huge difference to the room once you put curtains up because it suddenly looks 'finished'. Best tip is plain white wooden curtain poles from B&Q, and plain neutral-coloured unlined cotton curtains from Ikea. Both the cheapest I could find - but they don't look it.

No need to hem the curtains to correct length (they come about 3m long from Ikea) as you can leave them trailing on floor to look a little bit indulgent.

You can also get excellent wooden venetian blinds from Ikea which may be preferable in the kitchen. Try googling 'curtain poles' to get cheap L-shaped curtain poles online.

If incoming purchaser doesn't want them, you will be able to re-use them somewhere else.

ic

Look on eBay for ready made blinds (all types). Basically you measure up the window opening and provide the measurements, and a week later the ready made blinds turn up in the post. I got fitted vertical blinds for two windows at £55 delivered, a friend paid about £300 to Hilary's Blinds for something very similar.

Mithos

Wetkitten wrote: »

Hi there

I did similar last year and recommend making the effort to put something up, but don't spend a fortune - it makes a huge difference to the room once you put curtains up because it suddenly looks 'finished'. Best tip is plain white wooden curtain poles from B&Q, and plain neutral-coloured unlined cotton curtains from Ikea. Both the cheapest I could find - but they don't look it.

No need to hem the curtains to correct length (they come about 3m long from Ikea) as you can leave them trailing on floor to look a little bit indulgent.

You can also get excellent wooden venetian blinds from Ikea which may be preferable in the kitchen. Try googling 'curtain poles' to get cheap L-shaped curtain poles online.

If incoming purchaser doesn't want them, you will be able to re-use them somewhere else.

I agree. White, cheap and lots of light. What ever you decide on the buyer might not like, so show them what the room Could look like. You're selling a dream after all.

rachbc

for your l shape use a bendable rail rather than a pole - cheap, can fit yourself and fine for lightweight unlined ready made curtains

never_enough

Ikea is brill for cheap curtains that don't look it. I've used them quite a few times in a similar situation. Or make them yourself, they're very easy & you can find amazing material on ebay. Keep it light & plain, the dreaded neutral option is still the best (even if your heart craves aubergine & turquoise! )
I tend to buy up supplies of the Ikea plain cotton curtains when I see nice ones as they're always useful & the only cheap readymade you can find for period properties with high ceilings.
Don't spend a fortune, keep that for your own place.

paddypaws101

Personally I like Ikea...but if you do want something a little more formal I have seen REALLY good deals in local curtain shops...Linens Direct I think. I bought some for a rental property and the tenants were well impressed!