Hanging curtains over doors

Gemsie

I'm looking for some advice as to how to hang some curtains over a couple of doors. They're a charity shop bargain and will do a lot to stop drafts. Trouble is, they're pencil pleat/tape top so I'm interested in the best way of hanging them.

Do I just fix a rail above both doors, or is a track better? I've seen door rods, but I'm not sure if they're just gimmicky? They cost a fortune too! Or do I just give up and nail the curtains to the doorframe?!

jackyann

I think that a lot depends on how much you use the door. Door rods can work very well but are obviously more expensive & fiddly.
I wouldn't nail the curtain to the doorframe unless it is a rarely-used door - you will find that it will be a hindrance and the fabric will pull & may tear etc.

What I have done is simply put up an ordinary curtain pole (or equivalent - I have used dowelling). I find metal runs more easily - which is useful in this case. Make it rather wider than the usual window allowance, and allow plenty of header room (about 10cms if you can)
If necessary, alter the curtain hooks so you can hang them on rings.
Then, when you open the door, from the non-curtained side; you just need to open it gently, and reach round to push the curtain aside.

I wonder if you are worried about the width? You can easily unpick the tape and sew on a different kind. Or, if they haven't cut the cord, you can undo it and let the width out a bit.

GreyQueen

Gemsie wrote: »

I'm looking for some advice as to how to hang some curtains over a couple of doors. They're a charity shop bargain and will do a lot to stop drafts. Trouble is, they're pencil pleat/tape top so I'm interested in the best way of hanging them.

Do I just fix a rail above both doors, or is a track better? I've seen door rods, but I'm not sure if they're just gimmicky? They cost a fortune too! Or do I just give up and nail the curtains to the doorframe?!

A pal who has her front door opening directly into her living room uses a door curtain in the colder months. After many years of struggling with an improvised rail, she stumped up for one of those special ones which moves with the door. It's brilliant.

If it was a lesser-used door, you could use something cheaper. My window curtains are on 3 " deep header tape (regis rufelette) and I use the "Swish" style tracks, with the plastic sliders on the track and the hooks into the header tape.

Dunno if they make them any more as mine came from a boot sale, but they have the advantage over curtain poles in that they hold the curtain closer to the wall, which reduces drafts.

HTH.

Gemsie

One door is like GreyQueen's friend and opens directly into my lounge. The other is the door through to the kitchen. I'm baulking at the cost of the special door ones though! :S

McKneff

Just buy some curtain wire, it works just as well to be honest, pulls and pushes back easily and just a couple of quid.

Gemsie

McKneff wrote: »

Just buy some curtain wire, it works just as well to be honest, pulls and pushes back easily and just a couple of quid.

That's what I originally thought, but then realised it wouldn't worth with my tape top curtains (it's used with net curtains where you can thread it through). Unless you know a way?

-taff

I've bought a curtain rail, the kind thatyou can fix the fixings either to the top of a ceiling/window frame, or projecting outwards.

I did have a metal hanging rail above the front door, but it keeps the curtain too far away to make much difference to draughts.

Proper curtain rail this time.

Anne_Marie_2

Amazon have some door portiere rods for around £35 if that's any help to anyone.

McKneff

Gemsie wrote: »

That's what I originally thought, but then realised it wouldn't worth with my tape top curtains (it's used with net curtains where you can thread it through). Unless you know a way?

Could you hem them at the top, making a 'channel' for the wire.
If you don't sew, there is always that magic tape that you can iron on.

If they are only used for a few months over winter its not worth paying a lot of money out.

AnnieO1234

Ikea!

Extending rods plus two brackets with or without the finial things. Get a pack of curtain rings that include like crocodile clips to turn any piece of material into a curtain. Will have change from twenty quid xxx

Eenymeeny

Shower rings are cheap and easily inserted and removed if using tape. They also slide more easily if using wire or an extending shower rail. (See the preparing for winter thread, lots of good low budget ideas on there)
I use white ones on a cheap Ikea white rail and you can hardly notice them