Length of curtains?

socks_uk

I have always stayed away from 'window sil length' curtains, favouring floor length instead but I am making some new curtains for our spare/craft/music room.

I'm open to the idea of shorter curtains but what do others think about them sitting just on the window sil? I think I've always thought that longer curtains would keep out the draught but the house I live in now (bungalow) seems to have pretty good windows so it's purely the 'look' of it.

I'm making the curtains from some I've bought in the sales and they need the metal rings taking off and header tape sewing on the top so I can make them any length.

Any thoughts/advice welcome.

teddysmum

If the curtain rail is inside the window recess, then they should look ok, if you make sure that the hem is level, as the window ledge , may show up any unevenness.


However, if the rail is outside the recess (ie on the wall above it) I would go for about three inches below the ledge, as the rail will hold the curtain away, so it doesn't catch on the ledge. (My curtains are six inches below the ledges, as they were custom made and I went for the maximum length before the next size price jump).

Jessica29

I agree with teddysmum. Our rails are not recessed and we have gone for curtains about 2-3 inches below the window sill. I do still prefer the look of floor length curtains but a lot of our rooms have radiators below the windows and we didn't want curtains insulating the heat from the rest of the room!

socks_uk

Thank you ladies... Yes, the rail is recessed although it is attached to the top of a 'decorative' wooden pelmet, and believe me, if it wasn't for the window being a small bay window, I'd rip it down (like I have done in all the other rooms). I'll replace it when I can afford it! The window sills are about 10" deep.

I like the idea of them sitting just below the window sill and that would leave me with extra material to make some cushions.