This Genius Curtain Hanging Hack Will Make Your Home Look Bigger

Window treatments are essential to maintain privacy, but they also act as an impactful accessory that ties your room’s design together. However, most people don’t think much about where and how they’re hanging their curtains. It seems fairly self-explanatory—your curtains should go over your window; does the placement matter? It does if you want your curtains to help your space shine, whether you plan to hang everyday drapes, blackout curtains or insulated curtains for winter.

With this curtain-hanging hack, you’ll learn how to make your room look bigger and your windows look taller.

How High Should I Hang My Curtains?

There’s a lot to be said about how to hang your drapes at a proper height. First, you have to make sure you have long enough curtains for your space. There’s also the question of visual appeal. Are you looking for stylish dining room curtain ideas? Living room curtain ideas? Gauzy, sheer curtains or a funky pattern? You need to decide what you’re looking for, and then, of course, you have to make sure your measurements are correct.

That’s where the question of where to hang your curtain rod comes in—where you put your rod will determine how much length you need. A curtain hanging hack from TikTok user @sandras.home.life brings up a convincing argument for curtain height, and it aligns with what experts say is the proper height to hang curtains.

@sandras.home.life For anyone thinking about it… do it! You won’t regret it 😉 #howtohangcurtains #curtainstyling #howtostyleaboxroom #stylingaboxroom #bedroommakeoverideas #luxuryhome #luxuryweddingdecor #ikeacurtains #ikeacurtainhack #homehack #largewindows #newbuild #bedroominspo ♬ Originalton – CENKGO

Instead of hanging your drapes a couple of inches above your window, you may want to try hanging your curtains higher. The higher you hang your curtains, the more significant impact it’ll have on your space. Install your curtain rod as high as possible, and you’ll be surprised how much larger your room looks. A good indicator you’re in the right ballpark is about four to six inches above the top of your window, but depending on your wall height, you may find a different measurement works best.

If you’re still shopping for window treatments, the ultimate buyer’s guide for curtains may help you decide on the best type for your needs.

Editor’s Tip: There’s nothing more disruptive to a night of sleep than excessive sound apart from a cold chilly breeze, these seemingly minor noises can have an outsized impact on your well-being. So, turn to soundproof curtains to block out some of the din.

How Wide Should I Hang My Curtains?

Most of the time, people hang their curtains slightly wider than their windows—but they probably aren’t extending their window hangings past one to three inches of extra width. It seems counter-intuitive (you’d think the more draperies, the more your room would feel closed in) but surprisingly, the more width you add, the larger your room will look.

Of course, you’ll need to ensure your curtain rod is the correct length, so a good rule of thumb is to find one between eight and 12 inches wider than your window. When curtains extend to a wider area, the space will appear larger than it is.

Other Curtain Hanging Tips

Before diving in, you may want to know other helpful tips for hanging your curtains.

• Choose sheer draperies to give your room a light, airy look. You can also layer these underneath opaque curtains to let the light in during the day but keep it out when it’s time for bed.
• Measure, then measure again! The last thing you want to discover during installation is that you’ve measured wrong.
• Your curtains should be long enough to brush the floor unless they are cafe curtains.
• Curtain rods don’t have to be boring. There are plenty of decorative options available to suit any aesthetic.
• Make sure you choose a heavy-duty curtain rod if your curtains weigh more. For example, blackout curtains and thermal drapes can be heavy, and some curtain rods may be too lightweight to handle them.
• If you don’t like the look of a curtain rod, you may want to find out how to build a window cornice to conceal it.