Friends frequently ask if I don’t need privacy, do I need curtains.  Depending on the style of the home, my answer is usually yes.  For them to understand, I ask a question.  Would you walk down the red carpet in a fancy dress without jewelry?  Their answer is always – probably not.  So let me show you how the right curtains are like the perfect piece of jewelry.

How The Right Curtains Are Like The Perfect Piece of Jewelry

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Curtarra custom curtains in the “Harris” style.

Before choosing curtains you should first consider the style of room or home you have.  The only instance where I can see a house without curtains is a modern style.  And even in that situation, having curtains can soften the hard edges and bring cohesiveness.

You’ll find a lot of choices when it comes to window treatments.  Blinds, shutters, shades, curtains or drapes.  In case you don’t know the difference between curtains and drapes, drapes are made of heavier fabrics like velvet or silk.  They are considered formal, sometimes puddle on the floor, and they are lined with no light coming through.

Color is Linen White with a white lining

Curtains can be lightly lined or not at all (think sheers).  They are made of a lightweight fabric like linen, polyester, or cotton.  And they have a casual look (think rings with clips, grommets, or tab tops).

For this post, we are discussing my favorite and extremely popular, flat panels.  I like the simplicity, the casualness, how they hang loosely, are informal, and yet graceful.  Like me!  LOL!  No one has ever called me graceful.

I also like for everyday curtains to be a close match to the wall color.  That’s not a hard rule.  Just a preference.  My husband jokes about this but I have holiday curtains too.  They are sometimes a dark green velvet.  Some are brown and I’ve had a deep red before.  But friends, let me say this – none of them have ever looked or fit perfectly like this.

Curtarra Flat Panels: 48.8″ wide with a length of 106.5″ because I used rings.

Before hanging any curtain, measure the window width and height.  Proper width of the rod is 4-6″ outside the window frame.  Proper height is either 4-6″ above the window frame or up to the ceiling.  My nickel opinion is that curtain rods look best when they are at the ceiling unless the ceiling is angled or so tall that the curtains are unmanageable or look like they belong in a castle.  But of course there are exceptions – like in our home.

Antique French mirror frame found in a junk store!

The crown molding in our living room is about 8-10 inches thick.  I’ve never actually measured.  If we hung the rod just under the trim the curtain length to the floor is 110 inches.  Standard lengths are 63″, 84″, and 96″.  You can sometimes find 108″ in stores or online but the fabric choices are very slim.

When measuring for length, the panels should skim the floor.  They shouldn’t be 2 inches longer or 2 inches shorter.  If you want them to puddle add 6-10″ for the effect you want.  If they are hanging behind a sofa, think twice about faking it to save money.

View of top of curtain and hem as it kisses the floor.

Curtarra is a great company with affordable custom curtains.  They also offer shades, valances, and accessories.  I found the handy measuring tool on their website to be super helpful.  There are a lot of beautiful fabrics and they’ll send fabric swatches so you know exactly what you’re getting.  The best part is once you’ve put in your order, you’ll have your own beautiful custom curtains in a couple of weeks!

Collage of inside hem, fabric choice and accessories that come with the curtains.

I found the entire process to be so easy and would highly recommend Curtarra.  Check out their gallery for examples and custom looks.  You can also find them on Instagram.  And right now they are having a sale!

Hopefully you can see how the right curtains are like the perfect piece of jewelry or like a warm hug.  They create coziness and make a room come together beautifully.  Let me know in the comments if you have any questions.  I’m happy to help!

Happy Decorating Friends!