How to Choose the Right Curtains
The right curtains can express your style and offer an affordable and simple way to update or finish any room. Curtains can manage light, heat, and even sound, and when you find that perfect balance of function and form, you'll wonder how your windows ever looked complete without them. With so many curtain fabrics, patterns, and styles to choose from, shopping for curtains can feel a little overwhelming.
A Curtains Buying Guide for When You Don't Know Where to Start
We here at The Vermont Country Store are excited to offer a wide range of curtains and drapes to suit your needs, and have created this buying guide in the hopes of making your curtain buying experience easy and hassle free. From tips on how to measure your windows to inspiration to help you select the style you want, this guide is the perfect place to start.
Beyond the obvious style window treatments can lend your space, they can also help manage light, heat, and even sound. Before choosing colors or patterns, it is important to consider what you want your curtains to do for you, how much space you want to give them, and how you want them to hang.
What's their Purpose?
Because curtains come in such a variety of options, you have a lot of freedom here as you decide what you want your curtains to do. The Vermont Country Store carries styles from airy lace curtains to blackout drapes (and many others between). As you consider your curtain options, think about the space you're decorating, and what you want to enhance or eliminate. Curtains are easy to mix and match to create the perfect combination.
Do you love the way your room looks with sunlight flooding in?
If so, you may want to consider a lightweight sheer or lace curtain that adds just a little privacy while allowing all that beautiful sunlight to shine through.
Do your windows face the street or your neighbor's yard?
If so, you may be looking for a slightly heavier fabric like a delightfully patterned cotton or a pretty, easy care polyester to add more privacy to your room.
Do you want to be able to make a room as dark as possible, or make your drafty windows more energy efficient?
Selecting an insulating or blackout curtain made from a densely woven fabric or with a special liner can help do both. As an added benefit, these heavier weight curtains can help reduce outside noise to create a quieter, more peaceful setting.
Measuring Curtains
Now that you have an idea of what you want your curtains to do, let's talk about length and how to hang your curtains. The length of the curtains you choose will enhance the style of your room. A shorter curtain can add cheer and playfulness to a kitchen or breakfast nook. A long curtain that puddles slightly on the floor can add drama and richness to a more formal room, like a dining room or a master bedroom. Blend the measurement tips below with your own personal style to find the perfect fit for your space.
Sill Length Curtains
Short and sweet, sill length curtains typically cover just the length of the window. From the top of the frame to the windowsill, this short style of curtains works well for windows you open all the time. For this style, you'll want to order as close to the length of your window as possible. For example, if your window measures 60 inches in length, you would look for a curtain that is between 60 and 63 inches long.
Apron Length Curtains
Hanging a little longer than a sill length curtain, a clean and casual apron length curtain falls lower than the bottom of the window frame. For a crisp and balanced look, an apron length curtain should fall no more than a quarter of the way between the bottom of the frame and the baseboard, or about 4 inches below the sill. If your window is 70 inches in length, look for a curtain panel that measures between 65 and 80 inches long. This measurement will depend on where you're mounting your curtain's hardware--either on the frame or above the window on the wall.
Floor Length Curtains
Likely the most common and recommended length you'll see are floor length curtains. This polished length falls to just above the floor, with a half inch or less of clearance from the bottom of the curtain to the floor. While curtains certainly don't have to reach the floor, curtains in a floor length style can make your room appear larger and your windows look longer. To measure for this style of curtain, it will be easiest to start from the ground up rather than from the window down. This will help ensure you get curtains that just skim the floor.
Puddle Length Curtains
Of all the lengths we've covered, this length is the most dramatic and will add an element of elegance to whatever space you hang them. A heavier curtain fabric in this length can create a more formal look, while a sheer or lightweight fabric can lend a relaxed but elegant feel to the room. Measuring for a puddled curtain length is similar to measuring for floor length curtains; it's easiest to do from the bottom up. Measure from floor to where you plan to hang your curtains, and then add some extra inches. The most popular puddle length curtains today are an additional 2-4 inches longer than a floor length curtain, though you'll still find some that measure a full 6-8 inches longer. This style is meant to pool or puddle on the floor, making it ideal for low traffic and kid/pet free areas.
Quick Tips on Measuring and Hardware Placement
When measuring, keep in mind where you want to place your curtain hardware. The two most common placements for hardware are on the window frame itself, or above the window.
On Window
Mounting your curtain hardware on the window is ideal for café and kitchen style curtains, or if you're just hanging tiers. Keeping to the width of the window for these style curtains keeps things looking cute and clean.
Above Window
For curtains panels, we suggest mounting hardware to the wall above the window. As you do so, play around with the placement.
Go Wider and Taller
Going a little wider and a little taller than the window can add fullness and create the illusion of a larger window. We recommend going 8-12 inches wider than the window, and 4-6 inches taller.
You can add even more height and drama to your window the higher your hang your curtain hardware.
Template
Use a template to ensure your hardware is mounted in the same place on all your windows.
For the Full Look
When measuring for width, keep in mind you'll want your curtains to look full. To achieve this look, we recommend finding panels that are 1 1/2 to 2 times the width of your window. This applies to rod-pocket, tab-top, and grommet-top curtain styles.
