“I can’t afford custom drapery right now but my windows are too bare and I feel exposed without any coverings. I’m going to purchase some pre-packaged canvas panels, but what length should they be?”
Drapery really completes the look of a window. It not only gives you privacy and can shield the sun and glare but it can really add to the look of the room. You have different colours, patterns and textures to choose from. A basic canvas panel is a great choice – it’s clean, it’s classic and the weight of the fabric will help maintain the tailored look.
Floor-length is the way to go, unless there’s a radiator or a deep sill in the way. Ready-made panels are available in lengths from 63 to 144 inches. Measure from the floor to where you’ll hang the rod, then round
up. So let’s say your floor to rod measurement is 81.5″ hem at 82″.
You can always have the dry cleaner or seamstress hem them a bit if needed. You’ll get the most current look if the fabric makes contact with the floor (or sill or radiator). Too-short curtains can seem off, almost like high-waters.
The image above is an example of cafe curtains. This is best for kitchen windows, bathrooms and any window with a deep sill or radiator; these can also work in a bay window. It’s a great way to add privacy but still allow some natural light plus you get that pop of colour, soft texture and/or print in the space.
Here are two surefire approaches. Personally, we opt for option 1 in most cases
1: Just Hitting the Floor or Sill
This look is classic and tailored; it makes sense if you’ll be opening and closing the curtains a lot (they’ll easily fall back into place every time you move them). The fabric should just touch the floor or hover half an inch above. This is also a great approach for café curtains (short panels that cover only the lower portion of a window and hit the sill – see image above), which work well in spots like the kitchen and bathroom, where long drapes aren’t practical. This is a clean look and you won’t collect dust bunnies or pet hair at the base.
2: Breaking Slightly at the Floor
Panels that extend onto the floor by one to three inches are the most stylish right now. They’re more relaxed than those that graze the floor (above), but they still feel tailored—think of a pair of dress trousers. If you have uneven floors or are worried about precision measuring, this style is more forgiving.
In formal rooms, an exaggerated take—six or so inches of fabric pooling on the floor—can look romantic but is also high-maintenance; curtains need re-fluffing every time you vacuum or the cat lies on them. It is also prone to ‘collecting’ pet hair and dust bunnies.
The image below is a good example of breaking slightly at the floor (not the exaggerated version).
There is nothing wrong with pre-packaged curtains just be sure to get the length right (so buy longer and hem) and if you love the look of your curtain but want more privacy, you can always add some blinds and keep the drapes installed. It really creates a more luxurious and designer look (see the image in our ‘just hitting the floor’ explanation). And remember the location of your rod can make your windows look bigger or smaller, so pay attention to that too!
Quick tip:
Aim to hang your curtain rod at least 3 inches above the window casing but if you can hang it 5-7″ above do that. And for width, you want 3-6″ beyond the window frame. Hanging your rods higher and wider makes the window look larger and the space look bigger too!
Here is an example of the exaggerated breaking or puddling.This is often seen in formal formal decorated rooms as it has an elegant, romantic and luxurious feel and it works much better with certain types of fabric. Seen below are raw silk custom drapes.
If you hang your drapes properly, it won’t matter if you spent a small fortune on them or you bought some pre-packaged ones, it’s all about how they are installed that will get you the designer look or not.
