Knowing how to hang a curtain rod will give your window a professional installation appearance. A poorly placed curtain rod will make your curtains look awkward. Hanging curtain rods too high or too low can be frustrating. Follow these instructions and you will be hanging curtain rods like an expert.

Where to Hang Curtain Rods

First, take just a few minutes to determine the correct placement before you begin installing curtain rods in your home. A small amount of pre-planning will save you time and keep you from drilling multiple, unsightly holes in your wall or window frame.

In most cases, hanging curtain rod brackets on the wall above and outside the window frame looks best; allowing fabric to fall gracefully. If you have decorative window frames that you do not want to cover, an inside mount (hanging curtains within the frame, as you would with a tension rod) can work.

Listed below are 2 curtain rod hanging methods that decorators love for maximizing windows:

• Hang the rod above the window frame. To create the illusion of a taller window, mount the rod 4 to 6 inches above the window frame or halfway between the frame and the ceiling molding. (But within reason, don’t go more than 8 inches above the frame or it might look awkward.) Be sure to account for the extra fabric required when measuring your curtains.
• Hang the rod wider than the window frame. Extending the curtain rod 3 to 6 inches beyond the window frame on each side makes a window feel larger and allows extra light to stream in when the curtains are open. The fabric will hang against the wall without blocking the glass. You can also use this method to reveal pretty molding. In this case, you may want to leave as much as 12 inches on either side.

We sell many decorative curtain rods with beautiful finial ends to match your home decor. When you hang curtains on a rod, the edge of the curtains will stop at the rod brackets. The decorative finials on your curtain rod will extend out past the edge of your curtains. Keep this in mind before you hang your curtain rod. Placing your brackets at the end of the rod before the finial will look best.

How To Install Curtain Rods

Once you have determined where you will be hanging your curtain brackets, gather the following equipment:

• Sharp pencil
• Tape measure
• Power drill or punch for pilot holes
• Bubble level or laser level
• Screwdriver (check the head of your screws to determine what type of screwdriver is required).

Follow these easy steps to install your curtain rod:

1. Determine how you will attach your curtain rods. The sturdiest way to install curtain rods is to insert screws into studs, when possible. If you cannot install screws into studs, use anchors. Using a stud finder will ensure that you will find the right location to hang your brackets.
2. Using a tape measure. Measure the above and out from your window to locate where to place your curtain rod brackets.
3. Mark with a sharp pencil on the wall where you want to drill your pilot holes. Place your bracket on the wall at the pre-determined location and use the pencil to mark the screw locations on the wall.
4. Use a bubble level or laser level, when possible, to determine that your bracket placement will be level.
5. Drill pilot holes using a punch or power drill where your screws or anchors will be inserted. Drilling a pilot hole will help start your screw and will keep the wall material from cracking. This step is especially important if you will be screwing into wood window frame.
6. Screw the curtain rod brackets to the wall. Make sure that the screws have attached the curtain rod brackets securely. If the brackets are not secure, use anchors to ensure that the brackets are stable and strong enough to hold up the weight of the curtain rods plus the curtain material.
7. Place the curtain rod onto your installed brackets. Now is the time to double check that your curtain rod is hanging level. If your rod is not level, try making slight adjustments to your brackets to ensure that the curtain rod will hang level.
8. Once you determine that your curtain rod is level, remove your rod and hang your curtains.