You’ve just moved into your first apartment and you need to buy curtains.How do you know what size curtains to buy? Measuring your windows before you buy curtains will guarantee that you get a professional fit and look.

Before you begin measuring your window for curtains, you to take a few minutes to decide how and where your curtains will be mounted.

In most cases, hanging curtain brackets on the wall above and outside the window frame looks best; it allows 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. Below are two hanging tricks that decorators love for maximizing windows.You can choose just one technique or use both on the same window.

Hang Above the Frame.To create the illusion of a taller window, mount the rod four to six inches above the window frame or halfway between the frame and the ceiling molding. (But within reason don’t go more than eight inches above the frame or it might look awkward.) A track mounted on the ceiling also lengthens windows. Be sure to account for the extra fabric when measuring.

Hang Wider Than the Frame. Extending the rod three to six inches beyond the frame on each side makes a window feel grander and allows extra light to stream in when the curtains are open (the fabric hangs against the wall without blocking the glass). You can also use this plan to reveal pretty molding. In this case, you may want to leave as much as 12 inches on either side.

Steps To Measure A Window For Curtains

What you need:

• Tape Measure
• Pencil
• Paper

Tip: Measure each window and doorway individually.Often, windows that appear to be the same size are not.

1.Draw a sketch of your window:

On your paper, make a sketch of the window and label the drawing so that you will can identify the drawing to which window it belongs to (ex. Window A).

2.To measure the height:

To measure the height of your window, place the end of the tape measure along the top edge of the molding of the window.Measure to the desired length.

For regular curtains, you want them to hang about 4" past the bottom window sill. For floor length curtains, measure from the window sill to about 1" above the floor. If you want your curtains to "puddle" on the floor, measure to the floor and add another 6" - 10".

Floor length is the most popular look, unless there is a radiator or a deep sill in the way. Ready-made panels are available in lengths from 63 to 144 inches.You can always have the hem shortened a bit by your dry cleaner, if needed. You’ll get the most current look if the fabric makes contact with the floor (or sill or radiator).

Write down the measurement.

EXAMPLE:

96” = From top of window to Floor

Plus (+)6” above the top of the window for the curtain rod

102” total height needed for curtain

3.To measure the width:

Place the end of the tape measure along the outside edge of the molding of the window (not along the glass), and measure to the opposite outside molding edge of the window.

To make sure your panels look full when closed, they should have a combined width that is 2 to 2½ times the width of the window. Exceptions: If you’re hanging curtains just to frame a window and don’t intend to shut them, you can round down to 1½ times the width. Pleated panels have fullness built in, so their width should more or less match the span you’re covering.

Write down the measurement.

EXAMPLE:

24” = Window width

Plus (+)12” Curtain Rod width (6” on either side of the window)

36” x 2 = 72” total width needed for curtains

Using our example you know that Window A will need curtains that are 72” wide x 102” tall.

Repeat the 3 steps to measure for any additional windows that need curtains.