Hanging Curtain Rods

Hanging a curtain on a plain window helps add privacy, softness and character to a room. Whatever type of drapery or curtain you are using, it will not look good without a sturdy and decorative curtain rod to go with it. Properly hanging curtain rods will ensure that your curtain will stay in place, providing a look that is not sloppy or disproportionate.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Pencil
• Tape measure
• Drill
• Screws
• Wall anchors
• Screwdriver
• Level
• Curtain rod hardware

1. Measure the length of your curtain. It's important to know the length of your curtain in order to ascertain how high your curtain rod should hang. Allow extra allowances to hang the curtain rod higher to give the room an illusion of height.

2. Find the best place to position the curtain rod brackets. Hang as close to the ceiling as possible, depending on the length of the curtain. Mark the height on the wall with a pencil. Determine how wide you should hang the rod. If you have a small or narrow window, you can give the illusion of a bigger window by hanging a few inches away from the window frame or casings. Mark the position again with a pencil. Adjust the marks so that the height and width will be on the same place.

3. Hold the bracket up and then mark the top of the bracket with pencil. Mark the holes where the screws will go.

4. Drill the mark for the hole where your screw or wall anchor would go.

5. Use a screwdriver to screw the bracket in place. If you are using an anchor, insert it first into the hole. Make sure to test if it is wobbly or tight enough by tugging gently on the bracket.

6. Repeat the steps on the other side of the rod.

7. Place additional brackets in between the two main brackets if you are hanging a longer rod for a wider window. This will help ensure that the rod will not sag when used with heavier curtains.

8. Place rod on the brackets. Depending on the type of hardware, you may need to snap the rod inside the bracket or insert it in a hole of the bracket.

9. Use a level to check alignment.

10. Cover any holes, paint chips or cracks caused by the drilling. At times, brackets can disguise these imperfections, but the brackets may not be large enough to cover the cracked paint. You may need to touch up the paint if the hole is big or visible.

11. Hang the curtains. Try opening and closing them to see if the rod will not budge.

Tips & Warnings

• You may need to hang a double-rod if you are using layered curtains. If so, follow similar steps but take into consideration the height of each curtain to ensure an aligned result.
• Use the studs to hang your brackets and extra hardware when using bigger or heavier rods and draperies to prevent the curtain rods from collapsing. If you cannot use the studs, use bigger anchors to secure them in place.