How to Hang Designer Curtains

When you spend the money on designer curtains for your windows, it just makes sense to take the time to hang them properly. This is not difficult, but it does take a little time to make sure that all of the little details are taken care of to ensure a neat and crisp look. Learn how to hang designer curtains and create beautiful window coverings for your home.

Things You'll Need

• Designer curtains
• Curtain rod/installation hardware
• Drill
• Tape measure
• Step ladder
• Pencil
• Iron
• Hooks for tiebacks

Instructions

1. Measure the outside width of the window. Curtain rods should extend beyond a window width by up to five inches. If your curtains are especially heavy, make sure you buy sturdy curtain rods that will be able to support the weight of the curtains. Select and purchase your curtain rod.

2. Install the curtain rod hardware above the window according to manufacturer instructions. Use the pencil to place small marks necessary for mounting the hardware, and drill the hardware into the wall. If the curtains are heavy, use wall anchors to make sure that the curtain rods will support the weight of the curtains.

3. Steam iron your curtains so that they are smooth and neat looking. If there are ruffles on the curtains, these must all be carefully ironed as well.

4. Install the curtains onto the rod. Lay them across a flat work surface to place the curtains onto the rod. Any curtain gathers do not need to be adjusted yet.

5. Install the curtain rod onto the mounted rod hardware above the window.

6. Climb the step ladder and adjust the gathers. Find the center point of the window on the curtain rod and place the inside edges of the curtains at this point. Adjust the gathers on each side. If there are curtain headers (ruffles at the top of the curtains), ensure that they are properly positioned at the top of the curtains. Grasp the header with one hand and pull the bottom portion of the curtains with the other hand to get the proper effect. Work your way across the entire top of the curtains to adjust the header.

7. Pull out the bottom edges of the curtains so they hang evenly.

8. Install the hooks for your tiebacks approximately two thirds of the way down from the top of the curtains at the outside edge of the curtains. Hang the tieback loops on the hooks and adjust the curtains in the tiebacks.

9. Step back and look to make sure that the curtains are hanging evenly and neatly.