How to Use Curtain Tiebacks

Designer tiebacks on the window drapes.

A curtain tieback is cording, fabric or another flexible material used in combination with a tieback post to restrain drapes. When windows are open, a breeze can toss lighter curtains about and heavier draperies can block welcome air flow. A tieback is useful in both cases.

Things You'll Need

• Curtains Tieback post for each side (they come with mounting hardware) Tieback hook (optional) Tieback (purchased or improvised) Power screwdriver Wall anchors (optional) Tape measure Pencil Pilot hole drill bit (optional)

Instructions

Using Tiebacks With Drapes

1. Measure the fall of your drapery and divide that number by three. This gives you the height for mounting the tieback post, assuming your drapes are full-length and almost touching the floor. If your curtains are sill-height you can center the tieback within the height of the window.

2. Allow the drapery to fall straight down. Measure one inch outward beyond the edge of the drapery (away from the window) for the location of the tieback post. Combine your height and your new measurement to position the tieback.

3. Holding your tieback post to the wall, mark the mounting holes. Do not mount your tieback post on trim molding around your window. Move your position outward to just beyond the molding. This will make your tieback post more visible, but you do not want to mar the finish of your moldings.

4. Screw your tieback post to the wall. Optimally you will screw into a stud. If not, insert a wall anchor to make sure the post is firmly mounted. For some applications you may want to use more subtle metal screw hooks; they need to be large enough to hold both sides of your tieback. Use your drill if you need to pre-drill a hole into a stud.

5. Use the same style of tieback posts for all of the windows in a room. Mount all of your tieback posts in that room at the same time. Follow the same directions so everything matches.

6. Hook one end of your tieback on the tieback post. Move your tieback behind the drapery and bring the other looped end back to the tieback post, across the front of your drape. If you are making drapery matching tiebacks or using belts or scarves you have on hand, align the decorative feature of your tieback to hang in the position you find most attractive.

7. Adjust your pulled-back draperies so that the fabric falls smoothly.

Tips & Warnings

• Tiebacks are an easy way to change the appearance of a drapery. You can use raffia, ribbon, belts or scarves to restrain your drapes. In the summer you can use live flowers with florist tubes on them to really bring life to your windows. Play with them.

• Mount your tieback posts solidly since drapery can be quite heavy and children and animals could easily cause mischief.

References

• Curtains Interior Dezine
• Tiebacks -- Indian Product