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URGENT- How long should be side window curtains or drapes?

9 years ago

We have recently moved to a condo and have three windows in the living dinning space. Two side short and 1 full length to open in the balcony. We have got the window curtains for long window nailed but now confused with side windows and want to make sure we are doing it right before i cut the curtain panel.

1. Should the curtain in side window short until the seal or full length?

2. If short what is the thumb rule for the length of the length - should be length be bit shorter than window seal or bit longer were it would be hanging our of the seal?

3. The curtain rod are attached in the little gap between window and seal and not outside. Are we correct?

Few pics attached and sorry for the lighting and my camera issues.

Floor plan to see the space.


Comments (14)

  • 9 years ago

    They should all be to the floor, unless there was something under the window to prevent them from being full length. Short curtains belong in bathrooms and kids rooms, and just don't look good in living and dining rooms, for the most part. You could put shades instead of long panels (curtains).

  • 9 years ago

    All curtains should go to the floor.

  • 9 years ago

    All curtains should not go to the floor.

    If a curtain has a heater or ductwork on the wall or floor directly below it, the curtains may have to be shorter for safety's sake.

    Also, shorter curtains can look very sharp -- as illustrated in Annie's picture above. It all depends on your style. I am planning a modern decor living room, and 63" grommeted curtains will look great in there -- and I have 9' ceilings!

    If you do use shorter curtains, they can either just skim the sill, or you can let them hang down over the sill -- often covering the outlet you have there. In your case I would either just skim the window sill, or I would hem them to just miss the floor.

  • 9 years ago

    I'd do shades or blinds, maybe combined with a topper treatment. Long curtains aren't right and the shorter, window-length ones remind me of a hotel room.

  • 9 years ago

    I could be seeing it wrong but it appears that the sill is deeper and extends out enough to keep curtains from hanging straight when the rod/track is close to the window. If so, and you want to use those curtains I would end with the curtains just brushing the sill as stated above ("skim the sill"). If they are washable, I would wash before hemming so that they don't shrink later to prevent 'high waters'. Either that or extend the rod out so longer curtains hang straight.

  • 9 years ago

    gramarows - you have observed it perfectly right that the sill is deeper and hang around 1/1.5 inches ahead the window and we have placed the rod in the gap between the window and seal. So i guess you guys are suggesting to trim the curtains just to touch the base of sill and wash before if we these are washable right?

  • 9 years ago

    A window sill is that piece of material beneath the actual window--not above it. Perhaps when you say seal, you're referring to the soffitt (box like protrusion) at the top above the window?

    The picture Annie posted has the curtains short (to the base of the window sill) because there are heater vents beneath the window that would be obstructed by the curtain. Since you have no heater vents below yours and your curtains are already long enough to reach to the floor, most decorators would advise you like several others above have done, to have your curtain panels to the floor. Shortening them to the sill is a more informal look and not usually done in the main living area, especially since you have long panels already.

  • 9 years ago

    I'm confused now...when I look at your picture, I see two drapes. The darker long one which should be shortened to just skim the floor and the shorter sheer which should be shortened to just skim the window sill...the ledge...so that the curtain can operate freely. The inner curtain has to swing out so it won't operate smoothly unless it is shortened to the sill. The outer curtain can skim the floor or can be shortened to the bottom of the sill...the lowest bit of wood under the window. Or if you want, as it doesn't move, you can just tuck the ends under and arrange nicely to puddle on the floor.


    Transitional Living Room · More Info

  • 9 years ago

    Short curtains always remind me of a motel.

  • 9 years ago

    Hmm. I have stayed at motels with short curtains, and motels with long curtains, and regarding the price I paid those nights -- no difference. Personally, however, I do prefer long curtains, at least until the cats decide to tangle up in them

  • 9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    I'm not sure if I am completely understand your dilemma so forgive me if what I write doesn't make sense,

    What is the reason for the short, lighter curtain? Is it a sheer for privacy? If you need privacy and your sheers are returnable you might consider replacing them with blinds. Blinds are considered a more modern look than sheers and would work better with your rug and furniture.

    If your sill is interfering with your longer panels you should be able to find rods that extend out farther than the rods you have now.

    If you have the room, I would also suggest that you lengthen your rod so when your long curtains are pulled back you see the window trim. You may want to add some extra panels for fullness. The designer trick to to hang your curtains high and wide. This blog has some good suggestions about curtains:

    http://www.younghouselove.com/2009/06/email-answer-its-curtains-for-you/

  • 9 years ago

    As I recall, all of the windows are basically in the same space. You already have to the floor orange curtains behind the sofa. If these are the same orange curtains, I think they also need to be to the floor as they are really all in the same room. Due to the ledges below the windows, if you are unable to have them go to the floor, I'd do another type of window treatment. Roman shades, blinds, etc.. Having the same curtains on all 3 windows with 1 long and 2 short in such a small space, just won't look right.

  • 9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Curtains that do not go to the floor are the decorative equivalent to a man's short sleeved dress shirt. Those curtains in the picture Annie posted look very Seventies at best. A better solution to dress that window would have been open curtains, e.g. a panel on either side of the radiator cover, with a roman shade or blinds or bamboo shade between the panels, mounted on the wall just at the level of the curtain rod. That shade or blind would then extend just to the top of the window sill.