Normally you hang rod 5-6" outside of window trim, so no light comes in from the sides. And when curtains are open, they are not blocking the view/light. The rod should go above window trim, based on personal preference.

Not sure if you are planning to use these curtains alone? These curtains will give zero privacy at night--when dark outside, and his lights on inside, he will be "on stage"

chocolatesnap- i am going to sew in light blocking fabric.

chloebud- i am doing those or cellular shades in most of the other rooms but I wanted some softness in his room. I own these curtains and my son likes them. hoping to use them

Do you have more panels? I do not know if there is enough fabric to mount the rods outside the wood frame. What is the plan for opening and closing them? You may want to mount shades for privacy and light reduction and use the curtains as a decorative accent to soften the windows. I have done that in my girls' bedrooms - with tie backs that are kept tied back and the shade for privacy. Tie-backs are not a guy thing, so maybe just a straight panel on each side of the window - they may need to be fuller than they are. My son has his curtains mounted inside the window like you have shown because he doesn't seem to want to let the sunshine in like the rest of us:) If you do keep them mounted on the pressure rod in the frame, consider hemming them to land just above the sill rather than down low. Another alternative is to alter the curtains to cafe type and combine with a shade. Another is a to alter the curtains into a faux roman shade and combine with shade or shutters. A faux roman shade can act as a modern version of a valance and hide a shade. Cafe curtains and faux roman shades require very minimal sewing skills, but do require exact cutting - nothing shows crooked cuts more than a window treatment.

Faux Roman shade with blinds or shutters:

Shutters with curtain panels:

Cafe style: You can combine this with a shade or blind though it will show at the top. You can also look at the easy to apply and removable window films which give privacy - though they still let light through if your son doesn't mind having the view restricted - that also could be combined with a cafe curtain or a faux Roman shade.

JHMarie - interesting suggestions. you have given me stuff to think about. Our house is 6' off the ground and while it faces the street, we are rural and it is 100' to the road. Cafe curtains might work. I have only ever seen them in kitchens, not bedrooms. IS that a thing?? I can sew but don't have a space set up right now as we are living in our house as we finish it. if you look closer, the trim in installed but not caulked and painted. I can figure out a place to sew

I bought the curtains on clearance so i doubt i could get more. But I will look. They would look pretty skimpy when closed if I hang them wider than the windows (which I would do).

The shutter idea is interesting as well. The other room on the front of the house is another bedroom. I guess whatever I do should match for those two rooms at least (Both boy rooms)

Need to find somewhere local to price this all out.

I found one pic in a quick online search of a bedroom with a cafe style:

I struggle with window treatment myself - I would love to get some shutters for some of my windows but budget has been a problem for the past year:) I have looked at this next idea - the fabric window screen but hesitate because It would not be washable - not like I was my window treatment frequently! Also, it can't be opened:

I did a faux roman shade in my kitchen. Mine is shirred on a rod - some of the online tutorials staple the shade to a wood bar - but I wanted mine easy to remove and clean. Some ideas online are "no sew" using fusible hem tape. Sounds like you have a lot going on right now. You have got some privacy now. You may need to wait till the home is more finished to think through finish decor ideas:)

My kitchen window - basically just horizontal pleats. Top pleat is tacked into place so as to hide the stitching but the lower pleats are machine sewn in hidden under the pleat above.

https://www.houzz.com/hznb/photos/my-pics-work-in-progress-phvw-vp~110720042

Jhmarie- I like your kitchen treatments! I also have 2 narrow windows in my kitchen facing west (same direction as the bedroom I posted). I need to get some top down -bottom up cellular shades to chase that sunbeam for an hour in the evening when it is pesky. I will consider some faux-roman to add some softness to the top of the window and to hide the shade mounting stuff.

We do have a bit going on, lol. I am really struggling with wanting to do a little decorating, lol. And these curtains bug me every time I go in his room. I am going to price some plantation shutters for the 2 boys rooms next time I am out. That idea is growing on me. I like the idea of semi-sheer cafe curtains on the master bedroom windows. We face the back porch and don't need too much privacy day to day.

Even if you add fabric to the back to block the light, the treatments just aren't functional. You should be able to open the windows to get light when needed, and close it completely for the light. Plantation shutters are expensive, but would work. You could also just use an interior mounted roman or pull down shade. Simple is sometimes better, especially as your son gets older. Wood blinds would also work, to slant up or down for some privacy.