Or add a fringe that is a different color than curtain like this ?

Adding the fringe to bottom is a clever idea but I think very $$$. Have you looked at cost of trims in fabric stores or JoAnnes? Maybe a less expensive idea would be to buy a large flat sheet in color or pattern you like & ask your mother to sew strips cut from the sheet wide enough to make them floor length to bottom of each panel. They’d resemble the drapery panels with bands of different colors going width wise in them.

You can basically “patch” screw holes from curtain rods with your finger. 🙄 It’s a 5 minute job. Whereas altering the curtains means purchasing material, measuring, cutting, sewing, etc. With little kids, you have better things to spend your time and money on.

Sorry to say but I do think the curtains are really bad and not just because they don't go all the way to the floor. They just don't seem attractive to me in your space. Do you intend to pull the sofa away from the wall a bit so that a longer curtain actually has room to hang down? I'd get in expensive sheers. They let in light and are simple. Inexpensive ones abound.

I also had the same thought as @JAN MOYER. It would be a much cleaner look though it sounds like you really want to have a breezy type open feel to this window.

In the long run, following a plan similar to what Jan suggests makes sense. in the shorter run keep what you have and preserve family serenity by not using a dictatorial tone; her cost benefit ratio is out of balance.

Hop on Houzz or another home shopping website that may start with an A or a W and search for what you want. Curtains can be expensive but arent always. Look for a bargain in the length you need.

How high is the rod off the floor? I am assuming the previous owner put the rod at a height that would allow one of the standard lengths of curtains touch the floor when hung on that rod.

You may be able to find something pretty easily.

i agree with Jan’s suggestion ( but I dislike curtains / drapes ) . Cordless shades would look waaaay better than those, no offense.

New house build but not ready for new stuff yet because of toddlers … thanks for suggestions … keep them going … my mom sews really well and we can think of something …. Then we can buy brand new curtains when littles are bigger

I think they look fine as they are and I wouldn't spend money to change them, nor would I bother changing the height of the rod. You have more important things to do right now, and if the curtains don't bother you, leave them alone.

It will be cheaper by FAR , look better by far, to buy new wide width sheers at the length you need. If you're insisting on any curtain whatsoever.

They aren't appropriate for the room, or for the toddler . ........and adding to those will simply ruin the look of your room.

Your best bet is light filtering cellular shades, ( home depot, cut on site ) and after that appropriate sheers, ( CHEAPER than mom buying fabric to make anything )

What you have does not look good. Very sorry. Available below.... 96 and 120 length and each panel 100 inches wide.

https://www.wayfair.com/decor-pillows/pdp/winston-porter-carissia-solid-sheer-rod-pocket-single-curtain-panel-w003237873.html?piid=1416378263

Again...... a more casual look with a cordless, and very safe raise and lower shade would be better.

So did he just put this up at some random height without thinking at all about the length of what was going to hang on it, and now he won't fix it?

I believe the op "inherited" the rods at home purchase.

Try tying them. I bet you could get the hem to the window sill.

To make them longer, have your Mom add tabs.

My curtains in my computer room do not go to the floor. So I have a console table that I have used in front of that too short sheer curtained window.. No one sees the shorter length curtains. Can you put an ottoman or bench in front of your window. I would not chage your curtains yet. Wait till your kids are older.

I don't think the rods were inherited because they aren't showing in any of the fireplace pictures.

I would have your mom hem the curtains and make them into a generous valance. Or hem them to sill length. When you have the time, energy, and spousal capital then I would totally replace the rods and valances with a more stylish option.

The lace is pretty but wasted on a white wall. Anyway, you can make them a bit longer with rings and clips, but I don't think the length is the problem.

I'd take them down and let the spouse (who insists they exist but refuses to assist) deal with it. You don't need window coverings! :)

The other suggestions are good, too.

As asked, who hung the rods in their current place? If it was DH seems he should be willing to move them to the correct placement.

Also how old are these? Are they truly vintage or just something that was in storage? Lace curtains like that we all the thing in the 90's. Not heirloom quality, more like Target/JCP quality. and maybe from Europe too! Speaking from experience, been there, donated those!

So I see the answer to my question. Not vintage, just old. Only worth saving if you love them and they work.

Also, obviously, I'm not sure if that is your current furniture placement but if it is it looks like you have plenty of room to pull the furniture away from the wall. That will help the space look cozy and less like a waiting room.

Please don't hold off on buying nice things until your children are older. I promise you, they can do even more damage as teens; or when they return with your grandkids. Just buy things you love, that are right for the room, and that you can easily clean or replace as needed.

I've never liked curtains to the floor. I think those are a fine length. I think putting up the curtains you have is a fine idea. Maybe you'll come to love them, maybe you'll find something you love later. Go for it!

Tell hubby that the curtains are fine as is, but he needs to repaint the walls so they show up nice.

Looks like they have pinch pleats on top, and the rod pocket seems really wide, which makes them hang akwardly and look a little stuffy. Maybe ask your mom if she can remove seams and pleats at the top and resew with a simple, narrower rod pocket. They’d look more brrezy and it might also buy you an extra few inches of length.

I elongated some window sheers by adding some fabric to the rod end of the panels. I found some sheer fabric with a burnout pattern that looked nice with the existing sheer. I cut the burnout on the bias because it looked intentional and designer that way. I sewed it to the top of original drape. It looked great and you could not tell that the sheers were altered. The house recently sold for over asking price with those sheers in the windows.

If your husband is insisting on window coverings, these won’t provide privacy at night, but window shades only provide privacy when they are closed, so they have to be wide open in the daytime or else you can’t see out the windows. I’m very unsure what he thinks these sheers are providing, other than blocking your daytime view.. Can you explain what his reasoning is for sheer draperies? (If you can make sense of it)? I don’t think these look so bad for a temporary fix. I would not bother altering them. If you feel you must, perhaps a lace tablecloth (they are very inexpensive) or one from goodwill - maybe you would find more lace curtains there that could be used to alter these on the bottom.

@Jessica Cieluch what do you and hubby think about top-down bottom-up blinds the color of the walls? I think it would be a nice clean look in your space with very high ceilings, would allow the light in daytime and close up for whatever need hubby has for that feeling.

I agree with Jan. Get yourself some cellular shades. They fit beautifully in the window and, in the future, if you want to add something to your windows , you can add something decorative because you already have something that is functioning. Cellular shades add privacy when you want it,, but can be drawn easily up to the top of the window when you want them to all but disappear.

What you have up there right now is not functional. You cant really open and close them and they dont provide much privacy or sun light control.

Cellular shades are the best! They are widely avaialble, easy to install, last for years and dont dictate to your decor as do patterned fabrics in curtains.

For a temporary (!!!!) fix, have your mom sew white or ivory synthetic crepe fabric (not shiny!) in bands to both the top AND the bottom of your draperies. A pocket at the top for the rod, and enough on the bottom to create a deep hem. The fabric bands will look intentional. I have draperies in my master made with coordinating fabric bands on the top and bottom. It won’t cost a fortune…go to a store like JoAnn Fabric that sells wedding/formal fabrics. Try to match the color of the lace as best as you can. Good luck!

IF the issue is resources and time? Do nothing with them until you can correctly address these windows with a more logical, child proof solution.

NO "cobble together" is going to improve the look of these. Sorry. Sometimes, you simply save for the right thing, and that need not be when a child goes to college. Long before kindergarten,there are good solutions...they're just not free : )

Well, I hope @Jessica Cieluch takes some of these suggestions with a grain of salt. Free advice is often worth exactly what you pay for it.

I just went on amazon and found black out curtains, 2 panels per pack, 54' wide per panel in a variety of lengths up to 108 inches.....I invested in a one inch plus diameter curtain rod that was wider than my window from Home Goods and hubs put them up. The curtains were 25.00 a panel. And because they were black out had a great lining that made the curtains hang beautifully; I was impressed and I am super picky..... , so go on line, find the curtains, find the rods, find an installer and use the credit card....if he is pooh poohing the free curtains, you are going to have an up hill battle 'when the kids are older'. Plan for the here and now as later never comes, but instead, always is the here and now.....IMO.

1. grommet curtains

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2. grommet curtains

Last thought, anything online can be returned.....good luck.

I wish OP would clarify what her husband wants to accomplish with window coverings...These in the daytime block a direct view into the room, but no privacy at night. Cellular shades have to be closed to provide privacy, so no looking out the window in the daytime if he wants privacy then. Same with black out. Works at night but not if he wants daytime privacy.

They are fine until you get something else.

yep -- you need to add a *coordinated* bottom border so the curtains almost hit the floor.

also, the down/up shades are wonderful -- privacy when you want, and drop the top when you want to see out.

Thank you everyone ! Sorry I’m late I’m here . My other toddler is special needs and we had a situation. I told my husband all of these suggestions. Yes, it’s hard to get him to budge on some things but I like the budget ideas and blinds. I even said “in a few years , maybe we can move rods to ceiling ?” Not sure if it will take away the focus on the beams then. I have horrible design ideas … even budget ones … don’t know what I’m doing. So, this helped ! Crazy mom of two rambunctious toddler 🤪

"Situations" certainly more important.

Curious though..... as to the resolution for NOW.

"I even said “in a few years , maybe we can move rods to ceiling ?” Not sure if it will take away the focus on the beams then."

What I and probably many others can't understand, is the WHY of not just removing the rods. You don't EVER want rods to the ceiling with those windows and that height.

Really, the single most cost effective, and safest answer is cordless shades, and remove the rods.

You might have three "toddlers" on your hands from what I've been reading......sigh.

You might have three "toddlers" on your hands from what I've been reading......sigh.

What an unkind thing to say. Are you as incapable of staying in your lane as you so often appear to be?

Sorry, but it is a SIMPLE removal of a curtain rod!

Why in the world would it take several years? Why is only one person's wants taken into consideration? Mmmmm?

The op has two children - one with special needs. It seems a very , very small request, if one wants coverage on a window with a view she enjoys? To lend a hand in that regard. Unscrew, patch, paint touch up.

All of course assuming she trades dangling curtain panels for shade or blinds. Child friendly - no cord

On the one hand, I don't want to get into whatever dynamics are going on here but as a test, I went onto Amazon and had a small spackle kit, a couple foam paint brushes and a wall anchor and screw kit in my cart in slightly over 5 minutes and added a 6 pack of scissor trimmable paper temporary shades in the cart in another minute.

This could have been on the porch in a day or two and the several steps needed to move this curtain rod to the right place could have been accomplished in a series of 5-10 minute tasks while the kids are taking a nap, without the husband's help. And paper shades put up on the windows that need to be covered as well. Really, less time than has been spent on this thread.

"Why in the world would it take several years? Why is only one person's wants taken into consideration? Mmmmm?"

Why is that any of your or anyone else's business? She didn't ask for relationship judgements or advice and she'd be wise to avoid taking it from some people on these boards.