How to Install Curtain Rods

Installing curtain rods can be a bit daunting. But if you follow the proper steps, it’s not too tricky!

The first step is to measure your window. This will give you the height you need to hang your curtain hardware.

1. Measure the Window

When installing curtain rods, it’s essential to measure the window carefully. Even a minor mismeasurement can distinguish between a successful installation and an unsatisfactory result.

Start by measuring the window’s width and height from top to bottom and in the center. For each measurement, move the window sash out of the way so you can take accurate measurements.

2. Determine the Curtain Length

Choosing suitable curtains for your windows is one of the most critical design decisions. But it’s also one of the most challenging.

That’s because curtains come in a variety of lengths. Some are designed to graze the floor, while others trail elegantly along the bottom.

3. Determine the Window’s Height

Generally, curtain rods should be placed about 4 to 6 inches above the window frame. This height gives the curtains a slight brush with the floor or hovers above it, allowing plenty of natural light to shine.

Using a chart, determine the window’s width from side to side, including any trim present. Add ten inches for a center draw and up to two inches for a one-way operation.

4. Determine the Window’s Width

When installing curtains, determine the window’s width before deciding the length. A finished curtain’s width should be at least twice as wide as the rod.

Measure the window from the head jamb to the bottom sill in three places – left, middle and right. Record the smallest of these numbers as the window opening height. This number will be used to order your new windows.

5. Determine the Window’s Depth

To determine the window’s depth, open the window and measure the sill space. This is the space between the exterior brick mold and where the interior window trim attaches to the jamb.

You should make three vertical measurements—on the left side, the center and the right. Choose the smallest of these numbers and record it.

6. Determine the Window’s Angle

When installing curtain rods, it’s essential to know the angle of your window. This will allow you to install the right length of the rod in the correct place.

To determine the window’s angle, measure the width from the head jamb to the bottom sill on the far left and far right. And again, in the middle. Circle the shortest of the three measurements as your angle.

7. Determine the Window’s Depth

To install curtain rods, you need to know the window’s depth. Most replacement windows do not include depth measurements, so you should measure the space between the window trim and sill.

You should take three vertical measurements from the top horizontal board above the head jamb to the bottom sill. Circle or highlight the shortest one, and use that number when ordering replacement windows.

8. Determine the Window’s Angle

Whether you’re hanging curtains in a living room, bedroom or dining room, angled windows add visual interest and a touch of luxury. They can also block light and give you privacy when desired.

To determine the window’s angle, use a measuring tape to take two measurements from different points on the wall. This information will help you install curtain brackets at an angle that matches your wall’s slope as closely as possible.

9. Determine the Window’s Depth

When installing curtain rods, it is essential to determine the window’s depth. This measurement will choose the size of the curtain rods and the mounting hardware.

To determine the window’s depth, run a tape measure along the outside of the frame from edge to edge. You don’t need to include any pulleys or parting strips, but the measurements should be at least 3 1/4 inches of opening depth between the inside window trim and the outside blind stop strip.

10. Determine the Window’s Width

Before installing curtain rods, you need to determine the window’s width. This will help you select the length of the correct curtain and ensure they hang correctly on the rods.

Start by measuring the window’s width from side to side, including the frame or trim, if present. Measure three times: once at the top, middle, and bottom of the window, rounded to the nearest 1/8-inch.