Curtains how many panels do i need

If you have solid-color furniture or bedding, consider patterned curtains. For a subtle hit of style and energy, go for a small, neutral print, like dots or paisley, which reads like texture from afar.

A large, graphic print in a color that relates to the existing decor is daring but can be spectacular this design is eye-catching. Ready-made panels are available in lengths from 63 to inches. You can always have the dry cleaner hem them a bit if needed. Too-short curtains can seem nerdy and off, like high-waters. Here are two surefire approaches. The fabric should just touch the floor or hover half an inch above.

Panels that extend onto the floor by one to three inches are another stylish option. If you have uneven floors or are worried about precision measuring, this style is more forgiving. In formal rooms, an exaggerated take—six or so inches of fabric pooling on the floor—can look romantic but is also high-maintenance. They'll need to be cleaned more often and will have to be readjusted every time you vacuum or the cat lies on them.

Generally, hanging curtain brackets on the wall above and outside the window molding looks best, since it allows fabric to fall gracefully. Below are two hanging tricks that decorators love for maximizing windows—you can opt for just one technique or use both on the same window.

To create the illusion of a taller window, mount the rod four to six inches above the window frame—or halfway between the frame and the ceiling molding.

A track mounted on the ceiling also lengthens windows. Be sure to account for the extra fabric when measuring. Extending the rod three to six inches beyond the frame on each side makes a window feel grander and allows extra light to stream in when the curtains are open the fabric hangs against the wall without blocking the glass.

You can also use this plan to reveal pretty molding. In this case, you may want to leave as much as 12 inches on either side. Remember to adjust your width measurements for this look. The top hem of a curtain, known as the heading, can help define the overall look—casual or formal, feminine or sleek—and also play a part in functionality allowing the panel to slide easily or not. A traditional flat heading that attaches to the rod via rings stitched into its top hem or, sometimes, drapery hooks the rings attach to the hooks.

With either setup, the curtains move easily. A channel along the top holds the rod and creates a casual, gathered effect. A nice choice for curtains that will stay put, because shimmying the fabric back and forth can be difficult.

There are many styles, from narrow pencil pleats to wide, flat box pleats. Pleated curtains generally operate with drapery hooks and rings. Flat loops of fabric hang on the rod. This can look relaxed with sheers or buttoned-up with stiffer fabrics. A variation on this theme is tie-tops, with bows instead of flat loops—still casual but more feminine and romantic. Decorative curtain rods should relate to the style of the room.

Those that are completely hidden from view can be chosen based on function alone. Here are common options. Measure the width of the rod from left to right. A common rule for displaying curtains properly says the curtains finished width should be at least 2 times the width of your window if not more - sheers can be 3 times the window width to achieve a look of proper fullness.

In this case 2 panels will give about " to " of width which will look nice and full. Always round up to the next full number. Standard fullness multiply by 2. Typically, grommet and gathered curtains are listed as flat width. Pleated panels usually are listed as the finished width. Multiply the width of the area to cover by the desired curtain fullness; round the number up for the minimum number of panels required.

The width of the curtain panel, as listed on the packaging, is the flat width of the panel -- unless the package indicates otherwise. If the package lists the flat panel measurement as 54 inches, and the area to cover is inches at double fullness, divide by 54 for the result of four panels.

If the package indicates finished width, divide the area to cover by the finished width. For example, if the package lists the curtain as finished at 25 inches wide, and the area to cover is inches, divided by 25 equals 4. The treatment needs four panels. For example, if the window is inches wide , the curtains should be made to inches wide in order for them to hang off the window when in the open position.

For an inside-mount curtain, measure from one edge inside the frame to the inside edge on the opposite side. A clever way to double layer curtains from a single rod is to use double -sided hooks. Sure, these are designed for shower curtains , but why not adopt them for other rooms? These hooks feature two hooks on opposite sides that can hold two separate panels at the same time. Take your width measurement let's say 40 inches and either double it or triple it for a very full look , meaning that you would purchase 80 inches or inches of total panel material for the curtains.

Fabric is usually sold by the whole yard. To figure out how many yards you'll need to buy, multiply your final height by the number of panels needed.

Next, divide this number by 36 there are 36 inches in a yard. Round up to the nearest whole yard. To calculate the number of fabric widths required to make your curtains: Multiply Pole Length by Fullness Ratio. Divide this figure by the Fabric Width.

Single Panel Curtain :As the name states, single panel curtains are made of one piece of fabric. These are great for sliding glass doors.

Panel Pair: These curtains come in matching pairs, allowing you to hang the two pieces of fabric on either side of the window.

Instead, they are draped over the curtain rod. As a general decorating rule, drapes should be long enough to touch the floor. The amount of drapery material reaching the floor depends on the desired look of the curtains once they are hanging around the windows.