6 Tips for Hanging Long Curtains on Short Windows

Your short windows may make your ceilings look too low for your liking. Luckily, there’s an easy fix—dress them with long curtains. Hanging long curtains on short windows can trick your eyes into perceiving the windows as taller than they are. You can make a huge impact on your space by opting for long panels and hanging them as high up as you can. Read on for a few more pointers to elongate your petite windows. 

1. Choose the Best Size for Your Window Treatments

If you want to make your short windows look longer, you should choose a type of window treatment with curtains that are at least 30% wider than your windows.

For the right length, measure from the floor to where you plan to install the rod (don’t forget to also factor in the length of rings, clips, or S-hooks). Then, if you’re purchasing standard-size curtains (for instance, 63, 84, or 96 inches), round up from there.

When deciding how long you’d like your curtains to be, you should generally aim for them just to touch the floor or slightly hover above it. If you’d rather they puddle on the floor, you’ll need to hang your rod right below the ceiling. Just know that super-long curtains, though they look romantic and old-world, can be a tripping hazard and collect more dust.

Regardless of length, make sure your curtains are well proportioned. If the panels are five feet wide, they should be seven feet long. If they’re three feet wide, they should be five feet long. 

2. Keep Window Treatments Simple

Window treatments for short windows should steer clear of over-the-top embellishments, like fringes, tassels, or swags. These details will draw more attention to the tiny stature of your short windows.

3. Pick Deep Brackets

Measure the depth of the window molding. Then choose deeper curtain brackets, extending past the window trim.

4. Choose Long Curtain Rods

Select rods that extend four to ten inches on either side of the window frames. So, look for a width of eight to 20 inches longer than the window width. This way, you’ll be able to fully open curtains to expose the most natural light. Plus, by opting for longer curtain rods, you’ll make your windows seem wider.

5. Hang Curtain Brackets and Rods High and Wide

When hanging curtains like a pro, you should first decide where to hang brackets widthwise. For this particular project, you or your curtain installer should mount them about six inches from the outside edges of the window frames. Use a level to make sure both sides are even.

Height-wise, rods should be at least halfway to two-thirds of the way towards the ceiling. Leave enough room for you to position rods onto brackets and make sure curtain tops won’t be higher than the bottom edges of any crown molding. The rod height should also allow fabric panels to barely brush or hover above the floor. To support heavy curtains or rods, use wall anchors.

6. Paint Window Trim and Surrounding Walls the Same Color

Matching the paint of the window trim and surrounding walls will help make your windows look larger. They’ll blend into the space around them, so your rooms will appear more expansive. A local interior painter can pick this task for you.

If you’re not up for going the DIY route, you can always hire a local interior designer to help you style your short windows.