Spring tension rods. Take them with you when you move and cheap to boot!

The "block" above the window is a soffit which is probably built with wood or steel stud frames. I'd use a stud finder on it if you can to verify but mounting your curtain hanger from this should work.

How about tab tie curtains hung on command silver hooks? no damage to wall and you can place any where you want over the window.

I have windows like this. Don't do curtains at all, because they'll just chop up the lines of the window. I wouldn't even do a tension rod because you'll still have problems with the lack of support in the middle. Take off the vertical blinds and put up roman shades.

I will second a spring tension rod.
However, usally those soffits that jut out are there for structural reasons and should be pretty strong. I wouldn't worry about anything falling out of them. If you do put something into the wall be sure to use anchors that go into the wall first, then you screw the screws into the anchor. Much more stable. And if you don't have a drill, borrow one from a friend. (or buy one, they're not too expensive) Makes the whole process much faster, easier and the finished results more secure.

You can hang a rod from the ceiling, just use proper screws for securing to the dry wall. They have an attachment that catches on the other side.

Thats what I did to install roller blinds over my windows!

Hi Melanie,
You can ceiling mount a track for a Ripplefold drape (Kirsch KS track or Forest Group KS Click system). They are made to be ceiling supported and I've used them often with no problem. You could also use a traverse rod with ceiling mounted brackets but the ripple fold with look more modern and streamlined. You will have to work with a drapery workroom to provide the components needed on your drapery for each system (snaps for ripplefold, pleats and pins for a traverse).

Ikea has curtain wire with wall/ceiling mounts, corner mounts, and clips. It's very customizable and super sturdy. Here's the base set, but you can buy extra pieces and extra wire.

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/categories/departments/living_room/18891/?pageNumber=0

What about using a screen, something like you'd use for a dressing room but in the window. You could get a couple of small, tall ones that fill the window and then you can pull them back to let the light in. You can paint them how you want or cover them in fabric to make them look softer...

I don't believe a tension rod will be able to support draperies; a valance, perhaps, but not draperies or curtains. I think it could work, however, if you hung sheers using rings- something that would make it easy to slide open and closed. How long do you plan on staying? That may define the investment you want to put into this. Roman shades or similar would be pretty. Do a little leg work and ask the pros (window covering places) what they would recommend this way you can make an informed decision. I love a the light that must stream through those windows. Good luck and have fun with it!

Tension rods tend to fall at inopportune moments - usually when trying to open the curtains.

maybe you can try this
http://www.examiner.com/article/easy-way-to-replace-vertical-blinds-with-curtains-using-existing-support-hardware

I have this same problem. I can't drill holes because it's concrete. I can't use tension rods because the entire wall is flat - it's a 1920s loft. AND I already tried the 3m jumbo hooks as several ppl mention was a good idea and 3 hours later the whole thing came tumbling down and took the very thin dry wall w/ it! Grrr...sunlight it is. That's okay, I guess, as I'm a Texan stuck in gloomy Kansas City. =/

What about some gas line pipe as a curtain rod? It comes in 10 foot lengths that can be custom cut to length and threaded at the hardware store. These are strong enough to not require a center support. Get some matching wall flanges, and use appropriate mounting hardware. If you are unable to locate studs, use E-Z Ancors. You can get ones that can hold up to 75 lbs per anchor. I would also suggested some nice grommet drapes, in a light color to keep the bright and airy look of your place. Good Luck!

We had windows very similar to this - two side-by-side sliding glass doors, actually, so the solution had to be floor to ceiling as well as permit people walking through them.

Tension rods aren't going to support much weight over that wide of a space - unless you opt for super light, sheer curtains, I'd skip that idea.

A good wire system (and yeah, Ikea's is good) will work and will give a clean, modern look. You can hang almost any style of drapes from them and even use multiple layers if you like that look.

That jut out over the window is a soffit, and should be strong enough to hold the weight of a curtain rod. Check to be sure it's not duct work first, of course! Then find the studs or supports. You can hang a standard rod and finial style on the face of the soffit, or hang a supported rod underneath it. Either way, tab-top or rod-pocket curtains would look great there.

If you like a really traditional look - Roman shades hung from the soffit would be lovely. And depending on the style of the room, and your tastes, you could get bamboo shades (available in super-wide versions) and then swag mosquito netting around them for softness.

The width is a challenge, but with the soffit to hang from, you're really only limited by depth - if you hang under the soffit, you don't want the top of your drapes to be too tall (they'll block too much of the window) and if you hang on the face of the soffit, you want to watch how far out the whole set up comes.

But what a gorgeous window to have!

Use command strips with hooks along the top and then hang curtains from it. It's a little expensive but the effect still works and you won't ruin the walls at the same time.

My window is not as large as yours, but I also have the beam right above. I couldn't drill into it, so I used Gorilla Glue to attach a hook at the middle to support a small rod and use lightweight curtains. I figure I'll just scrape the hook off and plaster when I leave.

I had the same problem. Menards has this great track system. You can mount it in a few ways, but what I found best for my window situation, which is the same as yours, is to use dry wall anchors to mount the tracking to the ceiling. I ended up using two tracks to span the window, with them meeting in the middle. Check out the link, there are a variety of colors and sizes on the website, and you can order them online as well. The link calls them "tension rods", they are not, although there are tension rods available by the same company U Design. http://www.menards.com/main/window-treatments/drapery-hardware/u-design-single-universal-track-3-4-diameter-pole/p-1341073-c-9260.htm

I had windows like this in a rental once. I would take the suggestion of the Ikea ceiling mounts for curtains or look up on here about hooks and airplane wire to do it. I would also not recommend normal curtains. They do make your light and your view choppy. Then you have all these panels to try to tame. I would go with one of the other suggestions for roman shades or simply leave the blinds rolled up (when you want them out of the way). Then I would make my own custom curtains out of fabric.You know just to large panels to accent the windows.Maybe even a swag. YOU DONT need to know how to sew. You DONT even need to sew. Its called No Sew fabric glue. Take what ever your fabric is, fold down enough to stuff a rod or whatever through and iron it. Then use the No Sew and let it cure. Then Tah-Dah custom curtains.They can be as wide as the fabric will allow and as long as you want. If you leave up the binds or add roman shades they dont even have to be light blocking. You could make them shear or just any pretty fabric you like. Then because of how long the windows are, as it gets hot or bright you can close certain sets of blinds or shades as needed. You wont have a few panels blowing in the wind blocking out what you want ect.

As someone struggling with a similar situation (just not quite as wide), I appreciate you asking this question. I've now gotten a much better idea on what to do with my own problem window.

The Kvartal line from Ikea also mounts to the ceiling and allows you to use sliding curtains or panels; either would give a clean appearance and be quite functional.

Before drilling into that "architectural feature", find out what it is. It looks like it could be a cover for a duct--I had that once and it looked similar to your photo. Or the soffit could possibly be a cover for the plumbing if you live in an older (100 years or so) building. In those cases, you definitely do not want to be drilling into the soffit. Since it is a rental, the safest bet is probably to install roman blinds and not mess with holes in the wall.

I second the IKEA wire system. It's very inexpensive and unobtrusive. I usually make my curtains from king-size flat sheets.