Q: I am trying to decide what to do with some drapes in my nursery. The window itself is huge and the drape panels we bought hit about halfway between the bottom of the window and the floor—but they look kind of, well, stupid right now at that length. I was debating either (a) adding a matching solid color piece at the bottom of the panels, to ground them, or (b) abbreviating them to make the drapes hit just the bottom of the sill. But I can't decide which would work better, especially since the window is so tall! Any tips?
Sent by Marie
Editor: I love the way long curtains look so my vote would be to add a panel at the bottom. Readers, what do you think Marie should do - hem or add a panel?
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It's hard to say without a picture, but it would probably be best to extend the drapes. Another way to do that would be to insert a contrasting fabric (could even be a pattern) about a quarter of the way up, so doesn't look like an emergency lengthening job...
To the floor! follow my bio to my blog and search curtains for pictures and details. I'm a firm, firm believer of drapes to the floor. It's practically my life mission to rid the world of drapes that fall randomly between the sill and the floor..
I had a similar situation. I bought curtains that were too short (just because they were so darn cheap), and added a band of a contrasting color fabric along the bottom. They look terrific, and everyone comments on my "custom" curtains!!
To the floor...it almost always looks better.
I think I must be the only person in the universe who hates floor-length drapes. IMO I went to a lot of trouble to paint my rooms with nice colors, why hide the wall?
You could also consider making the bottom panel a ruffle, like in this tutorial.
to the floor!
I loved to the floor drapes, until my daughter started pulling up on them. I have custom shades in her windows now.
Floor length curtains look lovely and polished, but window-length ones don't look terrible AND you'll have a small child crawling, stepping, and tugging on them if they're long. There's a healthy balance between style and practicality, so for that reason I suggest going short.
I agree a picture would be helpful, but I guess I am in the minority here, too, as I would say if they are going to be in a small child's room, to hem them. You have to think about function (and safety!) first over aesthetics, especially when kids are involved.
I had my mom make custom curtains for my nursery, and had the (totally adorable ruffled) hem end a few inches under the bottom of the sill. I think they look awesome (IMHO) and my 13 month old daughter who is into everything never touches them. :)
To the floor looks much better. Any shorter and it's like wearing highwater pants that are too short.
Or -- if you don't want to add length, here is an idea. Instead of having panels that hang straight down, pull the curtains to either side of your window and secure them with a ribbon or tieback. Then you may not notice they don't go all the way to the floor.
I have floor-length curtains in most of the rooms in my house and the kids (age 5 and 1) sometimes mess with them and sometimes hide behind them but it doesn't bother me.
In my opinion, long curtains are always the way to go.
I find short curtains look strange.
However why not add the panel, and if it doesn't work, then go the short route?
If you're worried about kids, use some of the clip rings so if a child pulls on them, the curtain just falls down without bringing the rod and rings with it.
Thanks for your comments, everybody! I don't have access to a camera but I can give you the wall and window dimensions, if that would be at all helpful. Or interesting. The wall itself is 121" wide by 108" tall; the window is 16" from the ceiling, 59" wide by 71" tall, and is off-center in the wall. Ok, enough math. The pattern is a neutral stripe and I could easily match a solid to the bottom. I had thought about the baby-tugging and using clips, that's a good idea.
If I'm doing my math right, the window comes to about 20" from the floor?
I was in a similar situation and hemmed. I saved the extra to use in pillows, quilts, etc to pull the curtain fabric back into the room. I actually like the shorter look - it's homey and old fashioned. It also freed up floor space in the small nursery.
But we have smaller windows that don't come down as low (I'd guess about 3 feet from the floor). I think it would look odd to have a curtain so close to the floor that doesn't quite reach the floor. I'd add a panel and make them floor length.
As for safety: We have floor length curtains elsewhere in our house. Our 2 yr old loves to play peekaboo with them. She has occasionally tried pulling on them, but we always quickly corrected the behavior and she knows not to do it. It doesn't make me nervous.
Add a panel.
Yes, peachypear, they are about 20" from the floor.