The 4-Step Formula Designers Use to Create Curtains That Look 10x Their Price

Have you ever wondered why your windows seemingly never look as good as those in pictures you’ve seen published by interior designers? Even if you’re choosing similar or the same window treatments, nailing a luxe custom curtain look is about much more than just a material. It seems there’s a formula all designers use to craft the perfect window — and one of them just spilled the beans so we can all finally crack the code.

“Please do not hang curtains until you know about this four-ingredient window treatment recipe that all designers use, okay?” designer Maggie Wilkerson said in a recent Instagram video. According to Wilkerson, there are four separate elements you need to combine to get that layered, warm, and upscale designer look — and you can do so while sticking to a budget.

Start with the right foundation, which Maggie shares is always a French return curtain rod. “This type of rod wraps around your [window], so you get a really chic finish. And as a bonus, it blocks out even more light in bedrooms and nurseries,” she said.

And she prefers to source French return rods in either a brass, bronze, or iron finish like this one from Wayfair, which comes in three different lengths.

Next, you’ll need to choose the perfect hanging system. Maggie recommends curtain rings with hooks. “Not clip rings,” she said. “Those pinch the fabric and look really cheap. And not rod pockets. That bunches up and doesn’t slide well.”

“Rings with hooks give you that tailored look that you see in every designer room,” she explained. “They slide beautifully, and the curtain hangs just the way it’s supposed to.”

Pinch-pleat curtain panels will always look custom, Maggie said. “The pleats create fullness and structure without looking fussy. And here’s the thing: You can buy pinch-pleat panels completely off the shelf,” she said, so no custom curtains are actually needed.

Depending on the fabric, length, and width you choose, the curtains themselves will likely be one of the most expensive ingredients in this formula. But even so, you can still snag fairly inexpensive panels. These blackout pinch-pleat curtains from Walmart, for example, are just $50 for a set of two.

The final ingredient in this recipe is a shade to go underneath the curtains. Maggie said she always goes with woven or Roman shades, which each offer their own benefits.

“Woven shades add texture and warmth, while Roman shades give you the opportunity to bring in color and pattern,” she said in her video. “Leave them unlined for gorgeous, filtered light or line them in blackout fabric for bedrooms and nurseries.”

“This is the layer that most people skip, and it’s the one that makes the biggest difference,” she continued.

With this recipe in your back pocket, you’ll know how to craft designer-looking windows in every room in your home.