How hanging curtains can completely transform a space

If you’re looking for a fast way to add elegance and ambience to your home – hanging curtains should be at the very top of your list. With endless colour, fabric and style options, curtains can be a simple and affordable way to bring a room together.

When we first moved into our home, we were in full-on renovation mode. So, we didn’t give much thought to our window finishings. As the blinds left by the previous owners needed to be replaced, we went with basic PVC venetian blinds. This was a budget option that did the job, but was only ever intended to be a temporary solution.

Lately though, with things a little quieter on the renovation front, we have been focusing more on some of the small-yet-mighty details – including our window finishings. We recently switched out the blinds in our primary bedroom to beautiful natural linen curtains paired with soft, airy sheers. It feels like an entirely different room!

We were amazed at how something as simple as hanging curtains could have such a transformative effect. But, the right window finishings can truly make a world of difference.

Read on for everything you need to know before hanging curtains. And, keep scrolling for our step-by-step guide on how to install a double curtain rod for a luxe, layered effect.

How curtains can help to add ambience

Wondering what it is about curtains that makes such a powerful impact? In addition to providing a level of privacy, curtains can add softness and warmth to any space. While most modern interiors predominantly feature clean lines, beautiful, airy curtains can be a simple way to counteract these elements. And, they have a way of making spaces feel bigger, and ceilings feel higher. 

Curtains also play an important role in diffusing natural light – an important component in creating ambience. While our previous venetian blinds created harsh, lined shadows (kind of aesthetic, in their own way!), sheer curtains in particular allow ample sunlight to enter a space. This can make a home feel lighter, brighter and a more enjoyable space to spend time.

Choosing the right curtains for your space

With such a vast range of options available, it can be difficult to choose the right curtains for your space. But, thinking about what will best complement your home and the look you want to achieve can be a great place to start.

Although I adore the luxe look of wall-to-wall sheer curtains that are so on trend right now, we live in an older home with several double sets of floor-to-ceiling windows. While it doesn’t completely rule this option out, I didn’t feel like this was the best choice. I also wanted to make sure we were working with what we have, rather than keeping up with trends.

In terms of decor, we love to blend old with new. So, we wanted our new window finishings to have a timeless quality. And, what could be more timeless than, beautiful, natural linen? I’ve spoken about our love of decorating with linen before, so selecting linen curtains was an easy choice.

And, of course, we chose to source them from our favourite linen supplier, LinenMe. With an extensive range of curtains, bedding, table linen, clothing and other accessories, LinenMe uses fabrics of the highest quality. Each piece is made with generations of knowledge and experience, and incredible attention to detail.

Shipping worldwide, the company is located in Lithuania and was founded by Inga Lukauskiene. Inga is an interior designer who is part of the third generation in her family to work in the flax industry. With a rich history, LinenMe blends tested traditions with modern technology to create timeless pieces that are made to be loved.

After browsing their range of ready-made linen curtain options and seeking further inspiration on Pinterest and Instagram, we chose a combination of LinenMe’s sheer and linen curtains – definitely the best of both worlds!

Selecting your curtain hanging accessories

Once you have chosen your curtains, it’s important to select curtain hanging accessories that complement the fabric of your new window finishings and the style of your home. Curtain rods come in a range of shapes, sizes and colours. You can even add fancy finials to the end of your rods, if that’s your thing!

We decided to go for double curtain rods for a more powerful impact. This would also allow our sheer and linen curtains a little more breathing room. We chose a matte black colourway to fit in with the existing fittings around our home, and to add some extra contrast against the softness of the linens. 

Most curtain rods are sold with any brackets and sockets required for installation. Make sure to check that you have everything you need to complete the installation. Don’t forget about tools and a spirit level!

Where should curtain rod brackets sit?

Although there are no hard and fast rules around where curtain rod brackets should sit, they should always be at least be high enough so that the curtain rod sits at or above the top of your window frame, for obvious reasons. 

However, if there is significant space between your window frame and ceiling, hanging your curtain rod brackets higher can create an optical illusion of larger windows and higher ceilings. This is a design trend we are seeing more and more, and the results are quite significant.

It’s also worth paying attention to the length of your curtains, to make sure they sit low enough. If your curtains are too long, you might need to take them up. Although, many people adore the look of ‘puddled’ curtains, which can certainly make things easier!

Tip: It’s also worth noting that linen can drop once steamed, adding an extra few centimetres to your length. We were caught out by this and our perfectly measured curtains suddenly became too long once they were hung and the fibres had softened up. But, keep reading for our simple solution.

How to hang a double curtain rod

Now, down to business! Here are our simple steps to hanging a double curtain rod to get maximum impact on your beautiful new curtains.

Step 1: Remove existing window treatments

First up, you’ll need to remove your existing window treatments. Be sure to take extra care to avoid any damage. Try not to accidentally pull off any wall plaster, like we did!

In some instances, this will be unavoidable. But, it can be a good idea to prepare for it in advance so that you can repair it right away. Depending on your old fittings, you may be able to strategically place the new brackets over old screw holes.

If things don’t line up, don’t stress about it. As you can see, we had a small section of plaster we will need to fill in. For the purposes of this blog, let’s just ignore that – we’ll fix it up later! Filling in any damage is fairly straightforward, but it will require some drying time.

All you’ll need to do is patch up the damage with some wall putty, sand it back once dry. Then, give it a light coat of paint to match your existing wall colour. Good as new!

Step 2: Mount your curtain brackets

Next, it’s time to work out where your curtain rod will sit. As we mentioned earlier, installing the curtains above the frame can make your ceilings feel higher. However, as we have limited space, we chose to hang them just above the window frame. 

Once you are happy with your decision, use a pencil, measuring tape and spirit level to mark up where your brackets will sit. You may also want to use a stud finder to check that you aren’t hitting any wall studs.

If your brackets come with casings, you can slide these on to hide the screws for a cleaner look. Then, attach the curtain rod holders if they do not come pre-assembled. 

We chose to use the BETYDLIG range of curtain rod brackets and curtain rod holders from IKEA, paired with the HUGAD curtain rods and RAFFIG finials. You can usually buy these in a set, but as they were sold out at the time, we purchased each item individually. 

Step 3: Assemble your curtains

After you have hung your rods to check they are level (and adjusted the brackets, if they aren’t quite there), take them back down to assemble your curtains. Starting with the sheer curtains which will sit behind the linen curtains, simply slide the rod through the opening. Or, fasten the ties if you have selected this type of sheer curtain. 

Rod pocket sheer curtains are very straightforward to assemble, but curtains with grommets, like the linen curtains we used for the second rod, can require a little more attention to detail. 

You’ll want to make sure your curtains sit facing outwards with no awkward edges, so it’s important to be mindful of this when assembling this type of curtain. 

And, if you are using curtains with ties, take your time to ensure each tie is well secured so that they don’t come loose as you open and close your curtains. 

Step 4: Adjust the length

When you’re ready, rehang your curtain rods with curtains assembled and take a step back to assess how everything looks. Having already taken our curtains up to what we considered the perfect length, we were thrilled with how they looked – and I decided to give them a light steam to remove the creases.

Like I mentioned earlier, we unfortunately didn’t account for the extra length in the linen curtains once the fibres had loosened up. Unfortunately, this left our curtains longer than we had wanted them, whereas the sheers remained the perfect length.

If our sheers and curtains were the same length, we could have adjusted the brackets so they both sat higher. But, adjusting the bracket when only the curtains were too long would have meant the sheers would be too short.

We thought we would have to take the curtains up again, but Chris came up with a brilliant solution. While the curtain rod holders are designed to sit underneath the bracket, he switched the linen curtain holders over so that they sat above the rod – keeping the sheers holders underneath.

I couldn’t believe it, but this small hack lifted the sheers precisely the right amount, so that they lined up with the sheers and skimmed our floors perfectly. Amazing! 

And you know what? I actually love the look of the raised linen curtains. I feel like it adds a little extra interest, and truly makes the rods more of a design feature. Shout-out to Chris for his amazing problem-solving talents!

We’re truly blown away with how hanging curtains has transformed this space. Now that we have tested it out in our primary bedroom, we can’t wait to fit out the rest of the house.

If you’re thinking about hanging curtains in your own home, be sure to check out LinenMe’s beautiful range of sheers and linen curtains, and we hope these tips help you along the way. Thanks for reading!

Disclaimer: Please note, this article contains gifted items. We only recommend products we have personally tested and recommend, and we appreciate your support!