Whether you’re replacing old blinds, choosing something for your new home, or just fancy a change, knowing how to measure your windows for curtains will ensure you get the best fit. Here’s everything you need to know about measuring windows for ready-made and bespoke curtains.
Why choose bespoke blinds and curtains?
There are plenty of ready-made curtains and blinds on the market. These usually come in standard sizes. If your windows are slightly bigger or smaller than standard sizing, you may find ready-made blinds and curtains tricky to fit. Bespoke options can eliminate this problem. Bespoke curtains also give you more flexibility over design: you can choose your fabric, decide what style you want, and choose how much you’d like your curtain fabric to gather.
What you’ll need
When it comes to measuring windows for curtains, the equipment needed is rather straightforward. All you’ll need is a measuring tape! A metal, retractable tape is best for measuring the width of your window but a cloth tape can be handy for measuring height for your curtain length.
Have a notepad and pen close by to jot down your measurements as you go.
How to measure your windows for curtains
Measuring with an existing curtain pole
If you already have a curtain pole or rail fitted, simply use your tape measure to measure the width of the pole. Measure within the perimeter of your window, excluding the curtain pole ends (finials) that protrude past the window.
How long should curtains be?
To find your curtain drop (length), measure from the pole, letting your tape measure drop to where you want your curtains to end. For eyelet curtains, measure from the top of the pole. For pleated curtains, measure from the bottom of the curtain rings.
When choosing bespoke curtains, you can decide what length you want. You may wish to go for:
- Above sill curtains – measure drop to 1cm above the window sill
- Below sill curtains – measure drop to 15cm below the window sill
- Floor length curtains – measure drop to 1cm above the floor
Some people like to choose extra-long curtains that create a fabric pool on the ground. If this is a look you’d like, add on an extra 15cm to your curtain length.
Measuring without a curtain pole
If you don’t have a rail or curtain pole already, you’ll need to account for it in your measurements. Measure your window width and height, then add extra to allow for the rail. As a general rule of thumb, add 15cm above the window, and 15-25cm either side.
Measure your curtain drop as before.
Choosing your fabric gather
Once you have your window width measurements, you can also decide how much you’d like your curtain fabric to gather. You want to make sure your curtains meet nicely in the middle without any gaps at the edges. To ensure full coverage, choose curtains that are 2 to 2.5 times the width of your window.
The longer your curtain pole, the less gather you’ll have in the fabric. If you’d like lots of pleats, choose wider curtains. Narrower fabric will give a more relaxed gather.
Bespoke curtains from Cambridge Blinds
If you’re looking for top-quality, tailor-made curtains, we’re here to help. Whether you’re after blackout curtains or light and airy chiffon designs, we can ensure you achieve the aesthetic you want.
With over 20 years of designing and fitting blinds and curtains, we have the experience and know-how to get great results. Get in touch today to speak with one of our friendly team members.