Common Curtain Mistakes

[@kutanra]

Agreed that puddling looks great in magazines, but most the time look mismeasured, messy, and gather dust

[@aking3624]

Not to mention...pets love to waller in the puddling...😮

[@PinkOwl31]

Exactly. Not practical at all. And looks like a mistake.

[@WilliamsElaine]

And dog hair

[@gunnargislason5221]

As a wheelchair user, long curtains are my nemesis. Puddling curtains get tangled in the castor wheels. I have pulled down curtains by getting stuck in them. That's why my curtains are short lol

[@hannama3395]

And it does confuse your roomba

[@mb5612]

*Note from my four cats: They wanted me to tell you that the “puddling” curtains on the floor style is highly desired and much appreciated. 😂😂

[@dMi_mi]

da preferred Kitty's style 😎🤭

[@monkeybusiness1999]

And probably softer than using Charmin, for sure! 😼🚽

[@zoguy6988]

*Note from my cat: Clean the litterbox or the curtains get it.

[@emily1486]

My cats don’t care about interior design, only chaos 😂

[@LizbetPCB]

BAM! Aside from placing the curtain rod higher than the window, none of these work for my cat residence home. I foster kittens, too. Nope.

[@Momma_AL]

Lol Sometimes I wonder why I even watch these interior design channels. My entire living room is for my 2 cats except for 1 little chair. The little chair is for me.

[@davycash7115]

@@Momma_AL that‘s a good cat mama😉❤

[@jayes7195]

that's all I could think of with this vid. If my curtains puddled on the floor, they'd be shredded and puked on in no time flat

[@Ozziecatsmom]

@@jayes7195It would be,1 sleep on it, 2 wake up and shred, 3 oops hair ball coming!

[@cannonrange9977]

My favorite part of this video, it indicates professionalism and credibility in my opinion, is how OP doesn't lead with STOP DOING THIS, DO THIS INSTEAD; they offer advice, then proceed to be concise, thorough, and illustrate their examples clearly. Subscribed!

[@sophievanderbilt1325]

I was so excited to put up curtains in my new home because it was the first time ever that I didn’t have radiators or heating elements along the baseboards or windows! I did a 1/2 inch from the floor and 8 inches out. It makes my room look HUGE. Definitely good tips! Don’t forget to place the curtain rod a little higher above the window frame (not right on it)

[@juliab8992]

His specific advice was 1/2 to 2/3 of the way up the wall above the window.

[@HeronCoyote1234]

I’m jealous.

[@clemily5898]

Another key reason to expand the width of the rod is for when you want to block out the light completely. If you only make the rod go the width of the window light often peaks out when curtains are drawn. Crucial if you suffer migraines & need 100% blackout.

[@maggpiprime954]

"Oh, _yes!_ Absolutely puddle those curtains on the floor!" My opportunistic cats, ever on the lookout for cosy places to nap. 😂

[@kvv90]

I insisted on buying long curtains, hanging them high, and hemming them to kiss the floor throughout my home. It's absolutely worth the time and effort, they look gorgeous.

[@angstbringer2992]

Me, trying to explain to my mom and grandma that the world is not gonna end if my curtains touch the floor 😩

[@katanyajason3316]

Mom, they're not touching, just kissing 😁

[@deboraharonson8975]

Before antibiotics, it was true. Not now.

[@Me-mn4nw]

Mom and Grandma actually had to work and cared about cleanliness!

[@angstbringer2992]

@@Me-mn4nw 1- I live by my own. I work and care for my home. 2- the curtains will not get dirty if the floor is clean, even if they become very well acquainted with each other. 3- even if the curtains get dirty: so what.

[@Me-mn4nw]

@@angstbringer2992 Of couse it's easy to maintain if there is no one but you. As I stated Mom and Grandma had to work. I don't use window treatments and shoes come off outside. Strip on the back porch and streak to the shower if you're dirty. I prefer a home full of laughter.

[@nancylarkin2251]

My chihuahua loves to snooze on puddled curtains‼️🐕🏡

[@targetedplantsguy9481]

I love puddling, but my Roomba hates it.

[@aking3624]

Nom nom nom...😂

[@Mimi-un5tr]

I'm not a fancy girl because I can't stand the puddling on the floor.

[@VictoriaKimball]

I hate puddling. I think it looks like you measured wrong and couldn't be bothered to hem your draperies

[@valerief1231]

Me either, unless you have a big room, like my sister in laws mansion at the lake lol, the puddling looks messy, it’s a tripping hazard, and I’m quite sure my make dogs would find it the perfect place to tinkle!

[@katherinegaston5229]

You are not alone. It makes the room look heavy be drawing the eye down. Mirrors, pictures, uplighting and key statement furniture are much better items of focus. The only situation I can see where this would be appropriate would be truly a grand room that had a very exquisite ceiling where the curtains would add balance to the room.

[@charlenecook1565]

I agree, curtains do look better, but I don't know what type of support there is up there on the wall. Curtains and the rod can be heavy.

[@nickyonstilts128]

That's why you need to use the studfinder tool before installing the hardware.

[@gsdalpha1358]

I can tell you my walls are plaster over brick (1895 house). Unless I want to get a masonry drill bit and screws the curtain rods are going on the top window frame.

[@rivertam7827]

​@@gsdalpha1358I have a double brick house, I highly recommend a good hammer drill and masonry bits, it's completely worth it, they're easy to use and your curtains will look so much better. My house had a wood board above all the windows for curtain rods, I pulled the boards off and lifted the rods up closer to the roof like he suggested in this vid, mounting them straight into the brickwork. Let me tell you, those curtains look a thousand times better than before.

[@MadameWesker]

I am currently hanging curtains. Needed this. Thank you

[@stacythebelowaverageturtle9973]

My favorite is the notion if you live in the state of Arizona, where it's hot from April until Thanksgiving you get some blackout curtains. And extend them 8 inches to keep that heat-enriching light outside.

[@kirbyhans5261]

Covered mine with foil coated insulation, my wife calls my room the cave.... 😂 ( she's not complaining, just making an observation)

[@kategranville2745]

The PSA for curtains I didn’t know I needed

[@brittanyg6796]

I wish I could have my curtains touch the floor, but I have baseboard heaters 😭

[@jelemil]

Same girl

[@nanchesca3950]

Yeah I just asked about this in another comment. I did put mine to the floor even tho I have a baseboard heater. I just cannot close the curtains if the heater is on. They also have discolored a little where they meet the heater

[@jenniferhoza3388]

I came here to ask the same thing! But we live in the country facing the woods at the end of a long driveway. I have Nothing on my windows, and I think they look ok without.

[@clairelevasseur9434]

Mes rideaux sont courts et il vont le rester ...J' ai trop peur du feu !! Et avec 2 chats et un chien c' est plus sécuritaire 😊😊😊

[@danielsteiger3514]

Never seen those here in germany Are these things purely electric?😊

[@one_smol_duck]

This is good advice if you are going for a grand look. Personally I like the cozy, homey look of smaller curtains that are more fitted to the actual window size.

[@MsOkayAwesome]

That last one with the cat 😂

[@daphblue]

Right 😂😂

[@yeahno9380]

The thing I don't understand is why on the regular, most stores rarely carry longer than 84 inches. And if they do carry longer, its in small supply. When this seems to be the consensus among designers to have the curtains larger than the windows. I find this to be really strange. I would think by now the 84 inch standard would be changed or is there a reason behind this?

[@nanchesca3950]

I'm guessing because of baseboard heaters. Mine were 96" and my ceilings are also 96" which means they puddle a little. I'd prefer no puddle but too lazy to hem them lol

[@yeahno9380]

@nanchesca3950 i guess that would make sense, but most homes nowadays don't tend to have the baseboard heaters. Only in older homes, atleast from what i have seen. I've had to order the majority of my curtains online to get 96 inches. Becuase most home decor stores only sold 84 inches. And the rare off chance i find longer, it's only one set or just not enough. A few times in the past I've even had to buy extra curtains and sew them together just to get longer curtains. I would just think by now 96 and longer would be more common. Especially since this seems to be a core rule of thumbs among designers that curtains should be larger than windows.

[@sweetgal1247]

This 🙏 It makes me so mad. I found the best curtains for my home but realized too late theyre not the right fit

[@nanchesca3950]

@yeahno9380 I design condos on the west coast of Canada and almost all of our buildings have had electric baseboard heaters although just recently they are switching to heat pumps. Many also have 9' ceilings. So hopefully they'll start making more longer curtains

[@yeahno9380]

@nanchesca3950 ok interesting. I'm eastcoast U.S.A. the only homes that have baseboards have all tended to be before or into the early 2000s. But everything else I have seen build since, don't have them. But quite interesting.

[@0rangebanana]

Oh man. I learned the hard way. Measure before hanging 😂😂😂

[@sweetgal1247]

Holy crap when did this short come out?! I had an existential interior decorating crisis last night over my (unintentional) improperly hung curtains 😭 I have to start from scratch now because the rods are too low and the curtains are too short. This video should be plastered everywhere.

[@ladylove34]

I like my curtains puddled on the floor because I don't have to measure first lol

[@katharinegarrison2568]

Just hung my new 108”curtains based in your advice and I love it

[@VictoriaKimball]

These are great tips for draperies Nick! Would you please do a video for curtains?

[@idkidk-xs4jd]

Wow! Amazing advice I would have NEVER thought about otherwise.

[@kwmom]

My dogs love to lie on my curtains, therefore I no longer have them hang low, haha!

[@katym333]

Thing is I live somewhere cold and most of our radiators are under the windows. If we have large curtains we block out all the heat

[@corryjookit7818]

You are heating the walls if your radiators are under the. Windows. Move them too another place in your home.

[@annayakuhana3007]

@@corryjookit7818 please google search why radiators are place there before pasting the same thing on every comment mentioning radiators

[@michaelnorman4476]

Thank you, I actually did not know any of that about hanging curtains.

[@izy0321]

How about some design tips when you have baseboard heaters underneath windows?

[@Itsroccib]

Get shutters

[@monkeybusiness1999]

Paint the radiator the same color as the walls, if allowed, & hang curtains that have 12" or so bottoms made of sheer fabric or trim that matches the fabric above it. So heat can pass thru.

[@sparrowskeleton1831]

I wish I could hang some nice curtains but, I have four cats. They’d get shredded 😭

[@danacaro-herman3530]

Get rid of the cats

[@foechicken8023]

​@@danacaro-herman3530Or use a different style of window covering.

[@lolacookie453]

I’ve had curtains and cats for years and they never touch or damage the curtains, ever

[@sparrowskeleton1831]

@@lolacookie453 you must have some well behaved kitties because mine can be little hellions lol

[@t0prar]

I needed this video. Thank you!

[@bonniekuhn1366]

That last picture is like many of the windows in my home: Lovely deep sill for plants, tchotchkes and abandoned toys.... not so lovely for traditional drapes. I would love to see your take on a deep-sill window treatment that can be made to look a little bit elegant for special occasions yet practical for everyday living.

[@meemz7098]

Thank you for clearly explaining this. You know it, I know it and now let’s hope everyone else knows it because I can’t take poorly hung curtains!😂

[@NeverTakeNoShortcuts]

Great suggestions!! You are my stereotypical idea of a window treatment guy

[@cheripowers9924]

Thank you for this! I knew the tip about the curtain lengths, but not about hanging the rods. I learn a lot from your videos 🙂

[@han.nah.]

YESSS properly placed curtains are 🤌🏼💋

[@susankay497]

Question: Most Canadians have heating elements beneath windows. What do you suggest in that scenario?

[@corryjookit7818]

Why are you heating the walls beneath your windows ?

[@youbetcha108]

@@corryjookit7818this is done by the architects. Something having to do with efficiency. Very very common to see heaters right below the window sills in older construction. Curtains have to work around that and it is almost never covered by designers. Take a look at old movies to see what they did back then. Or else just use long panels that don’t close or valences with inset blinds shades. Simple elegant look.

[@mrsbluesky8415]

Good tips. Personally I don’t like the puddle because dust, dirt and bugs can get caught up in there. Plus it just looks messy.

[@susanma4899]

My solution is to just not have curtains. I have a Roman shade in the bathroom and wooden or bamboo blinds on my other windows.

[@nikineal69]

12' ceilings in an old Victorian or brownstone in NYC rarely have an issue with ceiling heights, except for changing a lightbulb.

[@ARomashchenko]

oh my God thank you! it's everything I ever wanted to know

[@mejustme474]

Thank you for making sense out of styling curtains ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@sugaring3921]

Thank god for this info omg. You just cleared up so much confusion for me!!!🙏

[@claudiahallmark456]

Love drapes that match wall color...

[@mekastayfabsteele5989]

I agree, it made a big difference in my living room

[@denisefrandsen5106]

Excellent video and advice!!

[@katywuste9054]

Greatest advice ever on curtains

[@HammerStudioGames]

Thank you for these tips, I never thought about it

[@jessicawalters9427]

You are so right about that 💓

[@robinbirdj743]

Don’t forget you also have another option: hang them ON the massive window trim if you have it and want a PERIOD look. The ceiling height hanging is a MODERN construct. Either way, lush dense folds in your curtains by using more fabric looks more expensive (because it is). And poly material usually doesn’t shout “ HISTORIC.” Use cotton, linen, velvets, lace.

[@RaeganScarlett]

What curtain length would you suggest for windows that are very short and small, like only sit in the upper half of the wall? Especially since in my house we put furniture under those windows, we can’t exactly make them touch the floor

[@tomvalveede6808]

EVERYTHING is on point!! 🍀

[@if7363]

Great interview. Thanks

[@rachaeledwards2782]

Thank you. Good summary.

[@livingitup16]

Legitimately good advice

[@alicesennott3161]

My kitties vote for puddling!😻😻😻

[@None-685]

Don’t forget about architectural details for cafe length curtains. A larger hem looks more custom made too

[@tomardans4258]

I hung curtains in my eight foot high bedroom with eyebolts into the ceiling. I was able to hang 94” curtains. They look great, and make the room look taller. The trick was to buy toggle bolts the same size as the eye bolts, and thread the toggle onto the eye bolt. A washer and nut on each made it look clean.

[@tomardans4258]

Then I used electrical conduit as the rod. It fits perfectly through the eye bolts.

[@tomardans4258]

Needless to say I used the grommet curtains, which are now ubiquitous.

[@Greenacres1958]

I don’t like high ceilings. I love the cozy love ceiling feel.

[@j.g.3453]

I have enough trouble keeping the cats out of my curtains without putting the hems close enough to the floor to be attention grabbing

[@Luna_Boy]

Bro you’re a genius

[@seriouslyreally5413]

Puddling them on the floor only acts as a giant dust mop. Dry cleaning drapery is VERY expensive. I just clear the floor. Hanging them high above the top moulding also shows off the beautiful classic mouldings if you live in a historic home.

[@arianaink100]

Hanging the curtains is sort of more based on personal choice tbh- if you use traditional molding on the ceiling for things like picture hanging etc a higher level curtain rod will block some of the wall surface area/hanging spots if you’re going for an Edwardian Tudor or Victorian era type house going just a few inches above the window frame will not only allow the molding to be the feature point but also be high enough that it structurally is stable (won’t break the wall won’t damage the window etc) If you have more modern housing or walls without ceiling molding then the rules for your curtains is a bit different the walls feel taller and that length of the room should be mimicked with the curtains at that point you should be doing your measurements from the top of the ceiling down to achieve the best visual effects (instead of basing measurements around the window itself/the frame)

[@solitarelee6200]

I learned the first two the hard way and had to take my curtain rods down and put them up again LOL! In my defense it was my first time ever hanging a rod.

[@CentralCoastGener]

I thrifted most of my curtains, buying 8 ft long or higher (I have an 8 ft ceiling). Then I hem them myself. I prefer to have it hover on the floor (1/4 inch above) esp in living room and dining room as these areas are the ones that gets busy and needed cleaning the most often. In the bedroom puddling can work for a dramatic luxury effect. I do prefer dual rods as I put both sheer and blackouts on all of my windows except the bathroom. The kitchen gets blinds as I do not want dirty fingers touching the curtains 😂 😂

[@monkeybusiness1999]

Agree with everything said 😊 except puddling drapes - unless you have a dedicated Downton Abbey staff level to keep them clean. Pooled drape bottoms collect dust, pet hair & household shmutz like crazy ~ aahhh-CHOO!

[@ragathnor326]

Good tips. Thanks.

[@kristinfisk8068]

I know way too much about window treatments. These things make me crazy . . .

[@valerief1231]

Ladies, take this same advice with pants, if you’re under 5’5” don’t wear capris or pedal pushers, they make us look stubby. Fellas: if your waist is more than 34”, and your height is under 5’9” please don’t wear shorts that go below your knee, they often look more like high waters, and there’s only a 3”-4” gap between the tops of your shoes and the hem line. You will know if your height bothers you by going thru pictures others have taken, if your chin is up, and not level, it subconsciously (or you know) bothers you. I myself love men that are around my same stature, and there are lots of ladies and gents that feel the same way. ❤

[@Irisdlv]

Looks great and also gives the cat an easy way to jump on the curtains and climb up.

[@AmyWells28]

What about for those of us with baseboard heaters? Gotta have curtains clear the heater for energy efficiency!

[@marthagreenfield3968]

You are very gifted n very pleasant. 😊

[@mbpblue]

thank you this was really helpful

[@angelsdontkill113]

That black curtain in the beginning is literally my curtain. Someone came into my house and took a picture of my curtain 😳 😂

[@melanie1825]

Can you do one about basement windows? I rent a basement and we have decent sized windows but they're still very high

[@Anthumsnailbunny]

I just got one of them animal blankets (mines a bear, but you know the lion or wolf ones too) pinned up over the window bc its way too hot in Florida to open the windows anyway. We have a camping themed room :)

[@cakedupkevin]

I had to hang my curtains slightly more than 1/2” above the ground because there is duct vent directly below the window 😢

[@tuc1113]

Just now prepping to hang my double rods. Ends up the sheers are 1 1/2" longer than the front panels. They are thermal and heavy so won't puddle 😢. Need to shorten the sheers,sigh. Iron on hemming tape to the rescue.

[@VC-mo5yg]

Gotta Love the Nick! ❤😂😊❤

[@KellyDVance]

The only room I actually did this in was my master bedroom. My living room has windows in the front corner, which has a large trunk under it, so the curtains just brush the window sill. My daughter's room, the curtains just brush the window sill, because when she was a toddler I didn't want her to pull the rod duen on her head. Now I just don't want to think about the disaster that the curtains would become. In the office I have a built in desk under part of the window, so the curtains, made up of the scraps of other curtains, hang about 4" above the sill, and as that room is generally a disaster, even as much as we use it, I can't bring myself to care. That covers literally all the windows in my house thag aren't part of a door.

[@mtnshelby7059]

Above the floor or I'd be OCD about cleaning the floor.

[@goodenoughgirl8102]

Mine puddle in the bedroom but that’s Bcuz they were a bit long from making the first mistake lol. (It’s a glass back door-couldn’t really be helped as the door must open and close lol). Must block out the heat and Sun from a full on daytime assault. Lol. Total blackout for me. Still looks lovely to me tho.

[@taliabellido2552]

Hi Nick! Can you Please do a video on roller blinds vs curtains ?

[@michelleg1461]

Question: I’ve got a square window on top of the regular window. The wall is about 8 inches in between. Should curtain go between or at the very top?

[@kishahelena5312]

I think most people do their curtains based on what they can afford, what works for their space, and what they have access too. I have short curtains, because I have baseboards and I don't want them to catch on fire.

[@craigathonian]

Key "HOT WORD" just created by Nick....Stubby ! Nobody should have a positive impression with this word.

[@amysmiles9751]

Can you do a video on Curtain rods, too? I'm so indecisive, I'm seeing a lot of black curtain rods in pictures, but I feel like black is so severe. And sometimes white can look cheap if it's not the right material.

[@A.gamer_]

I agree except for the fact that i have the heaters hanging underneath my windows and those need to not be covered. So yeah.

[@asmrmaroxa]

My electrical heater baseboards are directly below every window so if I want heat in the winter, nothing is blocking them!

[@stephanievelte8533]

Hey Nick, I’m a huge fan! Your videos helped me immensely with my living room and kitchen remodel! And I think you’re hilarious! I have a question…we have a fairly small bedroom with a window that sits about three feet off of the ground. I don’t want to use floor to ceiling curtains because then I lose the floor space under the window. Can I go with 1/2 curtains and if I do, would you still take them to the ceiling? Thanks for any suggestions! Hugs from Morro Bay, California!

[@hotdogbowl]

Any advice on what to do in the case of those terrible mid century horizontal windows? The kind that are weirdly short and wide, almost like basement windows, but a bit taller. That’s what’s in the bedrooms of my house and I’m afraid floor length curtains would look ridiculous on them, but they’re just low enough that I still need something to cover them.

[@katiegleaves3792]

Same!!! This has always been a struggle for me! I love my MCM house, but what curtains will look good, tolerate curious cats, and be functional (our bedroom windows are 6 feet wide, 2 feet high and start (the bottom/sill) 5 feet up from the floor.

[@Nick_Lewis]

Curtains can still work but opting for shades can be a safer but still chic route! Look up "mcm window roman shade" on Google Images or Pinterest for some inspo.

[@katiegleaves3792]

@@Nick_Lewis ours used to have roller shades (thick white plastic -coated fabric) but after so many years, they got brittle and cracked along the edges. I've been searching for an affordable replacement

[@CFutureMe]

The house i’m buying next week has low ceilings and curtains are gonna be a pain to choose and install to get something nice.

[@corryjookit7818]

Follow these instructions to the letter, especially the instructions to extend the rod. I do have a beautiful view. Its the Forth Rail Bridge on one side, and both Road Bridges on the other. Boats on the River Forth on the tide as it flows out to the sea. I am blessed.

[@youbetcha108]

Consider hanging them from the ceiling on a traverse rod.

[@laineywright2696]

The studs in the walls don't always line up. Molly bolts, and anchor screws are a nightmare to install correctly yourself.

[@jamiemerritt5709]

You can only do this if your windows are a normal size for curtains! I have my bedroom ones 90 x 90, because all the other lengths and widths are no good! (In UK)

[@msaligator14]

This is making me really wish I didn't have baseboard heaters lol. maybe some day

[@michelleobrien6996]

We have always attached the curtain to the frame... based on the assumption that only the frame has the strength to hold the curtains weight... but I think we are mistaken

[@mathematics117]

gotta be honest, I hate the look of floor to ceiling curtains and hanging them so far away from teh frames. I understand how they can make my windows look silly but I like the way they look

[@mirjam6704]

I would say, do what you want, your Windows, your house, your live❤

[@paulafranciscac2787]

Thank you!