Window coverings seem to be ane of our almost basic needs. As soon every bit y'all get some sort of shelter, you're looking for a way to cover the windows for privacy. In higher, I simply used push button-pins to hold a canvass across my apartment's bedroom window. I allow it hang downwardly at nighttime, and during the day I held it back with a binder clip from my Economics textbook. Not very stylish, only at least it blocked the view of the dumpsters. At present I know window coverings are a cracking DIY project; and simple enough for the beginning sewer. Directly edges. Elementary, straight stitches. The individual steps couldn't be easier. But fifty-fifty the most basic curtain projection can go awry without some good planning. And the well-nigh important part of that planning is knowing how to take proper measurements.

We're covering the basics here of outside, inside, and trim mounts. Every bit with all projects, you can dive deeper into diverse details and alternatives, but this information volition practice the play tricks in the vast majority of situations.

Window covering measuring tools

  • Retractable metallic tape measure (the kind contractors apply)
  • Step ladder or tall footstep-stool
  • Chalk for marking the wall
  • Pencil for mark the holes where your hardware will become

Step ane: Come up with your program

Many a politician has accused his/her opponent of "already measuring for the drapes" – assuming he or she has won the election and is prepare to decorate the office before a single vote has been cast. Maybe that's not really an insult. Information technology might exist very useful to vote for someone who's not merely experienced at measuring for window coverings simply as well has the common sense to plan ahead.

Whether you lot hope to redecorate the governor'southward mansion or just encompass a bedroom window, your first step is to come up with a plan.

You should be able to reply the following questions:

What office will the window coverings need to have? Is it to block out daylight? Let in light but requite privacy? Or volition they help cover an ugly view?

How practice you want to make the room experience? A window covering volition change the look of the window and so the look of the room. Do you desire the window to look as big every bit possible or smaller than it is?

The answers to these questions will directly influence everything from your pick of curtain mode to your choice of cloth and hardware.

For example, to make your window wait every bit large equally possible you want a wide outside mountain: your hanging rod will be several inches wider than the window molding. This will allow your drapes to open completely without blocking any of your window.

If you're thinking nearly something like private Roman shades, they will exist about the same width as the window but mounted high plenty above so the bunched shade doesn't block the view.

These kind of dissimilar considerations in style and usage are why pre-planning is so important.

Window coverings tin as well be a diverseness of lengths. Y'all can accept curtains that only bear on the window sill or ones that hang all the style to the flooring. Some people even like their drapes to puddle on the floor. Equally you're planning, determine if there are whatever obstructions that will arrive the fashion of your desired length. For example, if you take a baseboard heater below the window, your curtain should hang at to the lowest degree an inch above information technology.

Become some inspiration

Unless, you've already seen the ideal window roofing in your dreams, look at as many examples as you can until you find one you actually like. Of course, we like to think Sew4Home is corking for this, just so is Pinterest as well as shelter magazines, design books, and commercial patterns for drapes and curtains.

Keep other windows in mind

Non but should your new window covering complement the drapes on the other windows in the room, they should also all hang from the aforementioned acme. Windows that wait like they should be the same top often aren't. Measure out to find the window whose meridian is highest from the floor. However high you hang its hardware volition exist the acme for all the other window covering hardware in the room.

What blazon of mount do y'all want?

The about common mount is an Outside or Wall mount and this is what we show below in more detail. Nevertheless, at that place are other options.

Inside Mount

Y'all can use the inside mountain for certain kinds of Roman shades or if you have cute decorative molding around your windows that you want to be visible. The hardware will mount merely inside the edge of the window, along the inside border of the trim. To summate the fabric necessary for this mount, you volition need to decrease the width of the trim from your original window measurements. Yous may detect information technology easier to mensurate specifically for the Within Mount. Run your tape from the inside edge of the molding to the opposite within edge of the molding.

Trim Mountain

This mount is a skilful option if you're hoping to depict attending to the actual size of your window and/or if you want just a bit of the trim to always be visible. When using this mountain, y'all'll place the hardware directly on the molding on either side of the window. To calculate yardage for this mount, you will simply use the measurements yous took for the bodily window, because these original raw measurements included the trim. There are purists who volition scream yous should never screw or drill into your trim equally information technology can leave unsightly holes if the mounting hardware is ever removed. Duly noted, only it'south really upwards to you, and if it's the best look for your room, this is a perfectly acceptable mounting pick.

Sketch out your program

Get the raw measurements of your window. Start by measuring the width of the window. Place the end of your record measure forth the outside edge of the molding of the window (non forth the glass) and measure out to the reverse outside molding edge of the window.

To mensurate the height of your window, place the terminate of the tape measure out forth the superlative edge of the molding of the window, and mensurate to the window sill.

With these raw measurements, utilize a pencil and paper make a cartoon of your window. Sketch in where you recall you'd like your hardware and curtains. Keep this sketch handy every bit you lot do your measurements, considering it'due south going to exist where y'all write down your dimensions.

Step 2: Mark Up The Wall

Once y'all've decided on the style and length of your window coverings, it'due south time to become some real measurements. Every bit mentioned higher up, we are using the Outside or Wall Mountain as our example.

You lot definitely want to use a footstep ladder or a step-stool that'southward alpine enough to become you eye level with the top of the window. Reaching waaaaay upwardly to mark is more than difficult, and because of your angle of view, it can add inaccuracy to your markings.

It's also a really proficient idea to get someone to assistance agree the end of the tape measure for yous so you tin can go the well-nigh authentic mark possible.

Mark your hardware meridian

With a piece of chalk, mark on the wall to a higher place the window molding where you want your hanging rod to go. Measure and mark both sides of the window because not every window, especially vintage windows, are 100% square. Every bit mentioned before, this new rod should be the same height as the other existing window treatments in the room. If you're not matching to anything, then 2″- four″ above the molding is standard.

Mark your hardware width

How far to either side of the window do you want your hanging rod to extend? This will be based on material weight as well every bit general look and feel; eg. how big you want the window to appear. Very heavy fabric can bow a long rod; either narrow your span or add a brace to the center of the rod. Mark each side of the window. Then write it on your piece of paper where you sketched out your plan. If y'all don't take anything to follow, three″ to either side of the trim is a mutual standard.

Step 3: Install Your Hardware

It might seem funny to screw your curtain hanging brackets into the wall before you've even measured for your fabric, merely with the actual rod in identify you have a existent-world height and width to piece of work from.

According to your hardware installation instructions, carefully measure where the screws should get so your hanging rod is placed at your intended superlative and width. If at all possible, get someone to assistance you hold the hardware in place for marker and to make certain that it's actually going to end up level and in the right identify.

As with whatsoever hanging you lot do in your domicile, screw or drill into a stud if possible. If this isn't possible with your chosen summit and/or width, you may need an boosted fastener, such as a molly bolt or toggle bolt to act as a hollow-wall anchor.

Step 4: Mensurate For Your Window Coverings

Every bit you take your measurements, write them down on your plan sketch. This volition aid you recall them and improve visualize as you measure your fabric.

Measure for unlike curtain styles

Floor length

Mensurate from the hanging rod to ½" – 1″ in a higher place the floor. Be sure to measure from both ends of the rod. If the floor is uneven, you lot don't want ane side buckling considering it's touching. In this example use the shorter measurement for both. As mentioned above, puddling drapes onto the flooring is a trendy look. The longer you brand the drape past the floor measurement, the bigger the puddle.

Frock length

Mensurate from the hanging rod to two″ – 4″ below the "apron" (the part of the sill that sticks out). The exact length will depend on the width of the base of operations molding under the frock; yous want the curtain to but cover this.

Sill length

Measure from the hanging rod to ½" higher up the sill. Yous want the hem of the mantle close but not touching. As with the floor length, measure both sides. If they're different, take the shorter length.

Pace 5: Calculate Your Fabric Measurements

Material width

Depending on the thickness of the fabric you're using and how total you want your curtains, you can determine the width of fabric necessary for your curtains. For about defunction, two to two-and-a-half times the width of the window will exist a expert calculation. However, if you are using a very sheer fabric, you may desire to multiply the window width by three or more. Conversely, heavy fabrics may only require one-and-a-half times the width of the window.

If y'all are planning to use more than i panel to cover your window, the width should be the combination of all the panels added together. For example, if your window is forty″ wide, you lot could create two panels, each 40″ wide when finished. When closed together to run across in the center, you take a total of 80″ of finished curtain to cover the window – two times the window width.

Cloth length

You want your fabric to be the actual length of the drape – whether it hangs from rings or has the rod go through a "pocket" – plus well-nigh 4″ for hems and casings at the superlative and another ii″- 4″ for hems at the bottom. The lesser hem is the ofttimes one y'all'll sew concluding, which will give you a little room for adjustment. We usually recommend at to the lowest degree an extra half one thousand over the finished length just to be safe

For fabric with especially large or ascendant motifs, once you have the yardage calculated, get enough extra yardage to complete at least one boosted FULL repeat. This may seem similar overdoing it, but it's always better to have enough to work with to get a wonderful cutting for your drape panels. You can ever utilise any leftovers for some beautiful coordinating pillows.

At present that you have your measurements, y'all're set up to buy your fabric and go started on your window covering project.

Measuring for drapes is all near thinking about what you want well in advance, and so taking time to think through each possibility. If you've done your measuring thoroughly and accurately, the actual sewing function should exist a breeze.