How To Measure Windows For Drapes

Window coverings seem to exist one of our well-nigh basic needs. As soon as yous get some sort of shelter, you lot're looking for a manner to encompass the windows for privacy. In college, I simply used push-pins to agree a canvas beyond my apartment'south bedroom window. I let it hang downward at nighttime, and during the solar day I held it dorsum with a binder prune from my Economics textbook. Not very fashionable, but at to the lowest degree it blocked the view of the dumpsters. At present I know window coverings are a smashing DIY project; and simple enough for the showtime sewer. Straight edges. Simple, directly stitches. The individual steps couldn't be easier (check our our Curtains category). Just fifty-fifty the most bones drapery project can go awry without some adept planning. And the most important function of that planning is knowing how to accept proper measurements.

We're covering the basics hither of outside, within, and trim mounts. Every bit with all projects, you can dive deeper into various details and alternatives, only this information will do the trick in the vast majority of situations.

Window covering measuring tools

Retractable metallic tape measure
Footstep ladder or alpine step-stool
Chalk for marking the wall
Pencil for marking the holes where your hardware will go

Footstep 1: Come upwardly with your plan

Many a politician has accused his/her opponent of "already measuring for the drapes" – assuming he or she has won the election and is ready to re-decorate the office before a single vote has been cast. Possibly that'due south not actually an insult. Information technology might be very useful to vote for someone who's not only experienced at measuring for window coverings but also has the common sense to plan ahead.

Whether y'all hope to re-decorate the governor's mansion or just encompass a bedroom window, your outset step is to come up with a program.

You lot should exist able to answer the following questions:

What function will the window coverings need to take? Is it to cake out daylight? Allow in lite but give privacy? Or will they aid cover an ugly view?

How do you want to make the room feel? A window covering will change the await of the window and and then the look of the room. Exercise y'all desire the window to look every bit large as possible or smaller than it is?

The answers to these questions will straight influence everything from your choice of mantle style to your choice of fabric and hardware.

For example, to brand your window look as large equally possible yous want a wide exterior mount: your hanging rod will be several inches wider and higher than the window molding. This volition allow your curtains to open up completely without blocking any of your window.

If y'all're thinking about something similar individual Roman shades, they volition be nigh the aforementioned width as the window but mounted quite high so the bunched shade doesn't block the view.

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

Window coverings can also be a variety of lengths. You can accept curtains that simply touch the window sill or ones that hang all the way to the floor. Some people even similar their drapes to puddle on the floor.

As y'all're planning, determine if there are any obstructions that volition go far the way of your desired length. For instance, if you have a baseboard heater below the window, your pall should hang at least an inch higher up it.

Get some inspiration

Unless, you've already seen the platonic window covering in your dreams, await at as many examples every bit you can until y'all find one you lot really like. Of grade, we like to think Sew4Home is great for this, merely so is Pinterest every bit well as shelter magazines, design books, and commercial patterns for drapes and curtains.

Go on other windows in mind

Not merely should your new window covering complement the coverings on the other windows in the room, they should as well all hang from the same height. Windows that look like they should be the same height often aren't. Measure to observe the window whose top is highest from the floor. Even so high yous hang its hardware volition be the summit for all the other window covering hardware in the room.

What blazon of mount practice you want?

The almost mutual mount is an Outside or Wall mount and this is what nosotros evidence beneath in more detail. However, there are other options.

Inside Mountain

Y'all can employ the inside mount for certain kinds of Roman shades or if you lot have cute decorative molding around your windows that you lot want to exist visible. The hardware will mount simply inside the edge of the window, along the inside edge of the trim. To calculate the textile necessary for this mount, you volition demand to subtract the width of the trim from your original window measurements. You may find it easier to measure specifically for the Inside Mount. Run your record from the inside border of the molding to the opposite within edge of the molding.

Trim Mount

This mount is a expert option if you're hoping to depict attending to the bodily size of your window and/or if you want just a fleck of the trim to ever be visible. When using this mount, you lot'll identify the hardware direct on the molding on either side of the window. To calculate yardage for this mount, you will only employ the measurements you took for the actual window, considering these original raw measurements included the trim. There are purists who will scream you lot should never screw or drill into your trim equally it tin can leave unsightly holes if the mounting hardware is always removed. Duly noted, but information technology'due south really up to you, and if information technology'south the all-time look for your room, this is a perfectly adequate mounting pick.

Sketch out your program

Get the raw measurements of your window. Commencement past measuring the width of the window. Place the end of your tape measure along the exterior border of the molding of the window (not along the glass) and measure to the opposite outside molding edge of the window.

To measure the elevation of your window, place the end of the record mensurate along the top edge of the molding of the window, and measure to the top of the window sill.

With these raw measurements, use a pencil and paper make a cartoon of your window. Sketch in where yous think you'd like your hardware and defunction. Keep this sketch handy as you lot do your measurements, because it's going to be where y'all write downwardly your dimensions.

Stride ii: Mark Up The Wall

Once yous've decided on the style and length of your window coverings, it's time to get some existent measurements. As mentioned to a higher place, we are using the Outside or Wall Mount as our case.

You definitely desire to use a step ladder or a step-stool that'south alpine enough to get yous centre level with the top of the window. Reaching waaaaay upward to mark is more than difficult, and considering of your angle of view, information technology can add inaccuracy to your markings.

It's also a really good idea to get someone to help hold the end of the tape measure for you and so you tin get the most accurate mark possible.

Mark your hardware top

With a piece of chalk, mark on the wall in a higher place the window molding where y'all desire your hanging rod to become. Measure and marker both sides of the window because not every window, especially vintage windows, are 100% foursquare. As mentioned before, this new rod should exist the same height every bit the other existing window treatments in the room. If you're not matching to anything, then 2″- 4″ above the molding is standard.

Mark your hardware width

How far to either side of the window practise you desire your hanging rod to extend? This will be based on cloth weight as well equally general look and experience; eg. how large you want the window to appear. Very heavy material tin bow a long rod; either narrow your span or add a brace to the center of the rod. Marker each side of the window. And then write it on your piece of paper where you sketched out your plan. If yous don't accept anything to follow, iii″ 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, only with the actual rod in place you have a real-world height and width to work from.

According to your hardware installation instructions, advisedly measure out where the screws should go so your hanging rod is placed at your intended height and width. If at all possible, get someone to help you agree the hardware in place for marking and to brand sure that it's really going to end up level and in the correct identify.

As with any hanging you do in your home, spiral or drill into a stud if possible. If this isn't possible with your chosen height and/or width, yous may demand an additional fastener, such as a molly bolt or toggle commodities to act as a hollow-wall anchor.

Step iv: Measure For Your Window Coverings

As you lot take your measurements, write them down on your plan sketch. This will help you remember them and better visualize every bit yous measure out your textile.

Measure for different curtain styles

Floor length

Measure from the hanging rod to ½" – one″ to a higher place the floor. Exist sure to measure from both ends of the rod. If the floor is uneven, y'all don't desire one side buckling because information technology'southward touching. In this instance use the shorter measurement for both. Equally mentioned above, puddling drapes onto the floor is a trendy look. The longer you make the pall by the floor measurement, the bigger the puddle.

Apron length

Measure from the hanging rod to 2″ – 4″ below the "frock" (the part of the sill that sticks out like a shelf). The exact length will depend on the width of the base molding under the apron; you desire the curtain to just cover this.

Sill length

Measure from the hanging rod to ½" above the apron. Y'all desire the hem of the drape close but not touching. As with the flooring length, measure out both sides. If they're different, take the shorter length.

Stride 5: Summate Your Cloth Measurements

Fabric width

Depending on the thickness of the fabric you're using and how total you lot desire your defunction, you lot tin can determine the width of cloth necessary for your curtains. For most curtains, two to ii-and-a-half times the width of the window volition be a skilful calculation. Still, if you are using a very sheer fabric, you lot may want to multiply the window width by three or more than. Conversely, heavy fabrics may only require one-and-a-half times the width of the window.

If you are planning to apply more than than i panel to cover your window, the width should be the combination of all the panels added together. For instance, if your window is 40″ wide, yous could create two panels, each twoscore″ wide when finished. When closed together to see in the middle, you lot take a total of 80″ of finished curtain to cover the window – ii times the window width for a prissy gathered cease.

Fabric length

You desire your textile to be the actual length of the drape – whether it hangs from rings or has the rod go through a "pocket" – plus about iv″ for hems and casings at the top and another ii″- iv″ for hems at the bottom. The bottom hem is the ofttimes one y'all'll sew together last, which will give you a picayune room for adjustment. We commonly recommend at least an extra half g over the finished length just to exist safe

For fabric with especially large or ascendant motifs, once yous take the yardage calculated, become enough extra yardage to complete at least one additional FULL repeat. This may seem similar overdoing it, simply it'southward ever better to take enough to work with to go a wonderful cut for your pall panels. You can e'er use any leftovers for some beautiful analogous pillows.

Now that yous accept your measurements, you're set to buy your fabric and get started on your window covering project.

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

Source: https://sew4home.com/how-to-measure-for-curtains-drapes-more/

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