What should be the length of the curtains

The length of the curtains is one of the main criteria that you should pay attention to when drawing up a window composition. This parameter will depend on the purpose of the room and what design was used in its design. A properly selected curtain can become a highlight of the interior.

How long are the curtains

The main tasks that the curtain can perform include adjusting the lighting and microclimate in the room, as well as ensuring the privacy of the home. Based on where the curtains will be used, choose their length.

1. Short curtain. Between its lower edge and the window sill there should be about 1.5-2 cm. If it is decided to hang a short curtain in a small room, it is important to choose models of light colors, since the dark ones are able to visually "cut" the room into pieces. Most often, short options are used for the kitchen. To make the room seem light and cheerful, you should pay attention to the flirty curtains made of thin fabric, which are collected on both sides of the window opening with the help of potholders.
2. The curtain drops below the window sill line by about 15-20 cm. It can come up when there are no heating devices near the window, and the opening itself is not used as a usable space.
3. The curtain is 5-7 cm higher from the floor covering. This variety is quite common. But, choosing this option, you need to remember that this way, the curtain will make the room visually lower. Therefore, it is not advised to hang it in a room with a low ceiling.
4. A curtain on the floor is considered the most popular and profitable option for any room (except for the kitchen). The bottom edge of the canvas does not reach the floor level by a couple of centimeters. If the floor is uneven, you need to carefully calculate the length of the product. Since if it touches the floor, the visual effect of "resting on the floor" is possible.
5. The canvas lies completely on the floor. The length of such a tail can reach 10-30 cm. But, due to its impracticality, this option is extremely rare.

What influences the choice of the length of the curtains

To do this, you need to evaluate:

• room area;
• the interior in which the room is decorated;
• the functions that the window sill performs;
• placement of furniture relative to the window opening.

Before ordering or sewing curtains yourself, you need to calculate how much material you need to buy for it. If the calculations are carried out incorrectly, the result can be disastrous. The length is measured from the level of the eaves to the floor covering. After that:

• add 2-10 cm to the results obtained, based on the type of attachment;
• additionally add 2-4 cm to the fold of the material;
• if you plan to make a curtain at the floor level, then you need to subtract 1 cm, and if higher, then the desired value (usually up to 30 cm).

When calculating the width of the canvas, take into account the depth and number of folds on the curtain.

It is important to take all length measurements at 4-5 different points along the width of the cornice. This is especially true for those rooms where the floor is uneven. Those who want to make an asymmetrical composition must first draw a sketch and then carry out calculations.

To the living room

How long should the curtain in the living room be? Here you can safely show your imagination and embody even daring ideas. In a room where it is customary to gather the whole family and invite guests, they usually choose floor options. But, it is better if the curtain is made of lightweight fabric. Dense, heavy matter will weigh down the atmosphere. Here it is worth considering the following options:

• single with decorative elements, for example, a lambrequin;
• double curtains, including tulle and curtains, which must be of the same length;
• a combination of vertical blinds.

Into the bedroom

A light, relaxed atmosphere should reign here, and the curtains in it, in addition to the aesthetic, also play a protective function. They can protect against too bright sun, drafts, dust and street noise. Therefore, products made of dense fabrics, such as velvet, brocade, will be appropriate here.

How many centimeters from the floor line should the curtains be? This can be affected by the location of the window. If there is a headboard next to the bed, then it is better to give preference to short models. Long options in this case will be squeezed by furniture, because of which the material can quickly lose its quality.

For a small room, light curtains are suitable. They will be able to visually lengthen the wall and expand the volume of the room.

The bedroom must always be perfectly clean. And it will be very difficult to support her with the curtain lying on the floor. Therefore, models that should lie below are inappropriate here.

To the kitchen

The length of the curtain for the kitchen can be influenced by:

• the size of the room;
• ceiling height;
• the place where the working area is located;
• storage of dishes, household appliances and other items on the windowsill.

If the room is of modest size and each surface is used to store various items, then it is better to choose a curtain not lower than the windowsill. Instead, you can use a roller blind that only covers the glass. This will be much more practical, since you do not have to raise the curtain every time to open the window or take something from the windowsill.

Products below the level of the window sill are not suitable for the kitchen, as flowers, household appliances or other utensils are often placed here. And frequent pulling of the curtain will lead to its rapid contamination and loss of its original appearance.

In the case when the kitchen is large, where the cooking and eating areas are separately highlighted, the window can be decorated in any way, including using long, thick curtains.

How the curtains should hang

The overall perception of the room depends on the height of the curtains from the floor. To make the curtains look harmonious, when choosing them, you need to take into account:

• if the room is too small, it is better to choose short models that may be slightly below the level of the windowsill;
• long curtains to the floor look good only in spacious rooms;
• short curtains are most often suitable for the kitchen;
• the classic option is a length of 5-6 cm above the floor, it is this that is suitable for most interiors.

How to properly match tulle and curtains

If the window composition consists of tulle and curtains, they should be in harmony with each other and have approximately the same length. Exceptions can be made if:

• the overall design of the room needs to be made dynamic;
• the window has a non-standard shape;
• there is a need to visually expand the room.

Curtains of different lengths must be abandoned altogether if it is made in a classic style or assumes minimalism in everything. Asymmetry is suitable for a room with a balcony door. In the kitchen, a short part of the canvas will be placed on the side where the working area with a stove, sink, etc. is located. In the bedroom and living room, the long part should completely cover the exit to the balcony.

How long should the curtains lie on the floor

First of all, it should be noted that this version of the curtain is suitable for large rooms - living room, bedroom. They will look especially impressive next to a fireplace or candlesticks, creating the illusion of royal chambers. In addition, this length will avoid mistakes at the stage of calculating the correct length of the curtain, and will not look too short if, after washing, the fabric shrinks.

But, they also have disadvantages - the difficulty in cleaning. A lot of dust can accumulate in their folds. Therefore, they are recommended to be chosen by those who have time to carry out high-quality cleaning in the room several times a week.

Their length may vary. It is enough to put 3-4 cm on the floor to indicate the silhouette of the window composition. Those who wish to form the volume of the canvas below can choose a curtain with 30-50 cm on the floor.

Advantages and disadvantages

When choosing the length of the curtain, you need to focus not only on personal preferences, but also take into account the design and functionality of the room. In addition, you need to consider the advantages and disadvantages of each model.

Standard Models

This is the most common option when the bottom edge of the curtain is positioned a few centimeters higher. Its advantages include:

• the ability to visually increase the height of the room;
• the ability to hide the flaws of the wall;
• this option suits almost any style.

Their disadvantage is that they are not suitable for rooms with uneven floors. They are also not always appropriate in the kitchen, in an apartment where there are small children or pets.

Elongated

Curtains lying on the floor are not so common. Designers use them for apartments and houses with a large area. The large curtain allowance helps create volume that looks beautiful and creates a sophisticated effect with a touch of casualness. The advantage of such models is:

• the ability to hide the unevenness of the floor or wall;
• suitable for irregularly shaped windows;
• create the illusion of a high ceiling.

Their cons:

• not suitable for all premises;
• require perfect cleanliness in the room, as they are able to accumulate a lot of dust;
• contraindicated in homes with pets and small children.

Short

Such curtains are considered that reach the line of the window sill, slightly below or above it. Among their advantages:

• ease of use and ease of care;
• do not interfere with the penetration of air from the street and heat from the battery;
• some models are able to protect well from bright sunlight;
• suitable for apartments with children and animals.

The disadvantages include:

• the inability to hide the imperfection of the window sill, battery, wall or other imperfections;
• it is not recommended to hang in a room with a ceiling height of less than 2.5-2.7 m or a narrow window opening.

Correctly selected length of the curtain will bring harmony to the room. In this case, you need to pay attention to the overall design of the room, other accessories and auxiliary elements.

Video: choosing the right curtain length for your home

50 design options for curtains in a modern interior