The correct design of the window opening will help make the room cozy and the interior stylish. Aesthetically attractive, wisely and tastefully chosen, it will distract attention from shortcomings, becoming a winning area in the kitchen, bedroom or living room. In addition to color and style, it is important to consider the length of the curtains.
Inappropriately short or too long curtains or tulle can harm the overall appearance of the room. What types of curtains there are according to this parameter, and how to choose them correctly is important for every housewife to know.
How long are curtains?
The main tasks that a 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.
The possibility of using certain curtains must be determined based on their practicality and overall impact on the design of the room.
- Short curtain. There should be about 1.5-2 cm between its lower edge and the window sill. If you decide to hang a short curtain in a small room, it is important to choose light-colored models, since dark ones can visually “cut” the room into parts. Most often, short options are used for the kitchen. To make the room seem light and cheerful, you should pay attention to flirty curtains made of thin fabric, which are assembled on both sides of the window opening using potholders.
- The curtain falls below the window sill line by about 15-20 cm. It can be suitable when there are no heating devices near the window, and the opening itself is not used as useful space.
- The curtain is 5-7 cm higher than the floor covering. This variety is quite common. But when choosing this option, you need to remember that the curtain will make the room visually lower. Therefore, it is not recommended to hang it in a room with a low ceiling.
- A floor-length curtain is considered the most popular and beneficial 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 must carefully calculate the length of the product. Since if it touches the floor, the visual effect of “focusing on the floor” is possible.
- The canvas lies completely on the floor. The length of such a tail can reach 10-30 cm. But, due to impracticality, this option is extremely rare.
What influences the choice of curtain length
To do this you need to evaluate:
- room area;
- the interior in which the room is decorated;
- functions performed by the window sill;
- placement of furniture relative to the window opening.
Depending on the length of the curtain and its width, the interior of the room where the curtains are used can vary significantly.
Before ordering or sewing curtains yourself, you need to calculate how much material you need to buy. If the calculations are done incorrectly, the result can be disastrous. The length measurement is carried out 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 fastening;
- add an additional 2-4 cm to the hem of the material;
- if you plan to make a curtain at floor level, then you need to subtract 1 cm, and if higher, then the required 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.
Modern curtains can partially cover the wall framing the window opening, as well as almost completely cover the wall with the window.
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.
As for the specifics of choosing the length and width of the fabrics, first of all you need to take into account the tailoring style and functional requirements for the products.
Important! It is recommended to take the material with a small margin (about 10 cm). This is due to the possibility of errors in calculations. And if there is excess material left, you can use it to make decorative pillows, curtain ties, etc.
To the living room
How long should a curtain be in the living room? Here you can safely show your imagination and realize even your boldest ideas. In a room where it is customary for the whole family to gather and invite guests, floor-length options are usually chosen. But it is better if the curtain is made of light fabric. Dense, heavy matter will weigh down the atmosphere. The following options are worth considering:
- single with decorative elements, for example, a lambrequin;
- double curtains, including tulle and curtains, which should be the same length;
- combination of vertical blinds.
Since the living room is intended for family recreation and receiving guests, in such a room you can hang both bright simple curtains and luxurious classic and Italian models.
To the bedroom
A light, relaxed atmosphere should reign here, and the curtains in it, in addition to being aesthetic, also play a protective function. They can protect against too much sun, drafts, dust and street noise. Therefore, products made from dense fabrics such as velvet and brocade would be appropriate here.
For rooms decorated in light colors or with a non-standard design, it is better to hang canvases to the floor or to the floor.
How many centimeters from the floor line should curtains be? This may be affected by the location of the window. If the head of the bed is nearby, then it is better to give preference to short models. In this case, long options will be squeezed by furniture, which is why the material can quickly lose its qualities.
Advice! If the bedroom has an elongated shape, designers advise choosing roller blinds.
For a small room, light curtains are suitable. They will be able to visually lengthen the wall and expand the volume of the room.
Here, options from denser fabrics are most often selected, but the choice of the curtain design itself depends on the style of the room.
The bedroom should always be perfectly clean. And maintaining it with a curtain lying on the floor will be very difficult. Therefore, models that should lie below are inappropriate here.
To the kitchen
The length of kitchen curtains can be affected by:
- room size;
- ceiling height;
- the place where the work area is located;
- storing 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 no lower than the window sill. Instead, you can use a roller blind that covers only the glass. This will be much more practical, since you won’t have to lift the curtain every time to open the window or take something from the windowsill.
A practical solution for the kitchen would be to choose short curtains (to the middle of the window or to the window sill) made of straight fabrics or with a minimum number of waves.
Products below the window sill level are not suitable for the kitchen, since 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.
If the kitchen is large, with separate cooking and eating areas, the window can be decorated in any way, including using long, thick curtains.
Curtains used to decorate a kitchen window can significantly transform a space and create a feeling of coziness and tranquility.
Kitchen area
The kitchen is one of the cozy places in every home. As a rule, the room is small in size and lacks light. When selecting, you must adhere to several rules at once.
The width of the curtains depends on the selected models.
Criterias of choice:
- Room dimensions;
- Ceiling height;
- The location of the window in relation to the food preparation area;
- Using a window sill as an additional work space.
In order to add light and freshness to the interior, it is recommended to choose calm pastel colors. They will help expand the space and make the atmosphere more comfortable and cozy.
The optimal size would be the length to the window sill. The length below the window sill will not be the best if the space is used to store household or cutlery, or flowers. The material quickly becomes dirty, and the edges begin to crumble.
When cleaning, such curtains can be easily removed with tiebacks.
An important point is the location of the working area. If the stove is close to a window, traces of grease and food particles will accumulate on the fabric. In this case, it is better to use roll options.
Many designers use long products when designing. This accessory would be appropriate if there is a balcony in the kitchen area. A short curtain covering the door will look repulsive and tasteless.
Addition: a long canvas is also suitable for decorating a window in the dining area.
How should curtains 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 consider:
- if the room is too small, it is better to choose short models, which may be slightly below the level of the window sill;
- long floor-length curtains 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, which is suitable for most interiors.
Models with a functional and practical design will maintain a cozy and warm atmosphere in the living room.
Conclusion
So, to choose the optimal length of curtains, you need to consider several factors:
- purpose of the premises;
- room dimensions;
- lighting quality;
- furnishing style and personal preferences of the owners;
- the need for additional accessories;
- color, texture and fabric composition;
- presence of pets and frequency of wet cleaning.
Our simple tips will help you avoid mistakes when choosing curtains and correctly decorate your interior, making the atmosphere cozy and harmonious.
How to combine tulle and curtains correctly
If the window composition consists of tulle and curtains, they should be in harmony with each other and have approximately the same length. Exceptions may occur if:
- the overall design of the room needs to be given dynamism;
- the window has a non-standard shape;
- there is a need to visually expand the room.
You should completely abandon curtains of different lengths if it is made in a classic style or involves minimalism in everything. Asymmetry is suitable for a room with a balcony door. In the kitchen, the short part of the canvas will be placed on the side where the work 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.
Curtains are an elegant decor for any bedroom.
How long should curtains lie on the floor?
First of all, it is worth noting that this curtain option is suitable for large rooms - living room, bedroom. They will look especially impressive next to the fireplace or candlesticks, creating the illusion of royal chambers. In addition, this length will allow you to avoid mistakes at the stage of calculating the correct length of the curtain, and will not look too short if, after washing, the material shrinks.
You should choose a suitable fabric for sewing curtains or when purchasing finished products, taking into account all the characteristics of the material.
But they also have disadvantages - 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 of the room several times a week.
Their length may vary. It is enough to place 3-4 cm on the floor to indicate the silhouette of the window composition. Those who want to create the volume of the canvas at the bottom can choose a curtain that will have 30-50 cm on the floor.
The curtains you choose can complement the chosen color scheme of the room or become a bright frame for the window, highlighting it from the general background.
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 functional purpose 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 lower edge of the curtain is located a few centimeters higher. Its advantages include:
- the ability to visually increase the height of the room;
- the ability to hide wall imperfections;
- This option suits almost any style.
This type of curtains is suitable for any interior, you just need to carefully approach the choice of material for such canvases.
Their disadvantage is that they are not suitable for rooms with uneven floors. They are also not always appropriate in the kitchen or in an apartment where there are small children or pets.
Extended
Curtains lying on the floor are not that common. Designers use them for apartments and houses with large areas. A large curtain allowance helps create volume that looks beautiful and creates a sophisticated effect with a slight hint of casualness. The advantage of such models is:
- the ability to hide uneven floors or walls;
- suitable for irregularly shaped windows;
- create the illusion of a high ceiling.
As a rule, they are sewn from heavy, non-transparent types of fabric.
Their disadvantages:
- not suitable for all rooms;
- require ideal cleanliness in the room, as they are capable of accumulating a lot of dust;
- Contraindicated in homes with pets and small children.
Short
These are considered to be curtains that reach the line of the window sill, slightly below or above it. Among their advantages:
- ease of use and ease of maintenance;
- do not prevent 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.
They can be made of tulle, veil or organza and are not able to fully protect the room from direct sunlight.
The disadvantages include:
- the inability to hide imperfections in the window sill, radiators, walls 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.
The correct curtain length will bring harmony to the room. In this case, you need to pay attention to the general design of the room, other accessories and auxiliary elements.
Rules for tulle
The presence of tulle on the window depends on the preferences of the owner. The accessory is located in the middle, between the curtains, and performs several functions at once.
Rooms such as the bedroom, children's room and living room require the use of long curtains that will cover the entire window opening and fall to the floor.
Purpose:
- Additional decor;
- Protection from insects during warm periods;
- Comfortable light dispersion in sunny weather;
- Hiding imperfections and defects on frames, window sills, glass.
An important aspect is the question of how many cm from the floor the tulle should be. The size chart is similar to the curtain options. The accessory can be either up to the window sill or to the floor.
The final choice depends on the room and interior style.
Both canvases must be selected together. They should complement each other and create a common, complete composition. If the curtains have a bright pattern or palette, the tulle should be from a neutral range. In the case where the curtain is made without an ornament in a dark color, the curtain can be a rich shade, with additional patterns.
The shape of the window itself plays a big role. Modern designers prefer semicircular facades. This option looks unusual and increases the amount of light in the room.
Tulle and curtains should be placed along the entire perimeter of the opening, creating soft folds and waves along the entire length.
