Curtains can be quite an investment, particularly if you have larger windows or lots of them, so you really want to get the measurements right. There is nothing worse than looking at them for the next 10 years knowing you should have added an extra two inches to the length. For this very reason we wanted to give you some guidance and advice so you can feel confident measuring for your curtains and ordering the correct amount of fabric.
1. Install your track or pole before taking your measurements. Measure the track or pole, not the window itself.
2. Always use a metal tape measure, as a cloth or plastic tape may stretch.
3. Double-check all measurements.
4. Measurements must be in full centimetres. Where your measurement falls in between two whole centimetres, always round down to the nearest centimetre (e.g., for a measurement of 100.5 cm, record 100 cm).
5. The track or pole should extend beyond the window at either side to allow room for the curtains to be drawn back to the sides of the window, we recommend 15cms each side.
- For poles: Measure the width between the decorative finials.
- For tracks: Measure the width from end to end.
- If the track overlaps in the middle, you must include the overlap.
- For tab-headed curtains, we recommend that your pole extends approximately 30 cm on either side of the window to optimise the light from your window.
- For poles: Measure from the underside of the curtain rings to allow the pole to be seen above the curtains.
- For eyelet curtains: Measure from the top of the pole and add 4 cm.
- For tab-headed curtains: Measure from the top of the pole. To minimise light exposure, we recommend you position your pole a minimum of 15 cm above the top of the window.
- For tracks: Measure from the top of the track to allow it to be hidden by the curtains. The maximum depth of the track is 3.5 cm from the top of the track to the bottom of glider.
- Measure from the correct point to:
1 cm above the sill for SILL LENGTH,
the desired length for BELOW-SILL LENGTH
OR
1 cm above the floor for FULL LENGTH
We know that choosing the right style and fabric for your new tartan curtains can be quite confusing, so if you are looking for a little extra help Anna has got you covered with her top tips on how to choose the right material for your beautiful curtains. And If you want to find out what the latest curtain trends are before you take the plunge and order yours, then head to the Tartan Blog where we break down all you need to know about the current curtain crazes.