Rules of Scale: Drapery

We've been talking a lot about proper scale lately, and while drapery may seem like one of those overly-talked about subjects, we will keep pounding this in your head until the entire world gets it right! It's a simple rule, but surprisingly draperies are one of the easiest things to get wrong. You can blame the shelf-stocked curtains found at most retailers for that. But before we go pointing any more fingers, let's start by going back to the basics...shall we?

Here's what you need to consider when buying and hanging drapery for your windows:

1. Rod Placement - Choke that sucker up as high as you can! Whether you have 8 or 11 foot ceilings, your rod should be placed just below your ceiling or crown molding. This draws the eye up, giving the illusion that your ceiling is taller than it actually is. A common mistake is to hang your rod just above your window casing...don't do this! Your window will appear squatty and short...and no one likes looking that way.

2. Hanging Drapes - Your rod should also extend a good foot or two beyond the width of your window when allowed. This allows you to hang your drapery over your wall instead of over your window. By hanging the bulk of your fabric over the walls, it not only allows more sunlight to stream through your windows when opened, but once again makes your windows appear larger.

3. Panel Length - This is where we blame store-bought curtains for making it so easy to go so wrong! Most drapery panels are sold in a standard 84" length, and you'll find that there simply isn't enough fabric to take you all the way to the ground. As a result, you end up either lowering your rod or letting your drapery hang like a terrible pair of flood pants. Don't do it! It may take a little customizing, but buy a longer length panel (96" or 108" are usually available) and properly hem them to barely kiss the ground. A tailored drape makes all the difference!

4. Fullness - Even if you got 1,2, and 3 right...it would all be for naught if you didn't have the right fullness. Your drapes should look functional, like they would actually cover the window when closed. A good rule of thumb is that each panel should be at least 1 to 1 1/2 times the width of the window. This will make your drapery look more generous and full whether opened or closed.