The Curtain Hanging Guide — Lake Hazel Design
Lake Hazel Design
A designer's guide

Hang your curtains like they were made for the room

Most curtains are hung too low and too narrow — and the whole room feels it. Enter your measurements below and we'll show you exactly where the rod belongs.

8'0"
48"
54"
Rod height
from floor
Rod width
bracket to bracket
Panel length
buy this or longer, hem to fit
Fabric width
2× fullness, total

The method

Eight steps, one afternoon, and a window that suddenly looks custom. Here's how we hang drapery on every Lake Hazel project.

i.

Mark the rod height

Measure up from the floor — not down from the ceiling — and make a light pencil mark. Floors are what your eye compares the panels against.

ii.

Mark the brackets

From each edge of the window frame, measure out your extension at that same height. Rods over 60" need a center support so they don't bow.

iii.

Level across

Hold a level between your marks and trust it over the tape measure. In older homes with sloped ceilings, split the difference by eye.

iv.

Find your studs

Run a stud finder over each mark. A stud means wood screws go straight in. No stud — which is most of the time — means anchors.

v.

Set proper anchors

Use self-drilling drywall anchors or toggle bolts rated for 20 lbs or more per bracket. The plastic cones in the box are why rods rip out of walls.

vi.

Mount the brackets

Screw each bracket in snug without over-torquing. Check level one more time before you commit.

vii.

Load, then hang

Thread panels or rings onto the rod first, keeping one ring outside each bracket so the leading edge stays put when you draw the curtains.

viii.

Dress the panels

Steam out fold lines and finger-press the pleats into even columns. Loosely tie them for a day or two if the fabric resists — this is the step everyone skips, and the one that makes it look designed.

Beyond the windows

Ready for a room that feels finished?

Curtains are the beginning. Lake Hazel Design offers full-service interior design across Salt Lake City, Seattle, and Boise — from a single refresh to a whole-home renovation.

Start your project