So, you’ve chosen a fabric and you’ve found a curtain-maker. Now comes the daunting bit.
Measuring for curtains or blinds might not be the most exciting part of decorating, but getting it right makes all the difference.
A few extra minutes with a tape measure can help ensure your finished window treatment looks balanced, hangs beautifully and works properly.
Before you start, decide whether you're measuring for curtains or blinds, and think about how you want the finished treatment to look. Then grab a metal tape measure, a pencil and some paper.
1. BEFORE YOU START
Before taking any measurements, look carefully at the window and the room around it.
Think about where you want the fabric to sit and how it will work with everything around it. Is there a radiator beneath the window? Do the windows open inwards? Are there handles, shelves or furniture that could get in the way?
If you're measuring for curtains, you'll also need to know whether you're using a curtain pole or track, as this affects where you measure from.
For blinds, the first decision is whether the blind will sit inside the window recess or outside it.
It sounds obvious, but this is the point at which it's worth stopping and thinking about the finished look before you pick up the tape measure.
2. HOW TO MEASURE FOR CURTAINS
Width: for curtains, measure the pole or track rather than the window itself.
If you haven't fitted your pole or track yet, a general rule is to extend around 15–30cm beyond each side of the window. This gives the curtains somewhere to stack when they're open and helps the window feel wider.
Measure the full width of the pole or track, from one end to the other.
Remember that this is not necessarily the amount of fabric you'll need. Curtains need fullness to create soft, generous folds, and the amount of fabric required will depend on the heading and the fullness you decide on.
A note on fullness:
The amount of fullness affects how your curtains hang and how much fabric you'll need. A fuller curtain will have deeper, softer folds, while a less full curtain will have a cleaner, more streamlined appearance.
Your choice of heading also affects the amount of fabric required, so you'll need to decide that before you or your curtain-maker calculates the fabric.
3. MEASURE THE DROP
Now decide where you'd like your curtains to finish.
You might want them just below the windowsill, or brushing the floor.
Measure from the top of the pole or track to your chosen finished length.
If you're using curtain rings, measure from the point where the curtain will actually hang rather than automatically measuring from the top of the pole.
And don't assume your floor is perfectly level. Particularly in older houses, floors and ceilings can be surprisingly uneven.
Take the drop measurement in at least three places: left, centre and right.
Measure twice, order once. Taking a little extra time at this stage is far easier than correcting a curtain that is the wrong size once it has been made. But you do make a mistake, you can always lower the curtain pole slightly….
Meredith House Tip
If you're between two measurements, choose the slightly longer drop. Curtains can always be shortened, but those that finish too high often look mean.
4. HOW TO MEASURE FOR BLINDS
Blinds are measured slightly differently from curtains, and the first thing to decide is whether you want an inside-recess or outside-recess blind.
Inside-recess blinds sit within the window opening, giving a neat, streamlined finish.
Measure the width of the recess at the top, middle and bottom.
Then measure the drop at the left, centre and right.Windows aren't always perfectly square, particularly in older properties, so don't assume one measurement is enough. The smallest width measurement is generally the important one, as the blind needs to fit comfortably within the recess.
Outside-recess blinds sit over the window opening rather than inside it.
Here you're measuring the area you want the blind to cover, rather than the opening itself. Allow enough overlap around the window to give you the coverage and privacy you want.
Think about how far you want the blind to extend beyond the window on each side and above it, taking into account any handles, mouldings or shelves.
If you're ordering a made-to-measure blind, always check the supplier's measuring instructions before finalising your measurements, as fitting systems can vary.
5. Don't forget the practicalities
It's easy to get caught up in fabric, colour and pattern and forget the things that will affect how your window treatment actually works.
Radiators: think carefully about how your curtains will sit if there's a radiator beneath the window. A full-length curtain may not be the most practical option in every room, and a blind can sometimes be a better solution.
Handles: check that they don't interfere with the blind or prevent curtains from hanging properly.
Furniture: a sofa, desk or bed positioned close to the window can affect how far curtains can open and where they can stack.
Doors and French windows: make sure your curtain treatment doesn't obstruct the opening or create an awkward drop.
Bay windows: these need a little more thought, particularly when deciding where the pole or track will sit and how the curtains will stack. If you're unsure, this is one situation where professional advice is worthwhile.
5. DON'T FORGET THE PRACTICALITIES.
It's easy to get caught up in fabric, colour and pattern and forget the things that will affect how your window treatment actually works.
Radiators: if there's a radiator beneath the window, think carefully about how your curtains will sit. A full-length curtain may not be the most practical option in every room, and a blind can sometimes be a better solution.
Window handles: check that they don't interfere with the blind or prevent curtains from hanging properly.
Furniture: a sofa, desk or bed positioned close to the window can affect how far curtains can open and where they can stack.
Doors and French windows: make sure your curtain treatment doesn't obstruct the opening or create an awkward drop.
Bay windows: these need a little more thought, particularly when deciding where the pole or track will sit and how the curtains will stack. If you're unsure, this is one situation where professional advice is worthwhile.
6. HOW MUCH FABRIC DO I NEED?
Meredith House Tip
The fabric repeat is the distance between one point in a pattern and the same point when the design repeats. It can be measured vertically, along the length of the fabric, and horizontally, across the width.
It matters because when patterned fabric is made into curtains or blinds, the pattern needs to line up across each width. A larger repeat can mean that more fabric is needed to achieve a seamless pattern.
You'll find the pattern repeat in the Details section of our fabrics on our website.
IN A NUTSHELL
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