The Basics: Height, Length, and Fullness

Height: Many designers prefer to hang curtains as high as possible -- usually just below the crown molding -- to make ceilings feel taller and elongate the profile of the window. But in some cases, with high ceilings or low windows, that can be too high.

ˇ "If you have valances, going all the way to the crown molding may make the valances too deep and heavy." - Cathy Kincaid

ˇ "I like windows to look tall and willowy, but I don't like to take curtains all the way to the crown -- it looks too crammed at the top. I try to keep curtains at least a couple inches below the crown -- several inches below if the ceilings are very tall -- so it's clear you're dressing the window, not the wall."
- Jackye Lanham

ˇ "Always drop down two inches from the crown molding so there's breathing room." - David Mitchell

Length: Curtains should generally be floor-length unless they're casual curtains in a kitchen or café curtains. Most designers prefer curtains to just touch the floor, with a small, perhaps half-inch, break.

ˇ "I cannot stand draperies that are too long and puddle on the floor. I like neat." - William Diamond.

ˇ But there are still traditionalists who prefer their lush draperies to puddle. "A puddle of four to six inches changes the way the fabric falls and adds elegance." - Mitchell Brown.

Fullness: Fullness depends somewhat on the fabric and the style of pleats. The rule of thumb for most fabrics is that the finished curtains measure two-and-a-half times the width of the window, but for sheers and silk, designers often prefer three times for fullness.

Box pleats generally require fabric three times the length of the curtain rod for the correct fullness, while a flatter style of panel, such as a scalloped top or grommeted panel may need only one-and-a-half times the curtain rod length.

ˇ "To save money, choose stationary side panels rather than operable curtains, which don't require as much fabric." - Michael Tavano