I am so tired and I’m not even done for the day. My mom and I are always like DIY tornadoes when we get together and this visit is no exception. Today, we got a new chandelier for the half bath (I loved the other one, but it was not bright enough) and we hung the bead board in there as well. That simple sentence doesn’t sound like a lot of work, but it was. Hauling sheets of bead board up and down the steps, making templates for wonky walls and keeping the kids entertained. It was a full day. Yesterday we finished making the last two curtain panels for the family room. My husband and a friend moved the treadmill to the basement, giving me more room to beautify. I shopped my own space at Lucketts and took home the walnut drop leaf table and grain sack upholstered French chairs. I have the perfect place for them now, so I was allowed to do that. (You know the rule.)
Now to the curtains. Realizing I was going to have to hang four curtain rods, I came up with a solution to hang them all at the same height and the same distance from the window. This process in the past has involved measuring up, measuring out, using a level, repeat. Sometimes it would involve drilling multiple holes when something didn’t work out. So, I took some time to figure out where I wanted the holes and I made a template.
I used a piece of raw chipboard, but cardboard or stiff card stock would do the job. I hung my curtains seven inches higher than the top of the window frame and nine inches wider. Hanging curtains high and wide (when ceiling height and space permit) make the window feel larger and it keeps the drapes from blocking too much of the light. My curtains hang over the window frame and a couple inches of the window. Using a square, I measured and cut out a three inch square to put over the window frame corner. I then measured seven inches up and nine inches out. Using the rod bracket, I marked out the screw holes with a pencil. Then, I turned the template 90 degrees to the right, measured seven inches up and traced the screws holes for the bracket. This template will be for the center bracket on long windows. I made a line straight under those marks to line up with the center of the window.
Here’s the template in action…
See the holes in the top left corner that are vertical? Those are for the corners of the window and the holes running horizontal are for the center bracket. I just turned the template 90 degrees to the right and lined it up with the center of the window.
I drilled holes through the template.
…and there we go. See the holes?
I then flipped the template over and used it on the other side of the window. I used this on all four windows and it made the process super easy. I’m going to hang onto this template and use it in my bedroom and office.
Here’s how the corner in my family room looks now…minus the treadmill. Yay!
(It doesn’t take much to make me happy.)
Say a prayer for my mom and I. We’re going to clean out the basement tonight. Send help if you don’t hear from me tomorrow.
 |
Sounds like you and your mom are little dynamos! I’d be tired for sure
The corner is beautiful and that’s a great tip about using a template. That’s definitely going into my “Tips to Make Things Easier” file! Thanks for sharing.
All I can say is….GENIUS…Good luck with the basement…
I love the curtains, thanks for the template tip, and the turquoise coffee pot is to die for.
BTW I love your new picture, it is more sweet and friendly.
Keep on Crafting,
Hal
Exellent!!! Thanks for the tip.
I love using a template {or as my hubs calls them… a jig} for easy use! I never thought to use it for curtains… but now I am going to look so smart when I hang curtains for clients! Thanks for the tip… your tips as always are very helpful!
Tiffany {Living Savvy}
savvydesignwest.com
I have never hung curtains in the bedroom in the 12 years I have lived there. I am going to do it now. I do have a question. My BR is really small, like 11 x 13. I only have the one window. Will it make it look even smaller to put the rod 9 inches on the outside of the frame?
No, I don’t think so. You can always have someone hold a panel up and see how you like it.
Where was this idea when we hung our panels in the livingroom? Great idea. It was a DUH! moment for me. It would have made things so much easier.
This is one of those little ideas that one smacks themselves in the head for and says, “why didn’t I think of that?” drapery rod hanging template. What a handy tool, esp. when hanging multiples. The seating area looks just perfect. I really like the shutter (?) pieces framing the window, those enlarge it, too. Sigh, just perfect!
Great template, love it! I LOVE the curtains even more though, did you make these or purchase somewhere??? Please share:)
Great idea! I need to hang the curtain rods in my bedroom today and will definitely use this.
Your styling is impeccable of course, but my favorite thing are those shutters!
Great idea! I’m curious if you used a level to check before drilling the second set? In my crazy house, it would be just my luck that the window frame would be sloping down a half inch and the rod would be crooked…
Jan
What a great template idea. Thanks for sharing!
Genius! What a fabulous idea…. I HATE hanging curtain rods!
Super, super, super idea. And so simple! Why didn’t I ever think of that? All those crooked curtains I hung in my life
you’d think I’d have come up with …something. Great Job! and thanks for letting us in on this fine secret.
Where are all of your curtains from?? Or where did you buy the fabric?! I love the color and design of all them.
Great idea!
Odd question….how to you get your curtains to stay back on the rod all scrunched up? Mine don’t want to stay and it looks horrible!
Just pinned this! We tried this tip this afternoon and it worked perfectly. Thank you!
This is so simple for such a complex thing, major duh moment when I saw it. Next time hubby measures I’ll tell him, uh uh here you go. Thanks
I came across your site, and just wanted to tell you that I liked what you have done. Great job!
Great ideas. And I love your name Miss Mustard Seed
Please come to my house. Pleeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaasssssssseeeeeeeeeeeee
Excellent idea!!! Thank you for sharing.
Thanks so much for posting this great idea and making it so clear to understand. I’m about to hang curtains this weekend and I already have more peace of mind about it.
I noticed that you have heating elements like I do. I have read elsewhere that drapes should be hung 12 inches higher than a heating element.
Do you think this is really a concern or should I go for the long drapes?
It depends on how they are heated. If they are electric, you definitely have to keep fabric away from them. Mine are heated by hot water, so it’s safe to have fabrics right up on them.
WELL-DONE!! I’ve seen the template idea work for cabinet knob installation, but didn’t think of it for window treatments. Your brain’s connections are a blessing to the rest of us. Thanks for sharing!!
That is such a great idea and so simple. I am so glad to find your site and get so much useful information and wonderful ideas! Thank you MMS! You are the best. I can’t wait to hang curtains in my new apt. now.
I love your curtains. The jig/template is an idea I have used. I make sure I label them so they don’t get thrown out. I have used this idea for shower rods too I used 1×4′s as shelf supports in the bedroom closets and made a jig to install coat hooks in a row on each side of the door. A piece of furring strip and 1/4 plywood or fiberboard is perfect. The furring strip is at the top to ride on the top edge of the 1×4. You can use the same trick to attach closet rod hardware.
rick
I love the new look and the tip for making life easier. Thanks!
Love this trick, will be using this for sure on most of my windows, but if you have a trick for a resessed window with a small window seat in it and the trim inside plus a bulkhead, I’m all ears. The ultimate dabate is do we hide the curtin rod under the bulkhead or put it bellow about 2-3 inchens above the window opening
I don’t have framed windows will it still work the
Same way?
Such a good idea!
I was wondering, do you recall where you got the blue pitcher/vase in that last picture? It’s beautiful!
simple yet brilliant idea. Thnx as this can be a very frustrating task. Did you mean to have your drapes slightly puddling? Enjoy your blog.
Can you tell me what paint color that is on the wall?
Could you please tell me where you found the turquoise and white pattern curtain fabric in these photos? I love it?
I have a window that butts up against a door and am perplexed how to hang curtains. There is no room on the one side. Any thoughts?
Thanks!
Love Love this idea … gonna use it when I do my guest bedroom .. genius thanks