Window curtains can truly transform a space. Curtains help to anchor a room while adding personality, style, and character. However, the wrong length of curtains can throw off your entire design and decor plans.
And worse, if your curtains are too short, it can be a design nightmare. Curtains that are too short make a room look odd, awkward, and incomplete.
While it is a very frustrating design dilemma, there’s an easy way to fix it. So if you have curtains too short that you’re dying to fix, then you are in for a treat.
Follow along as I share the easiest ways to lengthen a short curtain without sewing it – giving it the length you desire.
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Standard Curtain Lengths
Depending on the style that you are going for, the curtain length you choose may vary. Most curtains come in the following measurements:
- 63 inches
- 84 inches
- 94 inches
- 108 inches
- 120 inches
The rule of thumb is that curtains can either float slightly off the ground, kiss the floor or sweep on the floor. However, if your curtain doesn’t do either one of these things, then it’s time to reconfigure it with these hacks. Extending curtains is the best way to achieve the perfect look.
Three Ways to Lengthen Your Short Curtain
1 – Use a Curtain Ring or Curtain Clip
Curtain rings make an excellent curtain length extender. These curtain length extenders are almost magical as they are super easy to install, and most importantly, they work. A curtain ring is one of the easiest and best ways to add length to your short curtain.
Curtain rings can give your curtain up to 2.5 inches in length. And lengthening curtains can make a big difference in their overall appearance.
How to Use Curtain Clips
To extend the length of the curtain with clips, you must first take the clips one by one and attach them to the top edge of the curtain. Try to space out each clip evenly apart. You don’t have to be precise in distance as this can be eyeballed. This should result in anywhere from 8-10 rings per panel for the ideal look.
Once you have attached the rings to the curtains, take your rod and insert it through each of the curtain rings.
Once the rings are affixed to the curtain, you can hang your curtains.
And that’s it. You should immediately have a short curtain increase in length.
2 – Loosen the Hem
Another way to increase the length of the curtain is to loosen the hem of the curtain. Loosening the hem of a curtain can gain several inches in length.
For example, this particular curtain had an additional 4 inches of materials that could be released for length. That’s a sizeable amount of length you can add to the curtain. So if you have a curtain 4 inches off the floor, releasing the hem can help to give it the desired look.
To loosen the hem of a curtain, take the hem of the curtain, which is usually the folded and stitched portion at the bottom edge of the curtain.
Locate the stitches and look for a thread line that runs across the width of the curtain, securing the folded hem.
Cut the threads using scissors or a seam ripper. Take your time to carefully cut the threads so that you don’t mistakenly cut any other parts of the curtain and damage the fabric.
Once you have removed the hem, unfold it and use an iron to press the unstitched hem flat. Use the iron to remove any creases or wrinkles.
This should instantly give you a longer curtain that you can hang.
3 – Adjust the Curtain Rod
If your curtain rod is close to the ceiling, then adjust the rod’s height by lowering it. Lowering the curtain rod will help to bring the curtain closer to the ground.
This may require loosening a few screws or brackets to adjust the height. Once you have lowered the curtain rod to the desired height, ensure it is level and properly aligned.
This is a great way to adjust the length of the curtain without altering the curtain itself.
I hope you found these tips useful for lengthening a short curtain. Having longer curtains can enhance the overall aesthetic appeal of a room, creating the illusion of height and elegance.
Having longer curtains will make your space look more polished and well-designed. Lengthening curtains can also help to balance the proportions of a room.
So if you need a quick fix for a short curtain, these simple curtain hacks will give you the solution to your problem.
Other Ideas you might also like:
- How to Make a Guest Room Cozy and Inviting
- 18 Cozy Living Room Ideas on a Budget
- 7 Best Small Apartment Decorating Ideas on a Budget
- 15 Easy Home Makeover Ideas You Can Do on A Tight Budget
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