How to hang curtains right first time

Curtains can have several different roles in your home, both practical and decorative, but if you’ve never hung them before, it can feel like a bit of a daunting task. There are several different types of curtains and ways to install them, and if there are currently no fittings for curtains already there, you might not know which type may be the best option for your circumstances. 

In this article, we overview the different kinds of curtains that are most popular in the UK and how to hang them in a variety of different ways so that you can find the best solution for your home and have those curtains up in no time. 

Jump to:
Different types of curtains
Why tackle hanging curtains yourself?
Prepping for hanging curtains
Curtain pole vs curtain track
How to put up a curtain pole or track
How to hang eyelet curtains
How to hang curtains with hooks
How to hang curtains with rings
How to hang curtains on a track

Different types of curtains

There are wide range of curtain types, which affects not just the way they look, but also the way that they hang and the coverage that they provide. 

Curtain length types

In terms of curtain length, there are four main lengths that are commonly used in the UK, which are:

Windowsill curtains – shorter curtains that finish at the windowsill (usually around 1cm above, to be exact). These are commonly used in bedrooms or kitchens when windows and their sills are often higher up than in other rooms.

Apron curtains – Slightly longer curtains that generally finish a few inches below the windowsill. These curtains tend to be popular on windows that have a radiator directly below, as they can help stop heat escaping out of the window when drawn.

Floor-length curtains – These are curtains that finish just a tad above the floor, usually a couple of centimetres or so. They are most popular for larger windows or to cover patio or French doors.

Puddle curtains – These curtains are longer still, where the bottom of puddle curtains drape on the floor itself for a really dramatic look. These are popular in living and dining rooms but care should be taken as the puddled fabric can be a trip hazard and these curtains may need more frequent washing/cleaning than other types.

Curtain heading types

As well as the different types of curtain length and the styles that accompany them, curtains also come (when buying them ready-made) with a certain type of ‘heading’ which affects how they look, hang and what equipment is needed to fit them. There are multiple heading types but the most common ones in the UK include:

Eyelet curtains – These have holes and metal rings in the top of the curtains themselves, called eyelets, and are designed to go on curtain pole, which is attached to the wall above the window or door. The curtains will naturally fall in loose pleats.

Pencil pleat curtains – These curtains have pleats in the fabric, which is created by sewing a special tape into the top and using the strings in the tape to pull the fabric into gathers, or pleats, which are thin and evenly spaced. Pencil pleat curtains use hooks or rings to attach to a curtain pole or track when hung. As the fabric is gathered, pencil pleat curtains use more fabric than some other types.

Pinch pleat curtains – These curtains are more traditional style, where folds in the curtain tops are stitched into place to form permanent pleats at intervals along the top of the fabric. Pinch pleat curtains can be hung on a pole or track, just like pencil pleat ones, and also use more fabric than many other types because of all the folds.

Tab top curtains – These curtains tend to have a more contemporary look and have fabric tabs sewn into the top that are used to slide directly onto the curtain pole. It’s important to note, especially if you’re looking for blackout curtains, that tab top curtains will allow some light to come through around the tabs, so a different type might be better suited to your needs.

Why tackle hanging curtains yourself?

You can usually hire a professional to come and fit curtains in your home if it’s something that you don’t feel confident doing yourself or with the help of family or friends, but most people find that it’s not as tricky as task as they may have imagined once they get the right advice on how to do it. 

Hanging your curtains yourself can therefore help save money as you don’t need to pay someone else to do it. It can also give you a great sense of accomplishment when you complete a practical task like this yourself, and enable you to style your home exactly the way you want to, or easily change things up if you want to in the future. 

Prepping for hanging curtains

There are various things you’ll need to do before you start actually hanging curtains in your home. The first and most important thing to do is to measure the windows (or doors) that you’re planning on fitting curtains for, so you know exactly what you need and in what sizes before you spend any money on buying or making curtains and their fixings. 

For this, you’ll need a tape measure and a way to note down the measurements you take. 

Measure the width for your curtains

Measuring the window is a good place to start when working out the width of curtains that you’ll need, but it’s important to factor in that the curtains will need to overlap the window and wall at both sides too, as well as taking into account the folds or pleats that you want to have on view, both when they are closed and open. 

It’s always better to have curtains slightly too wide than going the other way and ending up with curtains that don’t meet in the middle or leave a gap at the sides. 

A good rule of thumb tends to be that you measure the width of your window and then add around 20cm extra to allow for the curtain pole brackets and finials (the decorative end pieces on the curtain pole). 
If you already have a curtain pole or track fitted in place above the window, you can simply measure the length of that to get a measurement for your curtain width.

Measure the length for your curtains

Whether you’re going for windowsill length, apron style or longer, it’s important to factor in the space between the curtain pole or track and the top of the window as well as the window length itself, so that you buy curtains of the right length for your needs. 

Measuring a bay window for curtains

If your curtains are for a bay window, either with three or five sides, instead of taking the whole measurement in one go, you will need to measure the width of each section separately and add these together, along with the extra 20cm. 

Curtain pole vs curtain track

Some types of curtains can only be used with curtain poles (such as eyelet and tab top curtains) and some can be used with a pole or a track (such as pencil pleat or pinch pleat curtains), so if you have a preference then this might help you decide whether to go for a pole or track.

If you want fixtures and fittings to be hidden from view, a curtain track is probably the way to go, and this can also be a good option for bay windows as the track can curve around the angles of the recess. Curtain poles for bay windows can be bought, but finding one with the exact size, specifications and style that you want can be tricky and sometimes expensive. 

If you like the look of a curtain pole, it’s often the easiest option when it comes to installation.

How to put up a curtain pole or track

If you’re planning to use a curtain pole for your curtains, this will need to be fixed to the wall before you can do anything else. 

As you’ll be drilling into the wall, it’s important to check that there are no cables or pipes close to where you’re working. You can use a cable detector to check the area before you start.  

Disclaimer: If your home is rented, you should seek permission from your housing provider or landlord to install a curtain pole or ask them to install it for you. 

You’ll need:

• A measuring tape
• The curtain pole or track and the associated brackets that they come with
• A pencil to mark points on the wall
• A drill and the appropriate drill bit (this should be specified in the instructions)
• Wall plugs (usually included with the curtain pole or track kit)
• A screwdriver or a screwdriver bit for your drill
• A spirit level or laser level

You’ll need to measure the width of the window and then add around 15cm each side (30cm in total) so that the curtains overlap the wall and block the light effectively. This is the length of curtain pole you’ll need. Many curtain poles are extendable, which might be the easiest option. Curtain tracks can easily be cut to size if needed. 

How high should the curtain pole be above the window?

There is no hard and fast rule for this, but it’s common to place the curtain pole or track around 15cm above the top of the window. This leaves a bit of overlap to help minimise the amount of light that gets through. Make sure you factor this extra length in when you’re measuring for the length of curtains you need. 

Attach the curtain pole or track to the wall

• Measure the window and halve the measurement to find the middle point. Make a pencil mark at this point on the top edge of the window. Measure directly upwards 15cm to find the right height for your pole or track. 
• Some curtain poles need just a bracket at each end, but some have additional brackets in the middle. Curtain tracks have multiple brackets evenly spaced along the track, as specified in your instructions. 
• Mark the position of all of these before you do anything else with the pencil on the wall, so you have a clear guide on where to drill. Once you have your marks in place, you can check that they are straight using the spirit level or laser level before you commit to drilling holes into the wall. 
• If you need to install a centre bracket, do this one first by following the instructions in the kit. This will usually require you to drill holes, insert wall plugs and then screw the bracket into the wall using the screwdriver. 
• Then move into the other brackets until they are all in place and firmly secured to the wall.
• You can now place your pole or track into the brackets and follow the instructions to secure into position. 
• You’ll need to adjust or remove the pole to thread on your curtains, so don’t add finials yet. 

How to hang eyelet curtains

Eyelet curtains are very easy to hang. They should come with instructions but if not, the below tips should help you to get it right first time: 

• Lay your curtains down on the floor first and make vertical folds in them, making sure that the eyelets line up at the top and that the lining of the curtains is turned to the inside on every fold. Think of a paper fan and the way that it folds to visualise how this will look.  
• Slide each curtain into the pole with the eyelets.
• The last eyelet on each curtain should be on the outside of the pole bracket to keep it in place when you draw them. 
• Place the finials on the ends of the poles once the curtains are in position as a final touch.

How to hang curtains with hooks

For pencil pleat curtains or pinch pleat curtains, they are generally flat in the packaging, so once you have taken them out (and ironed them if appropriate and necessary – check the label), you will then need to get them ready to hang and attach the hooks. This works differently for these two types of curtains.

Hanging pencil pleat curtains on hooks

The heading tape on the inside of the curtains at the top will have rows of string threaded through it (usually three rows). To get the pleats to form in the curtains, you’ll need to pull these strings but make sure that you tie the ends together at one end of each curtain first. Try to pull all three strings at the untied end at the same time and pace – take it slowly. You’ll want each curtain to end up at half the width of your track or pole, plus a couple of centimetres to overlap. Check that the pleats are even and that your curtain is the right width before tying off the other end of the string to keep them in place. Use a slip knot if possible so that they can adjusted in the future or so the curtain can be flattened for washing. 

You’ll then need to attach curtain hooks to the ‘pockets’ in the tape on the back of the curtains at the top so that they can be attached to rings (for the curtain pole) or runners (if you’re using a curtain track). There are usually three different options (top, middle or bottom) for the hooks, so just use the one that best suits the look you want to achieve and place the hooks at regular intervals. 

If you’re using rings, these can then be attached to the hooks and threaded onto your curtain pole.

If you’re using a track, attach the hooks to the runners provided in your kit so that they now hang from the track.

Hanging pinch pleat curtains on hooks

Pinch pleat curtains don’t have string to create the pleats because they are permanently stitched in already, but they do need a different type of hook than pencil pleat curtains. 

Your provided instructions should tell you that you need to slide the metal hook into the stitches on the back of each of the fixed pleats, as close to the top of the curtain as possible, so that only the hook part is visible from the inside of the curtain, but hidden from the other side. 

Once in place, the hooks can be attached to the pole rings or track runners as you hang each curtain. One curtain should have a pin to the outside edge of the inside, but the one meeting it should not, allowing them to overlap when closed. 

How to hang curtains with rings

Once you have curtains attached to rings with hooks, you can simply slide the rings into your curtain pole, one at a time, until both curtains are in place. Make sure that the last ring on each outside edge is the other side of the bracket, so that the curtains edge stays in place when they are drawn.