curtains - how to look nicer than “off the rack”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The IKEA tape with the hooks is definitely the cheapest and easiest way to make pleats. But you need at least two panels for each inch of window. And really, you won't get the "look" of real curtains unless they're lined and interlined. I don't know why you can't buy store bought panels with interlining, but it doesn't seem like you can. And the interlining makes a huge difference. If you can sew, making panels isn't hard, but you'll still be shocked by the material costs even if you pick very reasonable face fabric.

Can you explain/clarify your point re the width? My windows are 37” wide to the outside of the framing/moulding. Thanks! - OP

Sorry I said this really unclearly.

Okay so:
If you want your curtains to close and cover the window, they need to be at least as wide as the opening, right? But if you pleat the fabric, it won’t open out all the way any more. So you have to add width, depending on how big your pleats are.

If you don’t have pleats, you may still want extra fullness for aesthetics.

What I meant to say is if you’re making pleats in ikea panels you probably need two panel INCHES for each window inch, which is a guess starting place. It would depend on how you did the pleats.

Also of course your curtains don’t have to actually close all the way if you don’t need that.

Also you want the “stack” of the curtains when open to just barely overlap the actual window. That makes them look bigger. Behind the open curtains should be 95% wall in most cases. So add that to your “window width” when you’re calculating.