Measuring for curtains

You will need:

• A metal tape measure
• Pen or pencil
• Paper

Expert tip: If you have a track or pole already fitted, make sure that you measure the full width. If you do not have a track or pole in place yet, measure the width of the window recess and add an extra 30cm to cover any overlap.

How to measure

There are two things to consider when measuring curtains, the type of drop and the fullness of the stack when the curtains are open.

Drop
We offer four drop options:

1. Above sill
   This style is ideal for a window recess. It ends 1cm above the windowsill for a sharp, contemporary finish.
2. Below sill
   An old favourite, this drop length ends 15cms below the windowsill. This style completely covers the window, blocking drafts and light.
3. Floor length
   For a modern look that is easy to clean around and suitable for any size of window, we recommend a drop that is 1cm above the floor.
4. Pooling
   To hide an uneven floor and bring warmth to a room, we recommend adding 5cm to the height of your curtain allowing it to pool stylishly on the floor. You can add up to 12cm for a more dramatic finish. The more fabric, the more generous the pooling effect.

Expert tip: For eyelet curtains, measure from the top of your pole to the floor and add 3cm. Your pole must be less than 3cm in diameter for the eyelets to fit.

Width
Ideally, when your curtains are open, you want them to stack away to either side in order to maximise the amount of natural light entering the room. Each type of curtain heading will stack differently when opened, as a result, each heading uses different amounts of fabric. To make sure you do not block your window, we recommend adding a few extra centimetres to the width of your window measurement, for example:

Eyelet/wave and tab top: add 30cm per 1m of window frame

Pencil pleat and slot top: add 40cm per 1m of window frame

You will need to measure the full track where fitted, or in between the finials on a curtain pole, or the width of the window frame to estimate the curtain pack width you will need.

Expert tip: Remember each pack comes with two curtains at the width

The pack width you select will depend on how full you want the header to look, e.g. for a voluptuous finish, select a width that matches as closely as possible the width of the track or pole. This will effectively double up on the fabric available for a luxurious, warm finish.

For a more relaxed finish, with less fabric, opt for one and a half times the fabric in the pack.

For example, if your pole measures 180cm, choose a 168cm curtain pack for a fuller finish, or a 117cm curtain pack for a relaxed finish.

Measuring flat curtains

I already have a track or pole

1. Measure the width of your pole between the pole ends
2. Measure the height from the bottom of the pole to the floor in three places and take the longest measurement

Expert tip: for eyelet style, measure from the top of the pole to the floor and add 3cms

I do not have a track or pole

1. Measure the width of your window frame (add 10-30cm to each side for every 1m of window frame for stacking)
2. Measure the height from where you would like to install your pole to the floor (for eyelet curtains add 3cm). We recommend that your track or pole is fitted 15-30cm above your window and 15-30cm to either side

Measuring for bay windows

I already have a track or pole

1. Measure the total width of your pole (A) to bend (B), bend (B) to bend (C), bend (C) to the outer edge of the window frame (D)
2. Measure the height from the bottom of the pole to the floor in three places and take the longest measurement

Expert tip: for eyelet style, measure from the top of the pole to the floor and add 3cms

I do not have a track or pole

1. Measure from the outer edge of the window frame (A) to bend (B), bend (B) to bend (C), bend (C) to the outer edge of the window frame (D) and the bay opening (A) to (D)
2. Measure the height from where you would like to install your pole to the floor (we recommend 30cm above the window frame, or more if there is space)

Caring for your curtains

Ready-made curtains arrive tightly packed and may require a light iron before hanging. We recommend reading the care instructions accompanying the curtains to check the optimal temperature and whether this should be done on the face or reverse of the fabric.

Most of the fabrics used in our ready-made and custom curtains are dry clean only. Full details will be provided on the care label. All hooks will need to be removed, and strings untied on pencil, double and triple pleat curtains before dry cleaning.