Curtains (formally called draperies) are one of the top home furnishings that’s installed improperly. No offense, but chances are your curtains are hung wrong too. Let’s chat about the common misconceptions when installing curtain rods, how to remedy them, and our formula for installing them like a pro.

01 | Curtains should hug the window casing

Ninety-nine percent of the time, your curtains should be installed on the wall surrounding the window. Why? Because they make your windows look smaller in comparison to the rest of the room. You’re also blocking quite a bit of natural light from the windows.

There is one exception to this rule, though; if the window is tight between two walls, like in a dormer or small powder room, then you can install your hardware directly to the casing.

While curtains and draperies are sometimes purely functional, you don’t have to sacrifice aesthetic in the process. On the other hand, you may have your draperies just for looks, and in that case, you definitely don’t want to sleep on installing them the right way.