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Original poster

Why do my expensive-ish curtains look crap

317 replies

Sickofhousestuff · 16/11/2023 21:24

Hi, I’ve bought my first house so a newbie to house stuff. Unfortunately, my mum is not good with this sort of thing so hoping for some MN advice.

Why do my curtains look crap? Yes they will look better after a steam but I’m not loving the way they look. We have huge windows so had to purchase made to measure which wasn’t cheap.

Im thinking I need more hoops. DH wanted the curtains to hit where they do but I think it’s a shame they don’t hit just above the window sill. Tempted to get my sewing machine out and watch some YouTube videos!

Please help. I’m gutted. They look really different to the image on the website as well :’(

OP posts:
Thread gallery
17
aswarmofmidges · 16/11/2023 21:40

I can't imagine stuffing curtains behind the ordinary radiator in an ordinary house would look anything other than stupid - and you would need to hope the brackets lined up or your curtains would be hanging in a very strange way !

More hooks, pleat carefully, iron

RudsyFarmer · 16/11/2023 21:39

Pencil pleat should be made with at least 2x fullness, preferably 2.5x fullness. You need to gather the tape up tighter and set the pleats in with some rags lightly wrapped around.

Original poster
Sickofhousestuff · 16/11/2023 21:39

I feel so much better! Thank you all. Was a bit upset when I put them up. Faked liking them for Dh’s sake.

OP posts:
AgnesX · 16/11/2023 21:39

Definitely more hoops and the length is right. Personally I'd have them longer but I hate short curtains.

3luckystars · 16/11/2023 21:38

Put us out of our misery, tell us how much they cost.

Heyhoherewegoagain · 16/11/2023 21:37

As others have said, you need to pull the tape in a bit…measure your window width, and pull each curtain tape so that each curtain measure half the width of the window…distribute the fabric evenly along the tape so the curtain falls in gathers, then you want to “dress the curtain” I can’t think how to put it into typed words, but have a look on YouTube.

Theres nothing wrong with the curtains, they’re just badly hung, and that’s easily sorted-they’re the correct length for sill length curtains-they’re supposed the be longer than the sill
there’s also the risk of them shrinking when they’re washed or dry cleaned then they’d be at half mast!

There are loads of videos if you search “how to dress curtains”, this was the first one

How to dress your new curtains

It’s finally here, the day you’ve been waiting for. Your custom curtains have arrived! Being the amazing DIY installer you are, you’ve successfully installed...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ju4HcLOfAWM

Bharty · 16/11/2023 21:37

It's the 99% lack of gathering. Tighten them up and steam the creases out, then let them hang for a few days.

It's a rather unusually proportioned window, isn't it? I think it will look ok once the curtains have settled.

SecondUsername4me · 16/11/2023 21:37

Greycottage · 16/11/2023 21:34

“Curtains should hit the floor” makes no sense for big front windows with a large radiator running underneath (a really common setup). All winter in the evenings you’ll have the curtains closed and radiator on. Essentially paying to warm up the bottom half of your curtains, and blocking the heat from circulating.

We have floor length curtains. In the winter we just tuck the curtains behind the radiators. I'd rather that on the odd cold evening than have window sil length curtains all year round.

Original poster
Sickofhousestuff · 16/11/2023 21:37

@BranchGold i thought I had, counted out but looks like I’ve done a bad job!

OP posts:
OhmygodDont · 16/11/2023 21:37

I have some flared booty curtain upstairs so not being a snob. My downstairs curtains however are thick heavy things even the ones not to the floor but longer than ops are not floaty like ops.

I wouldn’t be happy to pay much money for the curtains as pictured.

Nchanged89 · 16/11/2023 21:37

Iudncuewbccgrcb · 16/11/2023 21:35

You won't be able to send made to measure back.

OP typically made to measure curtains skim the floor rather than the radiators but if the length you have is what you were wanting/ are used to then it's fine.

People criticising are being a bit snobby tbh.

Show quote history

Yep, some people just love saying bitchy things online they wouldn't dream of saying to someone's face in real life.

Greycottage · 16/11/2023 21:36

I think the way they’re hanging down below the curtain pole makes them look a bit lacklustre. Can you fasten the hoops on lower down, so the top of the curtains hides the poles a bit more?

Original poster
Sickofhousestuff · 16/11/2023 21:36

Couldn’t do floor curtains due to the impact it would have on radiator. Looks better but not practical.

OP posts:
BranchGold · 16/11/2023 21:36

Have you spaced the rings equally? The gapping doesn’t look evenly spaced, hopefully gathering the fabric will assist with that.

i also think the drop between the rings and the fabric is too large a space. They really don’t look ‘made to measure’ and I worry that if you ‘dressed’ them correctly, they wouldn’t fit the window frame horizontally or vertically.

who took the measurements?

Original poster
Sickofhousestuff · 16/11/2023 21:35

They’re not expensive expensive. Just not ikea cheap.

OP posts:
Iudncuewbccgrcb · 16/11/2023 21:35

TheLightSideOfTheMoon · 16/11/2023 21:32

Curtains should hit the floor. Short ones look weird to me.

I think you should send them back.

You won't be able to send made to measure back.

OP typically made to measure curtains skim the floor rather than the radiators but if the length you have is what you were wanting/ are used to then it's fine.

People criticising are being a bit snobby tbh.

usethedata · 16/11/2023 21:34

You just haven't gathered them using the pull strings. That and an iron and maybe some more hoops and they will transform

myotherkidisacassowary · 16/11/2023 21:34

They look too short and not full enough to me. They need more fabric which can be gathered at the top to create deeper folds and a fuller drape.

They're not terrible at all, they just look less expensive than they are because they could be longer and wider. They should improve when you gather them more at the top and the creases drop out.

Screamingabdabz · 16/11/2023 21:34

They need ironing and gathering uniformly at the top. Probably more rings too.

Short curtains on wide windows always look a bit stunted so you’ll have to just get used to that.

3luckystars · 16/11/2023 21:34

If you got them made, the person that made them should advise you on gathering them.
They don’t look great now, I hope you didn’t spend too much.

DrFoxtrot · 16/11/2023 21:34

headcheffer · 16/11/2023 21:33

Steam the creases out. Gather the tape. Put the curtain rings on evenly, and perhaps get more of them.

They're lovely - just do this

Greycottage · 16/11/2023 21:34

“Curtains should hit the floor” makes no sense for big front windows with a large radiator running underneath (a really common setup). All winter in the evenings you’ll have the curtains closed and radiator on. Essentially paying to warm up the bottom half of your curtains, and blocking the heat from circulating.

Original poster
Sickofhousestuff · 16/11/2023 21:34

Thanks all!

OP posts:
headcheffer · 16/11/2023 21:33

Steam the creases out. Gather the tape. Put the curtain rings on evenly, and perhaps get more of them.

Pradder · 16/11/2023 21:33

It’s the drape that’s making them look cheap. They look stiff and light, expensive curtains are usually thicker, more floppy and heavy. So no they don’t look expensive. But they’re just out of the packet and the drape may improve. Or can be simulated to a degree with weights.