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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:
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17
Terracotta77 · 17/11/2023 00:32

Sickofhousestuff · 16/11/2023 21:33

Okay I didn’t know the tie thing was a thing. Thank you!

Windows are over 9.5ft wide. Big to me.

What size are your curtains?

Hippodogamus · 17/11/2023 00:30

Gather them at the top, as everyone else has said.

Don’t shorten them, attach the curtain hooks to the lowest bits on the connection strip, that’ll help raise them up a bit.

Original poster
Sickofhousestuff · 17/11/2023 00:29

@JanglyBeads just turned 30. Probably shouldn’t be so inept with home stuff.

OP posts:
Original poster
Sickofhousestuff · 17/11/2023 00:28

We bought from Curtains 24/7, they were delivered via courier. This room is at the very front of the house, we needed express delivery as I felt totally exposed watching tv in the dark with DH’s giant screen.

Will be going to the local curtain shop for the rest but no rush as we are skint now. Just realised the one pair I really liked in our old place were on tracks. Never registered that they were different to loops.

OP posts:
Terracotta77 · 17/11/2023 00:24

Sickofhousestuff · 16/11/2023 21:27

I also think there is potentially too much material

There’s not enough material. You need to double the width of the window itself and then gather the pencil pleats. Then add more rings!

JanglyBeads · 17/11/2023 00:22

(Sorry for some reason I thought you'd said you were 20 something!)

JanglyBeads · 17/11/2023 00:22

Do you actually mean "off the peg" rather than made to measure, because they look like they've been folded in a packet?

Don't worry I was much older than you before I properly understood how to get curtains to hang nicely!

greenhydrangea · 17/11/2023 00:19

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!

They are a silly-looking length as is, because of the radiators. Do not shorten them and make them look worse.

SurelySmartie · 17/11/2023 00:16

Floooooof · 16/11/2023 23:50

...with a steamer

Show quote history

and its fabric steamer attachment.

Original poster
Sickofhousestuff · 17/11/2023 00:13

@Slay1981 Thank you, I switched at the last possible second.

https://www.stonetilecompany.co.uk/paris-pearl-brick-gloss-wall-tiles

Tiler said they were good tiles so assume they are easy to fit also.

OP posts:
Milkybarsareonmeeeee · 17/11/2023 00:13

They are far too small /short.

Original poster
Sickofhousestuff · 17/11/2023 00:09

DH does have interesting taste! He wears walking boots to work in a London office.

OP posts:
Slay1981 · 17/11/2023 00:08

I love your tiles in the kitchen? Where are they from? As I'm on the hunt for some.
Also if it makes you feel better, I also had no idea about gathering/tying curtains at the top and I've owned a house for 15 years 😂😂

billy1966 · 17/11/2023 00:02

RedorangeyellowBLACK · 16/11/2023 22:33

We have massive windows and radiators underneath (I will never buy a house with either again as they’ve been a right pain in the arse).
Over the 25 years since we have lived here we have tried all kinds of window dressings. I’ve concluded that short curtains just look awful on our windows and didn’t want just blinds so we’ve found the perfect combo (for us) of wooden venetian blinds and to the floor curtains, which we never draw but they dress the window nicely and take away the starkness of blinds alone.

This is what we did in several of the bedrooms which had radiators below windows.

My first full length curtains were custom made and truly eye-wateringly expensive 25 years ago🙄, but they were never closed and were far too dense.
Such a waste of money and one of several rookie mistakes I made!

The replacements were full length again but a much lighter material, and a fraction of the cost.

I think very pale curtains belong in bedrooms only, but each to their own.

Its tedious when men have strong decorating views.😁

Original poster
Sickofhousestuff · 17/11/2023 00:01

Thanks all. Will be making a trip to dungeon at some point tomorrow. Steamer has also been ordered. Will hopefully share an improvement tomorrow.

OP posts:
Rainingagainonasynday · 16/11/2023 23:59

Floooooof · 16/11/2023 23:50

...with a steamer

Show quote history

Please without being so condescending, tell my what a steamer is when it's at home?

Original poster
Sickofhousestuff · 16/11/2023 23:58

I think we needed to go plainer with curtains as we have a large l shaped sofa in this shade which is quite dominating imo. Luckily the throws and cushions I bought have also toned it down.

Why do my expensive-ish curtains look crap
OP posts:
TizerorFizz · 16/11/2023 23:58

Gather them evenly. They are not made to measure if they are not wide enough when pulled into pencil pleats. Or at least loose ones. These won’t keep much heat in as they are definitely not inter lined. Short curtains are a bit ? in my view. Most interior designers don’t feature them.

S0upertrooper · 16/11/2023 23:56

After you've tried all the positive tips suggested above, if you're still not happy, you can buy separate ready made lining.

I've always made my own curtains (or altered IKEA etc) and a lining helps your curtain hang better and gives better insulation. It also protects them from sun damage in the summer.

You can buy wundaweb to hem your lining. It comes on a roll and you iron it into the hem. This is useful if you can't sew.

Original poster
Sickofhousestuff · 16/11/2023 23:55

i am so ignorant. What is meant by them “dropping”? The material will stretch a bit?

OP posts:
Topsyturvy78 · 16/11/2023 23:54

You need to gather them at the top. There's videos on YouTube how to do it. Dunnelm are good for odd shaped windows like that. I've never bought made to measure. They'll look a bit better after a few weeks. Just need to drop a bit.

oakleaffy · 16/11/2023 23:50

They need pencil pleats at the top {pull the strings to make them gathered} Many more curtain rings are needed and they need an iron and DEFINITELY don't make them any shorter.

Floooooof · 16/11/2023 23:50

Rainingagainonasynday · 16/11/2023 23:45

Pray how does one steam curtains may I ask?

...with a steamer

SpinMeRightRoundBabyRightRound · 16/11/2023 23:50

They’ll be absolutely fine once you take them down and iron them, add a few more rings and draw the cord in. Don’t be afraid to iron them - do it from the back, steam is not going to cut it I reckon.

I made some of our curtains, where we have awkward sized windows and I couldn’t find ready made ones I liked. It’s expensive to start for the fabric even if my labour costs were free to me but if I was making them for someone else I’d definitely have ironed them before delivery!

SecondUsername4me · 16/11/2023 23:49

friskybivalves · 16/11/2023 23:45

God had no idea curtains were so dull.

We found them dull too - went to ikea, and bought the same long grey curtains for every window in our house (except kitchen and bathroom). Putting any more thought or £££ into them just didn't feel worth it.