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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
Gettingbysomehow · 16/11/2023 23:47

Also much too much beige going on. Ue sofa and burnt orange curtains is a match made in heaven
You can also get matching cushions in Matalan.

friskybivalves · 16/11/2023 23:45

God had no idea curtains were so dull.

Rainingagainonasynday · 16/11/2023 23:45

Pray how does one steam curtains may I ask?

Gettingbysomehow · 16/11/2023 23:44

Have you thought about dyeing them a more interesting colour? I dye everything. I think it needs a lovely rich colour like burnt orange.
Then take them to the dry cleaners to be properly pressed and then they need more hoops and a lot more gathers, evenley spaced. Lovely.

Fionaville · 16/11/2023 23:42

They look far too short to me. Large, living room windows should have floor length curtains imo. It's a waste of money paying for custom made curtains that short, they never look worth it.

Livinginanotherworld · 16/11/2023 23:40

Gosh there’s some snobby comments on this thread. OP your new kitchen looks amazing, you don’t have to spend thousands of pounds to get decent curtains. Yours just need a little help with the gathers and a good steam, they will look much better in a few days. They don’t look cheap as some posters implied.

Floooooof · 16/11/2023 23:37

Please pull the strings, steam and post another photo!

Re pulling the strings, I had no idea you had to do this either until we bought our first home last year...that's the main problem you have I think

Flossflower · 16/11/2023 23:36

Sickofhousestuff · 16/11/2023 23:27

I really can’t justify the waste/cost of starting afresh.

Ive seen some people recommend against shortening, but would that not be a slight improvement?

I really really wouldn’t shorten them. They might shrink by up to 10% when they are washed so will be even shorter. The length is OK.
I studied textiles and fashion at college, many years ago but fabrics don’t change.
I love your kitchen so you are good at this house stuff.

Comtesse · 16/11/2023 23:36

Do not shorten them!!!!! That would look terrible……

Borth · 16/11/2023 23:33

Gather and steam and they will look like a different set of curtains

Milkmani · 16/11/2023 23:30

@Sickofhousestuff You might find these helpful, the create pleats at the top and make the curtain look a bit tidier and in my opinion more expensive. Also yours do need to drop a bit as they’re brand new so that will take a while. Once they’ve dropped maybe you might want to consider some weights but see how it goes. The reviews for these seem quite positive

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Metal-Curtain-Galvanised-HomeElabador-Silver/dp/B01LXRY4V0/ref=asc_df_B01LXRY4V0/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=344218512705&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=17745782127351152370&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1006696&hvtargid=pla-698520422379&psc=1&mcid=48f6694875e135abadc1c585470b3672&th=1&psc=1

LuluBlakey1 · 16/11/2023 23:30

Sickofhousestuff · 16/11/2023 23:20

DH would kill me if I wanted to redo the curtains. We are now flat broke!

First home, I guess you live and you learn!

If they aren't wide enough once the strings are pulled, you could buy an additional pair of the same curtains and hang 2 curtains on each side. I have done this before when I first bought curtains and made a similar mistake. You really could not tell when they were open and it just meant pulling both along when closing. They are still in one of our spare bedrooms and look absolutely fine.

Dahliasrule · 16/11/2023 23:29

I think they will be fine once they are ironed/steamed, are gathered up and had extra hooks, as others have said. The length is the best option with the radiator where it is.

Original poster
Sickofhousestuff · 16/11/2023 23:27

I really can’t justify the waste/cost of starting afresh.

Ive seen some people recommend against shortening, but would that not be a slight improvement?

OP posts:
Rainingagainonasynday · 16/11/2023 23:27

Sickofhousestuff · 16/11/2023 23:06

@Janeandme thank you for the sweet message. Such a pick me up.

Luckily I think the kitchen turned out beautifully (if I do say so myself). I must have changed the tiles at least 3x.

Builders do need to come back and put a trim under the cabinets in the coffee area but not the end of the world!

Weird photo (too lazy to get out of bed) as I was showing DH I walked down to the shops and bought him some fruit.

Absolutely beautiful kitchen OP, do not ever say you're useless! You're clearly far from hopeless as your kitchen is stunning. Can we see more pics? Love an interior! x

DaughterNo2 · 16/11/2023 23:27

They look far too short for the depth of the window

askmenow · 16/11/2023 23:23

And the only thing I would have said is the curtains are best hung onto the cill or down to almost the radiator, to reduce any heat loss from the radiators.
I personally have them so I can tuck two inches behind the rads to stop any draughts and retain heat.

Original poster
Sickofhousestuff · 16/11/2023 23:20

DH would kill me if I wanted to redo the curtains. We are now flat broke!

First home, I guess you live and you learn!

OP posts:
askmenow · 16/11/2023 23:20

Either steam or iron them. Thread a length of curtain weights into the hem the full width of both curtains (available from Dunelm )
Measure from the centre of the pole to one end.
Then gather heading tape to match + 2" to allow a bit of give. Look at the front to see if gathers look neatly evenly spaced.
Repeat the 2nd curtain.
Then judge how many rings you need , prob one every 4" and attach same number of hooks spaced evenly along the top. Where the curtains meet at centre, set the first hook 1" back to allow slight crossover of the curtains. Then hang.

Original poster
Sickofhousestuff · 16/11/2023 23:19

We’re in Berks

OP posts:
Crikeyalmighty · 16/11/2023 23:15

Your kitchen is gorgeous though OP- personally I would have a rethink- that's an awkward shape for windows with radiators under- we've got similar in a room and have plain but modern high end blinds and I think this would suit yours

Other than that I would get them steamed , and go online to do a quick tutorial in hanging curtains- I never understood about this tape pulling thing either

DisquietintheRanks · 16/11/2023 23:13

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Crikeyalmighty · 16/11/2023 23:11

I personally think non deep but fairly wide windows with radiators under look better with blinds - but I guess that's just me -

Flossflower · 16/11/2023 23:11

Gosh there are some really catty people on this thread. ‘Curtains look better to the floor’, ‘Eyelet curtains are better’ ‘curtains look better on a runner’ etc.
It would be very boring if we all had the same taste and anyone who thinks they know what perfect taste is needs to get their ego examined.

Babyghirl · 16/11/2023 23:10

@Sickofhousestuff
I have curtains out of dunlem cost a hundred quid a pair so 5 pairs all half way down heater I just tuck them behind the heater when I pull them.