Why do my expensive-ish curtains look crap

[Sickofhousestuff]

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 :’(

I just tuck mine behind the rads on evenings I have the heat on.

My curtains hang open 365 daytimes a year. For 9 of the 12 months I don't have heating on in the evening so they close fully in front of the rads. The remaining 3 months is a mix of no heating / log burner on (so the curtains hang normal) or heating on so curtains tucked behind rads.

I'd rather have floor length curtains and tuck them behind the rads for maybe 30-40 evenings a year than look at sill length ones all day and evening.

But to each their own

@sickofhousestuff
If you don't like the curtains in the long run you might be able to re-use them for Roman blinds.

I've made Roman blinds (they're a bit fiddly) but all straight line sewing. I put woollen wadding between the main fabric and lining to give them more insulation and impact. Then I put full length single curtains down the side.

Once you've sorted out your pleats and given them an iron, your curtains will look great.

If you can machine wash, I'd wash on a low temperature and re hang them when they're a bit damp. This should help with the creases. Don't machine wash if they're dry clean only as they'll shrink.

@SecondUsername4me good for you some of us live in colder parts of the country where the heating is on far more often than 30 nights a year.

This obsession with long curtains.

I have a window sill that juts out. It’s about 16 inches wide. Curtains have to hang above it, if they were floor length they’d laugh out loud pregnant and wouldn’t lie flat.

If prefer blinds, but it’s a bay with 5 different curved windows. That means 5 different blinds. Not cheap.

@Sickofhousestuff Have you bought curtains each measuring 284 wide? it looks like you have. your windows look like they are the same size as each curtain. If i was you I would take them down and cut three eighths off the width of each curtain (that is a quarter and half a quarter!). they are double width and you should only have width and a half. double width is what you would use for festoon blinds which are really ruffly.

This is another of those threads with people who are unable to comprehend that people live in a different style house to them.

We live in a 1960s house - there is no way you are tucking anything behind any radiators. there is about 2cm if that between the back of the radiators and the wall. You'd have to either buy exceptionally thin curtains, or stuff them down the back of the radiator - fire hazard and ugly. Also the window sills stick out quite a bit from the wall level. I do know though - because I am not an idiot - that other houses are different.

All this nonsense about curtains "having" to hit the floor - this is a matter of personal preference not a law. And the comments about OP's taste are just rude. I am not going to reiterate the advice of others but I like the fabric of the curtains and hope they are looking better this morning @Sickofhousestuff.

Actually, I think the usual guidance is 1.5 times for eyelet, 2x for pencil pleat and 2.5x for pinch pleat.

Only width and a half sounds like it would be stretched looking.

Edited to say: not that there is anything wrong with that if that’s your personal taste but if the OP has twice the width of the window, that is the ‘standard’ size and I think chopping bits off would be premature - it’s not like it’s easy to stick them back on if she doesn’t like it!

For pinch pleat you should aim for 2 - 2½, depending on the weight of the fabric and if they are interlined as well as lined, or just lined.

A lighter weight fabric with blackout lining, as these curtains appears to be, should definitely not be made narrower. I don't believe these are intended to be just dress curtains.

@Sickofhousestuff . Your kitchen is beautiful as is your floor and sofa. I hope you love your new home, looks like you’ve done a great job.

There have been some kind people offering practical advice about how to finish the curtains to their best effect. I live in a very old low beamed cottage. I only have Roman blinds and short Cottage top curtains. I had floor length curtains in the sitting room prior to redecorating but in all honesty I felt the effect was wasted and they were impractical and gathered dog hair (they draped and pooled slightly on the floor). This time I went for shorter length deliberately. I’m a fair bit older than you OP and have just extended, renovated and redecorated and spent ages choosing and planning. I’m happy with most of it and a couple things perhaps I might have chosen differently now with hindsight but will live with them for a good while.
I have been quite shocked at the nastiness and snobbery on this thread. It’s reflective of how unpleasant society in general is becoming. How has an innocent question about hanging curtains become so spiteful? For those who believe in their own innate and superior good taste - perhaps focus on developing good manners and kindness as more of a priority instead? And those who’ve offered such practical advice - nice to see some decency and kindness is around.

It’s a pain hanging curtains and faffing with the header tapes but once done (and ironed) they’ll look lovely

A lot of people are being horrible here and ignorant.
You are getting some good advice though. The curtains shouldn't be so creased so give them a steam and yes they do need more gathering and more rings.
Don't change the length just yet because there is nothing worse than them being too short.
I like sill length curtains because you can use the area underneath them.

I agree, I like the curtains they look fresh and modern.

This thread is from 2023! Wonder how the curtains are hanging now !

I agree but if they were made to measure she cannot send them back. They are the length she asked for.

I keep seeing horizontally striped curtains on TV dramas so I suspect they are now super fashionable so enjoy their moment!

I'm having the same with an inherited chaise longue I've had for over 20 year and have always loved (it was my grandmother's). It's very curvy and now looks super fashionable so I recently reupholstered it and am letting it enjoy its moment before it becomes unfashionable again. I'll always love it whether it is in or out of fashion.