Sorry, I must be a real idiot but can you please help me (curtains)....?

[ireallyhavenoidea]

OK. I am back looking for curtains (again!) and cannot get my head round it.

Ok, so I have measured all my windows - without poles at the moment but taking in 15 cms above and 15cms either side, so therefore the size of my adjustable pole - and have the following sizes:

Living Room - 209cm wide x 120 drop

Bedroom - 209cm x 135

Bedroom 2 - 149 x 133

Bedroom 3 - 208 x 135

Dining Room (bi-fold doors) -248 x 227

Firstly, do they look feasible sizes to you?

Secondly, which on earth curtain sizes do I need for each window? For example, I thought of these for the dining room but thought I would need the 228 x 229 but the site says it is for a pole over 295!

I also liked these for the Living Room but they are only 150 wide.

Please can someone give me a really - for clearly a very simple person whose brain has been frazzled by a long house renovation! - easy guide on curtains.

Many, many thanks in advance you lovely ladies :)

Ok, sorry, me again!

What is STILL confusing me is the different advice given on both Next / JL website. (I cannot discount JL because they are my 'go to' for everything!)

SO, from Next:

Curtain width to pole dimensions:
Standard: Each actual size panel 135- suggested pole or track size 150 to 210cm (59" to 83")
Wide: Each actual size panel 168cm - suggested pole or track size 210 to 295cm (83" to 116")
Extra Wide: Each actual size panel 228cm - suggested pole or track size 295 to 385cm (116" to 152")

BUT, from JL:

The width stated refers to a single curtain. One pair of 150cm width curtains will fit curtain track/pole size 124-174cm

Width 168
Fits pole up to 198cm

SO, how come Next think curtains of 135cm fit a pole up to 210cm but JL don't?

Will the Next ones look a bit crap

Yes. Work to two times width on pencil pleat curtains. For a pole that measures 150 cms end to end, I would make up a pair of curtains where each curtain measures at least 140 when finished - so as fabric comes 135cms wide (and you need to allow for overlaps, hems etc) you would need three drops of fabric, so in fact each curtain will measure approx 2m wide, but as it is pencil pleat the advantage is that you can reuse on a bigger window as and when.

I'm not helping am I? Maybe get an independent curtain maker in to go through the individual windows in your house..

The issue is that you can make the 'waves' in the eyelet curtains deeper or less deep - so the same amount of fabric will do a different length of pole.

One thing to consider is if you have a fair bit of space around the windows. If you do, you may want to get a wider curtain and a much longer pole, so that when the curtain is fully open the window is completely clear of fabric, iyswim. That will maximise light while still making the windows look 'dressed'.

Seeing as you haven't put the poles up yet...

Do you know what? Curtains are an entirely different language. I swear I'd understand more Mandarin than curtain-speak.

My Mum has made curtains professionally so I just let her do ours.

On a few occasions I've asked her a simple question eg "How much fabric would I need for the dining room curtains?" and it results in a long complicated reply about drops, widths, matches etc

I'm an educated woman, honest, but it baffles me!

I think JL are being generous and Next a bit stingy in their calculations OP.

For a metre wide window you need between 1.5m and 2m of curtain (ie if using 2 curtains that's each curtain being between 75cm and 1m wide) For pencil pleat you probably want the upper end of that and for eyelet /tab top can prob get away with the lower end but it all depends on what kind of look you want. If there is a distinctive pattern then perhaps you would prefer less width to show it off better?

Does that help?

Sorry, just seen there were further replies. Been too busy packing (arghhh!) to see them before. I think I understand - as long as i know there is no definitive! I have ordered some JL ones for l

... Grrr, sorry, on ph

Oh no!

Anyway, bought some and i will see when i put them up.

Thanks for all the answers (and not making me feel stupid for not understanding). Not an exact science... I understand. Thanks :)

You need more stack back than 15cm each side for your curtains. 20cm minimum. Add that to the width of the pole.
I'm a Curtain maker and from recent discussions with fellow independent makers, it seems that JL are more expensive than handmade, made to measure and more importantly use far better fabric. Quality does matter, they will be made for you.
Ask a local curtain maker to help you, honestly scrimping on the curtains is a shocker. I did it, before I made curtains for a living and was forever cross that my curtains didn't overlap in the middle!
Good luck and sorry to try and persuade you all to look elsewhere bit it's good to know JL can be beaten by a private individual

Thanks Littletime. We havent put them up yet so i think i may just get someone local in, as you say. I am clueless about it all and as i have a while house to do...