Very boring question about curtain length!

[Tokelau]

I want to buy new curtains for the living room. We have a large bay window with an armchair in that space, and already have blinds, so the curtains will not need to close, just hang either side and look nice.

At the moment we have very cheap plain curtains there that I bought not long after we moved in, (quite a few years ago) and I want to finally get some nice curtains!

We have a slightly higher ceiling than normal in that room and standard length curtains don't fall to the floor, but stop at the top of the skirting board.

Should I get standard length curtains, or will they look awful? I can buy longer ones but they will be much too long, and I will have to shorten them, and they are much more expensive.

Longer.

Dunelm do lovely curtains, & material.

They did charge me £25 to shorten a 90" drop of ready made curtains that were £100.

I have found a local lady that charges £20.

Could you make them from scratch?

Would it be worth getting them made-to-measure? John Lewis for instance do this. Often the fabric choices are much better too than the ready-mades. And it might not cost as much as you'd think - you can ask for a quote. That's what I'd be looking into if I needed non-standard. I do think ending at skirting would look weird though, sorry.

If they dont need to close, I would definately try to make a 'fake' pair, from material.

Definitely need to reach the floor. If the longer ones would be MUCH too long then the offcuts would make cushion covers. It is really easy to shorten curtains, you don’t even need a sewing machine as the stitches should be done by hand anyway. You can also add weights in to make the curtains hang better, something often missed on ready made curtains.
Google/uTubeand Pinterest are you friends for this.

The ones I like are in Dunelm, and don't come in the longer length, only 228cm, with eyelets. It's these - www.dunelm.com/product/emmott-teal-lined-eyelet-curtains-1000083296?searchTerm=emmott

They are very good value.

I also like these - www.dunelm.com/product/highland-check-duck-egg-lined-pencil-pleat-curtains-1000065571?searchTerm=highland

They come in the longer length but are much more expensive.

I think I prefer the first ones really.

I can sew a bit, so could make minor alterations, nothing too ambitious though!

Yes, I think you're right, that they would look odd stopping at the top of the skirting board - I was hoping everyone would say otherwise!

I'm even wondering if I can move furniture a little, to hide the fact that they are a little short!

I'd save about £100!

You could add a piece of plain material to the top or bottom, in a matching colour.

www.athoughtfulplaceblog.com/how-to-lengthen-drapes-that-are-too/

I was going to suggest an insert of fabric, rather than adding at the top or bottom, but Flomy got there first..

Flomy, that’s a great link, thanks.

Annoyingly, Dunelm only do 54", 72", 81" and 90".

If you need longer, you're only option is made to measure with them

Are they hemmed at the bottom? Is there sufficient fabric turned over in the hem to drop to the required height? If so, I'd unpick the hem, carefully press the bottom edge out, then sew on some plain fabric to the bottom, and recreate the hem at the right length