Curtains - I just don’t know where to begin

[Itsalloutofwhack]

Possibly scarred from previously ballsing up measurements, I have found myself terminally incapable of getting the ball rolling on buying curtains for our new house. We’ve been here three years, doing lots of building work and we now needs curtains in 4 rooms, and a further 2 will be needed down the road.

i just don’t know where to begin. How to choose between eyelets and pinched pleats. How to choose between various lengths. what length track / pole to go for. Fabric type and pattern I’m more comfortable with, but the rest of it fills me with cold dread.
I don’t think I really need made to measure - none of the windows are bay, for example - but I’m thinking about using the JL service, despite vowing never to use them again when I paid £500 for one set of curtains in our old house.

Who else might I ask to hold my hand and direct me through this, and what might I expect to pay? I’m in Bristol, near Henleaze (which apparently until very recently had a great curtain shop) if anyone has any personal recommendations or suggestions.

There’s very good measuring guides on Dunelm to get your own curtains. We have eye let curtains, they are so much easier to hang rather than pencil pleat curtains. I have curtains that go down to the ground in the lounge and in bedrooms I have curtains just below the window.

MN will hold your hand on the measurements.
Then the world is your oyster for where to buy from.
I tend to default to Dunelm for curtains, but we also have a nice set from Next and M&S, and blinds from blinds2go.

Just been buying curtains for our renovation and researching this. The general rules I've found are:

• hang the curtain poles as high up on the wall above the window as you can. Makes the window look bigger and the ceiling look higher.
• curtain poles should extend 15 cm on either side of the window
• go for pleats rather than eyelets as eyelets cheapen the look
• order curtains that are two times the width of the window. This allows them to be appropriately full when closed
• do you have some windows that you'd need sheer linens on as well as nighttime curtains? If so, you can get dual poles which fit both. We've done this for the very sunny south facing windows
• Etsy have some very reasonable curtains, made from natural fibres, and a range of sizes. eBay also does.

Use poles that are about 15cm wider each side (ie 30cm altogether). Height-wise, sometimes they look better at the top of the reveal, sometimes just below coving, sometimes 15cm above... it depends on how close to the ceiling your windows are, and rhe style of house (eg a cute cottage window will look a bit silly with big sweeping curtains).

Eyelet or pleat - thats just personal preference really. Usually eyelet curtains dont need to be as full as pleated ones to look good. For eyelets, you could get away with 1.5 tines the length of the pole. For pleats, twice the length of the pole looks better. So it might be obvious which to choose if getting ready made.

Length - again, preference! I like floor length.

Ive had some great curtains from ebay - I cant afford made-to-measure interlined ones new, but you can often get bargains if youre confident to hem them yourself.

Try Webber and Spencer Ltd in Downend, Bristol. They do home visits.
https://www.webberandspencer.co.uk/

Thank you all - these are exactly the kinds of tips I need. I will have a look at Webber and Spencer too - have you used them before @MrsMoastyToasty ?

Dunelm have some lovely quality, thick thermal curtains called ‘Luna’ that look a lot more expensive than they are. Are previous posters said, you need to choose between eyelet and pencil pleat. Have read many MN debates on this - general consensus eyelet are a lot easier but some people think they don’t look as fancy. Next also have nice curtains. Never been brave enough to spend hundreds on them. My children can mark them etc or I change my mind. (Edit, Luna ones currently have 20% off!)

If you go for pencil pleat def make sure the curtain you order is wide enough to gather up properly. If you start pulling the string and it’s the wrong size you can’t return…

Have you considered blinds instead? Slightly darker than the walls?
Do you need heavy curtains for insulation purposes?
Do you need to see through them? Do you need both?

If all your walls are the same colour I like the look of neutral lighter to mid colour depth curtains all the same colour. (same with blinds). I like a bit of stiff texture and sheen but not too much.

Choose the fabric and colour first from samples.
I like curtains that go nearly to the ground and are full and can be closed with pull strings, unless it is an odd window behind a bed.
Try to view similar curtains made up on windows before committing. Ask neighbours where they got their curtain.

This is all you need to know.

Well done on only getting to 3 years before curtaining. My best friend still hasn't made her lounge curtains. She bought the fabric in 1996. 3 colour schemes later it'll match now.

Yes I have used them before a couple of times. They do big (hotels etc) and small domestic orders. Loads of samples in the shop too.