Sizing Curtains?

[CarpeJugulum]

I want so replace our living room curtains; but the size we currently have is fine on length (they're hanging from a pole with hooks); but when the curtains are drawn, it doesn't look quite right - they seem to be a bit short on the width.

So how wide should I be looking if the width of the window is about 2-2.5m?

Specifically - what should the packaging say?!

Total width of the curtains should be 1.5 -2 times the width of the pole, depending on how full you want them.

I think you need a minimum of the width of the window + 50% to get enough gather. More is probably better than less (am trying to remember what my Mum told me - she is the font of knowedge for all things curtainy for me)
So a 2m window - 3m curtains, 2.5m window - 3.25m curtains.

I missed the pole bit - Dewdrop is right - you need to measure the width of the space the curtains occupy and times it either by 1.5 or 2 for gather.

Okay so the existing curtains are a 180cm drop.

The window (length of sill) is 245cm, the pole is another 10cm excluding the end decorations.

So; I'd need to go for a 182cm drop, by a 300cm width - which means I'm not going to be able to buy ready made curtains.

Bugger. There's that redecoration plan knackered.

We have very wide windows with a short drop - and got round it buy having 2 lots of ready made curtains - ie. 2 on each side. In DSD's room she just has 4 seperate curtains but in the lounge they've been sewn together to make two very wide curtains.

try charity shops, ebay and furniture reuse schemes - this is where a lot of customised curtains end up. I struck lucky and got the two sets I need for our living room for £22 - and they are BIG.

Hum... Two sets sewn together?

I was thinking about plain curtains (or only with a bit of a border) so that might work - local shop could do that easily I think.

Ooooh... I see possibilities thanks!

Charity shops not really an option round here - mainly "granny" style clothes sadly.

Thanks all!