Curtain advice

6 replies

Ranjna · 05/05/2011 11:44

Hi - I've just joined mumsnet and was after some curtain advice. My bedroom window is a bay which has a 59 inch drop and the window sill measures 155 inches. can anyone help me as to what curtain size I need if I was to buy ready made curtains.

also - when curtains say 66 by 72 on the packaging - would that be per curtain for the pair - any assistance greatly appreciated

OP posts:

ellangirl · 05/05/2011 19:34

Right, first 66" by 72" means the size of each curtain i.e. 168cm wide. With the size of window you have, a pair of these would give you a full gather but would be ok (if they're pencil pleat?) You might want to shorten them to just below the sill, especially if there is a radiator below the window. If they're eyelet top curtains, they would be too wide I think.

WhatsWrongWithYou · 05/05/2011 19:47

Seems obvious but make sure the rail is in place before you measure. Should be placed a few inches above and either side of the window.

sinclair · 05/05/2011 21:21

Curtain maker here so no experience of ready mades, but we recommend 2 x width for pencil pleat curtains. So your 155 inch wide window would need two curtains measuring 155 inches each. You can get away with less, and some people prefer a less gathered curtain, but that is i think the standard. work in metric so not sure exactly what it equates to but 155 inches sounds very wide - you may struggle to find ready mades that come that big.

ellangirl · 05/05/2011 23:15

sorry, I read 155 cm not inches!

Original poster

Ranjna · 06/05/2011 09:29

thanks for this - the rail is in place.

If I buy 90x72 would it be right that I will have a slight gather but nothing that looks amazing?

I know I must sound really stupied but this is the first time I am buying curtains - always had blinds before and when I moved in there were curtains in the bedroom already. Appreciate all advice

OP posts:

sinclair · 06/05/2011 13:36

No if your track measures 155 inches end to end you will need each curtain to measure that too to get double width in the curtain. I wouldn't go lower than 1.5 x width so each curtain would have to be at least 115 inches wide, working that out quickly in my head. If you can remeasure in cms I can be more helpful as I usually work in metric. HTH

Flip