Why not use curtains if you’re looking to cover a boring wall but don’t want to use paint?
By purchasing several panels of floor-to-ceiling curtains, you can create a textured, custom surface over your existing wall.
Here’s How You Can Use Curtains on Your Wall:
Curtains aren’t just for covering windows. You can also use them to cover walls or other large spaces, and they come with plenty of choices in colors, patterns, and textures. If you want to decorate your space without making permanent changes to the walls, you can hang curtains to cover the walls.
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Are There Extra Large Curtains to Cover Entire Walls?
Depending on the wall you want to cover, a standard set of curtains might not be enough to get the job done.
For a beautiful, dynamic curtain wall, you will need to purchase several panels of your curtains of choice.
Curtain walls usually work best with floor-to-ceiling curtains. These curtains will give you plenty of height to work with while covering your whole wall.
Next up, you will need to consider the width of your space. Take out your tape measure and note the width of the wall you are looking to cover.
Your curtain wall will look more vibrant and dynamic when your curtains are not stretched completely open and lying flat against the wall. Take the width of your space and multiply it by 1.5 or 2.
This will give you the total width of curtain material you will need for your project.
Curtain panels can be sold in different sizes. The curtains you want might be sold in the standard 45-inch width, but they might also be available in other sizes.
Check the dimensions of the curtain you want to buy and purchase as many panels are necessary for your space.
Extra Large Curtain Rods
Once you have enough curtain panels to cover your whole wall, you will want to think about how to hang them.
Most curtain rods will not be long enough to cover a whole wall. To hang your curtains continuously, you will need to use another solution.
First, you could look into using a curtain track for your room.
You might be able to find a curtain track that is a better size for your space and will allow you to hang all the panels without any breaks.
Alternatively, you can build your curtain rod long enough for the wall you want to cover. You can purchase some electrical piping and connectors from your local hardware store.
Connect as many together as you need to create an extra-long curtain rod. You can hang this like any other rod once it is assembled.
Should Curtains Stretch to the Ceiling?
When curtains stretch to the ceiling, it can create an elegant look for your space.
Especially if you are creating a curtain wall, you will achieve the best results when your curtains reach from floor to ceiling.
If your room has crown molding, you can hang your curtain rod so the top of your curtain emerges just below the molding.
If not, you can hang your curtain rod several inches above your window frame to suit you and your space.
How Heavy are Wall-Sized Curtains?
When you create your beautiful curtain wall, you have so many material options to choose from.
If the wall you are covering is in good shape, you might choose a light, sheer fabric. If you are trying to cover the existing wall, heavier completely, textured fabrics make a great choice.
The material you choose and the number of panels you need will have a big impact on the final weight of your curtain wall.
To get a general idea, let’s say that your floor-length curtains have a length between 84 and 96 inches and have a standard width.
If you choose a lighter material, your curtains might weigh around 5 pounds or less. If you opt for one of the thicker, heavier fabrics, you can expect your curtains to weigh upwards of 20 pounds.
Should Curtains “Puddle” on the Floor?
It is totally up to you if you want your curtains to puddle on the floor.
When just a few inches of curtain fabric extend past the floor, it can create a chic and desirable “puddling” look. However, if this fabric extends too much or not enough, it can create a messy overall look.
You will want to pay special attention to the length of your curtains when hanging them.
This applies to creating a curtain wall and hanging curtains traditionally around windows. The final length of your curtain will have a big impact on the feel of the space.
For most rooms, 2 – 4 inches of fabric puddling on the ground is perfect for the classic puddling look. If your curtains leave much more fabric than that on the floor, you can easily tailor your curtains with hemming tape or a sewing machine.
You could also opt for the break puddle, a lighter and breezier version of a traditional puddle.
You will only want .5 – 1 inch of fabric to puddle on the ground for this style. This style is a great alternative if you want a puddle in a higher traffic room.
Don’t worry if you don’t like the look of curtains puddling on the floor. Your curtains don’t need to puddle to look chic and give the illusion of a bigger space.
You can choose to have your curtains hit the floor exactly or float about .05 above. This can be a better choice for a high-traffic room where long curtains risk getting dirty and dusty.
Avoid hanging curtains where they will awkwardly fall several inches above the floor. When curtains are hung like this, they fail to elongate your walls and open up your space the way true floor-to-ceiling curtains do.
If you are in love with a pair of curtains, but they are falling at that awkward, short length, consider letting out the bottom hem.
Often, curtains have large hems at the bottom, and letting it out will give you more fabric to work with to create the right length.
You can do this yourself or have this done at a local tailoring shop or dry cleaner for a professional touch.
For a full tutorial on the perfect way to create puddled curtains, you can check out this video on Youtube:
Do Curtains Make a Space Look Bigger or Smaller?
The curtains you choose and how you hang them have a big impact on the feel of your space.
By buying small curtains and hanging them too close to the edges of your windows, you can create a cramped feeling in your space.
There are a few best practices when hanging curtains if you are looking to make your space feel bigger.
The placement of your curtain rod can make a big difference in how your curtains make your room feel. Many people mistakenly hang their rod in line with the top of the window frame.
If you hang your curtains like this, they can feel too tight and cramped around the window.
For a more spacious feel, hang your curtain rod several inches above the top of your window frame.
If you don’t have much room between the top of your window and your ceiling, you can choose to hang your curtains as high as possible. Allow your curtains to hang from the ceiling to the floor to create an elegant and spacious feeling in your room.
You will also want to consider the width of the rod you are using. Where your curtain rod ends will also impact the feeling of your space.
Ideally, your curtain rod should extend past your window about 4-6 inches. You don’t want your curtains to feel squeezed and tight around your window.
Give your window some room to breathe and your curtains some space to flow with an appropriately sized curtain rod.
This gives your curtains the room they need when they are fully open during the day. You want your curtains to easily rest on the wall on either side of your window when they are open.
If your curtain rod is too short, they won’t be able to rest easily along the sides of the windows.
When curtains are squeezed and tight around a window, it can give the whole room a cramped feeling.
If you want to create a light, breezy atmosphere, make sure you give your curtains enough space to behave in this way.
How Big Should Your Curtains Really Be?
While the exact dimensions will depend on your space and decorating style, keep in mind the golden rules when it comes to hanging curtains:
Curtain Width:
The total width of your curtain panels should be 1.5 – 2x the width of the space you want to cover.
This allows the curtains to loosely gather and create texture rather than being stretched out completely flat.
Curtain Height:
Floor-to-ceiling curtains are a great choice and should be measured carefully.
Make sure they can reach from the rod exactly to your floor or a few inches past it.
Rod Height:
Remember to hang your curtain rod well above the top edge of your window frame.
Generally, the higher you hang your curtains, the longer and more spacious your room will feel.
Rod Width:
Remember that your rod should extend out past the edges of your window.
These several inches are important to allow your curtains to beautifully gather around the sides of your window during the day when they are open.
Final Thoughts
Using curtains intentionally can really transform your space.
Whether creating a trendy curtain wall or hanging them traditionally, remember to hang tall and wide for the best effect.
The longer and more flowing your curtains are, the more spacious and elegant your room will feel.
Sources:
Drape Style: Hover, Break, or Puddle?