What is the Right Length for Curtains?

Curtains are one of the single most popular window treatments available today, and while there are many decisions that go into selecting the right curtains for a room, one of the most important is the length. What is the best curtain length, and what’s going to make your house look great? 

The Standards

Curtains come in a number of standard lengths you’ll likely want to consider unless you’re ordering custom curtains to fit your space. Most off-the-shelf options are 63 inches, 84 inches, 94 inches, 108 inches, or 120 inches in length. That doesn’t, however, mean you should only stick to those lengths if you’re going with a custom solution. Instead, those are just the most likely options to meet your needs. 

In addition to the standard lengths, you’ll find for off-the-shelf styles, it may also help to understand the styles behind curtains. There are five major options there. Floor-length curtains sit about a half-inch above the floor. Sill-length curtains sit about a half-inch above the sill. You can also choose an option like apron length. These sit about an inch below the bottom of the window apron itself. There are two other styles to choose from as well. Trouser-length curtains are more than two inches longer than the length of the floor. Puddle-length curtains are more than six inches than the length of the floor. 

Which One is Right For Me?

Now that you know the different standards, it’s time to learn a bit more about what curtain length fits best in your space. That starts with a measuring tape. Measure from the floor to where you’ll actually place your curtain rod. You’ll probably want to add a few inches to your measurements, as you can usually go as high as just a few inches from the ceilings if you want something a bit longer. Placing your curtain rod too low means not showing off the power of your windows. 

Once you have a measurement to play with, you can begin thinking about the different standards in curtains. Floor-length curtains are easily the most popular, and for good reason. They help to make your window look longer and the room feel taller. They’re ideal in living rooms or family rooms. 

Sill-length curtains tend to be very casual. You’ll want to use these in smaller windows or near furniture that might block the effect of longer curtains. Sill-length curtains tend to fit very well in kitchen and bathroom windows. Apron-length curtains aren’t quite as popular today as they have been in the past, but don’t write them off just yet. They’re easy to use, and you don’t have to worry about them picking up dirt and lint from the floor. They work really well in spaces where you have furniture that blocks the effect of full-length curtains. Keep in mind, though, they may certainly look like you chose curtains that were too short, so make this choice carefully. 

The other two curtain length styles, trouser and puddle, are certainly to be considered as well. Trouser-length curtains, which are 2 inches more than the length of the floor, tend to look incredibly sophisticated. They’re absolutely ideal in a formal dining room where you want an added level of elegance. Puddle-length curtains add a new level of drama to the equation. Keep in mind that you don’t want to do this in a space where you regularly open and close the curtains. You probably also don’t want this length if you have pets or kids. You do want to go with puddle-length curtains if you’re looking to make a statement on tall windows. 

Curtain Length in Your Home

There is no proper length for curtains. It depends a bit on your space and your preferences. What’s going to look great in your home? Let us help! We offer free in-home design consultations and a wide variety of off-the-shelf styles as well as custom options that truly match your home. Learn more when you contact us today.