ALM Curtains

Measuring guide

Straight windows

1. Check the distance between the top of your window and the ceiling or coving. You will need enough space to fit brackets either end and sometimes in the centre of a pole and all the way along a track. Poles need supporting about every 150cm/180cm depending on the weight on the curtain.
2. Decide the height of your pole or track, this is generally in the middle of the space above your window. Now measure the length that your pole or track will be. This is the width of your window plus 15cm (6") either side (or less if that's all you have!). For example if your window is 120cm wide your pole width should be 150cm. You can, of course add more than 15cm either side for straight hang curtains if you would like them to hang in front of the wall to each side of your window or door. For French doors or narrow doorways this works well as it widens the overall look of the opening.
3. Short hang curtains should usually stop just below the windowsill by about 3cm -5cm (an inch or two). This should take into allowance any uneven windowsills, ceilings or poles! (not very many windows are straight or square!) If you are covering the track with your curtains then measure from the top of where the track will sit (tracks are about 2.5cm/1 inch in high). If you would like your curtains to hang underneath the track then you will need to measure from the underneath of where you would like the track to sit. If measuring for a pole, the top of your curtain should sit at the bottom of the curtain ring. This is usually 3cm (about an inch) below the centre of the pole.
4. When measuring for full length curtains to just reach the floor then follow the advice for B. and continue your tape to floor level. You can add 5cm (2 inches) if you would like your curtains to just sit on the floor and 15cm (6 inches) if you would like your curtains to drape onto the floor. When considering the last two options, think about the type of flooring you have and how much you will use the curtains. Working curtains (see above in curtain styles) that are used everyday with a carpeted floor will drag on the floor when you close them and wear. Not so much with hard flooring but the bottoms can get dirty quickly, which is more noticeable with light coloured curtains. Dress curtains are not opened and closed so suit this style perfectly.

Angled bay or Square bay windows

1. Check the distance between the top of your window and the ceiling or coving. You will need enough space to fit the brackets of the pole or track.
2. Decide the height of your pole or track, this is generally in the middle of the space above your window. Now measure the length that your pole or track will be. This is the width of your window plus 15cm (6") either side (or less if that's all you have!). For example if your window is 120cm wide your pole width should be 150cm. You can, of course add more than 15cm either side to take the back edge of the curtains to the end of the wall before the walls return back in the room (flank walls).
3. Short hang curtains should usually stop just below the windowsill by about 3cm -5cm (an inch or two). This should take into allowance any uneven windowsills, ceilings or poles! (not very many windows are straight or square!) If you are covering the track with your curtains then measure from the top of where the track will sit (tracks are about 2.5cm/1 inch in high). If you would like your curtains to hang underneath the track then you will need to measure from the underneath of where you would like the track to sit. If measuring for a pole, the top of your curtain should sit at the bottom of the curtain ring. This is usually 3cm (about an inch) below the centre of the pole.
4. When measuring for full length curtains to just reach the floor then follow the advice for B. and continue your tape to floor level. You can add 5cm (2 inches) if you would like your curtains to just sit on the floor and 15cm (6 inches) if you would like your curtains to drape onto the floor. When considering the last two options, think about the type of flooring you have and how much you will use the curtains. Working curtains (see above in curtain styles) that are used everyday with a carpeted floor will drag on the floor when you close them and wear. Not so much with hard flooring but the bottoms can get dirty quickly, which is more noticeable with light coloured curtains. Dress curtains are not opened and closed so suit this style perfectly.

Round bay windows

1. Check the distance between the top of your window and the ceiling or coving. You will need enough space to fit the brackets of the pole or track.
2. Decide the height of your pole or track, this is generally in the middle of the space above your window. Now measure the length that your pole or track will be. This is the width of your window plus 15cm (6") either side (or less if that's all you have!). For example if your window is 120cm wide your pole width should be 150cm. You can, of course add more than 15cm either side to take the back edge of the curtains to the end of the wall before the walls return back in the room (flank walls).
3. Short hang curtains should usually stop just below the windowsill by about 3cm -5cm (an inch or two). This should take into allowance any uneven windowsills, ceilings or poles! (not very many windows are straight or square!) If you are covering the track with your curtains then measure from the top of where the track will sit (tracks are about 2.5cm/1 inch in high). If you would like your curtains to hang underneath the track then you will need to measure from the underneath of where you would like the track to sit. If measuring for a pole, the top of your curtain should sit at the bottom of the curtain ring. This is usually 3cm (about an inch) below the centre of the pole.
4. When measuring for full length curtains to just reach the floor then follow the advice for B. and continue your tape to floor level. You can add 5cm (2 inches) if you would like your curtains to just sit on the floor and 15cm (6 inches) if you would like your curtains to drape onto the floor. When considering the last two options, think about the type of flooring you have and how much you will use the curtains. Working curtains (see above in curtain styles) that are used everyday with a carpeted floor will drag on the floor when you close them and wear. Not so much with hard flooring but the bottoms can get dirty quickly, which is more noticeable with light coloured curtains. Dress curtains are not opened and closed so suit this style perfectly.