The way you decorate your home, speaks a lot about yourself. Curtains are basic and pretty useful when it comes to decorating a home. They both block light and give you complete privacy from unwanted gazing.
A matching pair of curtains work amazingly to enhance the decor of your room. However, if your curtains are too short or too long, they are no longer found attractive.
So, to enhance the decor of your home, you’d need to get the right sized curtains. Today we are here to discuss how long curtains should be for 8, 9, and 10 feet. So, bear with us till the end and you won’t be disappointed.
How long should curtains be for 8, 9, 10 foot ceilings?
In general, ready-made curtains for 8 feet will come for 84 inches, for 9 feet will come for 96 inches and 10 feet will come for 108 inches. However, if you are planning on adding a bit of drama, you can buy yourself one size up. This way you will get a puddled curtain.
Curtains come in multiple sizes, one thing you must keep in mind is that the actual size of the curtain must be a bit less than the actual ceiling size.
8 foot:
For an 8-foot ceiling, the ideal curtain size would be 84-96 inches long. Keep in mind that curtains look great when they are hung high, but they should also be smaller than the ceiling.
Measure the curtain and the height of your window, if 84-inches is too small then you will have to use a 95-inch curtain. The 95-inch might look a little cramped by the ceiling but they will look better than panels that are too short.
9 foot:
For a 9-foot ceiling, typically a 96-inch curtain is enough. 96-inches are almost enough to cover the distance between the floor and the ceiling. Generally, the curtain rod is hung almost one foot below the ceiling.
However, if you like curtains to pool on the floor, you can go one size up that is 108-inches panels.
10 foot:
Ceilings that are 10 foot long should have curtains that are 9 foot tall or 108 inches. Which means , the curtains for the 10 foot ceiling need to be 1 foot shorter.
However, if you like puddled curtains that slightly drape on the floor, then you can go for curtains that are 10 feet long. Try to keep in mind that the height of your home ceiling usually determines the length of your curtains.
11 foot:
For ceilings above 10 feet, you can go for curtains that are 10 feet in length. And in inches, the size would be more than 108 feet. As the curtain rod is hung, one foot below the ceiling, be sure not to choose curtains that are too small in size.
12 foot:
The ideal size of curtain for a 12-foot ceiling is 132 inches in length. 132 inches would be long enough to cover the distance between the ceiling and the floor.
If you are unsure about the measurements, then double-check the length and width of the window or door you plan to cover.
Should curtains touch the ceiling?
Curtains should not touch the ceiling. Keep in mind that the minimum distance between the rod and ceiling needs to be at least 2-inches. To create the illusion you can mount curtains or drapes close to the ceiling.
This is an important thing to follow if you have comparatively low ceilings.
Generally, the curtain rods are placed, 1-foot below the ceilings. One thumb rule is to place the curtain rod 4-6 inches above the window frame. However, if you want to make your space look wider, you can attach the curtains directly to the ceiling using the curtain rods.
The thumb rule is to go 8-12 inches wider than the window that you are trying to cover. Remember to use enough fabric. Even if you plan on closing the curtains occasionally, make sure the width of the curtain is 2-2.5 times wider than the actual window.
Should the curtain touch the floor?
Curtains should touch the floor. Although, there are a few exceptions, the longer the curtains are, the more elegant your home looks. This is why most curtains are made lengthy.
However, various decorating styles need curtains of various lengths and designs. So, for some styles, you would want your curtains to touch the floor and for others, you won’t. It would be classic if your curtain would hover half an inch over the floor or just touch the floor.
In general, curtains should be 2 times wider and sheers can be 3 times the actual window size. This width is good enough to gain a proper fullness.
How curtain sizes are determined?
Determining the ideal sized curtain is vital, to give your space that perfect touch you are looking for.
Here are a few steps you can follow to determine curtain sizes:
Choosing mounting technique:
Before you choose the curtain, it is important to decide whether you want to mount your curtains inside the window frame or outside it. Keep in mind different mounting techniques have different outcomes.
Mounting your curtains outside is the most common mounting technique. The outside mount technique makes your windows look larger and provides complete coverage to block light.
Determining rod length:
Before measuring the width of your window, it’s better if you choose your curtain rod. Typically curtain rods are 3-6 inches past the window frame.
Curtain rods can be mounted inside, outside, below, or above. The length of the rod will get affected depending on the area you want to mount it.
Choosing the curtain length:
Next comes choosing the length of your curtain. Before you choose the length of curtains, you would want to consider the interior of the room. There are multiple ways to hang your curtains. Above sill, below still, and floor-length.
It’s also necessary to remember that the curtains are usually mounted at least 5-6 inches below the ceiling.
Measuring the width:
Typically curtain width needs to be at least 3 times, more than the final width of your window. Keep in mind that fuller curtains tend to give a richer outlook to your windows. However, shorter-width curtains give away a more tailored touch to your space.
Window panels usually come in separate items, so check if your curtains come in pairs. If your curtains do not come in pairs, you might need to get another piece to match. If you want to compare the sizes you can use a tablecloth or blanket.
Measuring the length:
The last thing you would need to do is measure the length of the window. Curtain lengths depend on your hanging method. If you want a higher curtain placement, then measure up from the top of the window frame.
Try to choose a length that is one foot less than the length of the ceiling.
How to hang curtains?
Here are a few steps you can follow to hang curtains:
Determining how high to mount the curtain rods:
The first step for hanging curtains is to choose the right height for mounting the curtain rod. It’s essential to remember to mount the curtain rod on the right spot. If the rod is placed too close to the window, it will make the space look smaller.
Therefore, to ensure a perfect curtain placement be sure to measure the depth of the window. Place the rod at least 4-6 inches above the window frame.
Choosing the appropriate fabric:
Choosing the right type of fabric will lift both your and the mood of your space. Lighter colors make you feel casual and filter light. However, denser fabrics give away more of a formal look and provide privacy.
If you wanna go for a drafty window look, you better go for a velvety kind of fabric. And for summer you can go for linen fabric as it will help you get a breeder feeling in the summer.
Install rods and curtains:
Before putting on the curtains, iron or steam out the creases. Then remove the finials from the curtains.
Depending on the type of bracket, you may need to replace the finIals before placing the rods. Then put on the curtains and enjoy the new look of your space.
Final Thoughts
The ideal size for a 8,9 and 10 foot curtains are respectively, 84, 96, and 108 inches. However, you can always choose to go one size up if you like puddled curtains. Also, curtains should never touch the ceiling. The minimum distance must be 5-6 inches and the maximum can be up to a foot