Domakihub How to Hang Curtains the Right Way Every Time
Avoid the most common mistakes and get a polished, professional look in any room.
Reviewed by Domakihub home & decor pros · 2026-06-23 · 5 min read
Hanging curtains is one of the quickest ways to transform a room, yet a few small missteps — a rod mounted too low, panels that are too short, or fabric bunched at the wrong width — can make an otherwise well-furnished space feel cramped and unfinished. The video above walks through the five rules every homeowner should know before drilling a single hole. This article pairs those rules with a clear step-by-step guide, so whether you are dressing a bedroom in a Greek island villa, a city apartment in Athens, or a holiday rental that needs to impress guests from day one, you will get a lasting result.
Why Curtain Placement Matters More Than the Curtains Themselves
Most people choose curtains based on fabric or colour and then figure out placement later. In practice it is the opposite: where you mount the rod and how high you hang the fabric determines whether windows look tall and airy or short and poky. In Mediterranean homes with high ceilings this is especially important — mounting the rod just above the window frame, rather than close to the ceiling, wastes an enormous visual opportunity.
Greek holiday properties in particular benefit from curtains that reach the floor. Guests photograph and review the rooms they stay in; floor-length drapes signal quality and attention to detail in a way that short café-curtain panels never can.
Choosing the Right Hardware and Fabric Weight
Before you mark a single wall, match your rod and brackets to the weight of the fabric. A lightweight linen or voile panel works with a slim tension rod or a light timber dowel, while a heavy velvet or blackout curtain needs a steel or aluminium rod with wall-anchored brackets rated for the load. In coastal areas of Greece the salt air can corrode cheap zinc alloy fittings within a season, so stainless steel or powder-coated aluminium hardware is worth the small extra cost.
Panel width is equally important: each panel should be 1.5 to 2.5 times the width of the window so the fabric gathers properly when open and blocks light fully when closed. Buy too narrow and the curtains will look mean; buy too wide and they will swamp a small room.
How to Hang Curtains: 5 Steps
- 1
Measure the window and mark the rod height
Use a tape measure to find the window width and note the height from the top of the frame to the ceiling. Mark the rod position 15–20 cm above the top of the window frame (or closer to the ceiling if the ceiling is high — even 5 cm below the cornice is fine). Higher placement creates the illusion of taller windows. Mark lightly with a pencil at both ends of where the rod will sit.
- 2
Install wall anchors and brackets
Hold a bracket against the wall at your pencil mark, then mark the screw holes. If the wall is concrete or rendered brick — common in Greek construction — use a hammer drill with a masonry bit and insert plastic wall plugs before screwing in the bracket. For plasterboard or drywall, use toggle anchors rated for at least twice the curtain weight. Mount the second bracket at the same height on the opposite side, using a spirit level to confirm both are even. Add a centre bracket for any rod span over 150 cm to prevent sagging.
- 3
Thread or clip the curtains onto the rod
Slide rings, grommets, or rod pockets onto the curtain rod before fitting it into the brackets. For grommet-top curtains, weave the rod through each hole in sequence. For rod-pocket curtains, gather the fabric evenly along the rod. If using clip rings, attach each clip at equal intervals — roughly every 10–12 cm — so the fabric folds in uniform pleats when drawn closed.
- 4
Hang the rod and adjust the length
Lay the rod across the mounted brackets and snap or screw the finials into place. Let the curtains drop fully and check whether the hem grazes or just clears the floor. Floor-length panels should hover 1–2 cm above the floor for a clean look, or puddle 5–10 cm if you want a romantic, drapey effect. If panels are too long, have them hemmed rather than folding them under — a folded hem bunches and looks amateurish. If too short, consider adding a decorative border at the base.
- 5
Dress the folds and steam the fabric
Once the curtains are hanging, arrange the folds by hand so they fall in even, parallel pleats. Tie a length of soft fabric or ribbon loosely around each panel at mid-height and leave it for 24–48 hours; this trains the fabric to hang in tidy folds. Finish by steaming or gently ironing out any creases from packaging. Linen and cotton respond well to a handheld steamer; velvet should be steamed from the reverse side to avoid crushing the pile.
Rather have a pro handle it?
Get a vetted handyman pro in your city — one number, booked in EN/EL/DE.
FAQ
- How high above the window should I mount the curtain rod?
- As a general rule, mount the rod 15–20 cm above the top of the window frame. In rooms with high ceilings — common in older Greek homes and hotels — you can go higher still, positioning the rod 5–10 cm below the ceiling cornice. This elongates the wall and makes windows appear larger than they are.
- What length should curtains be for a standard room?
- For most living rooms and bedrooms, floor-length curtains (panels that reach within 1–2 cm of the floor) look the most polished. Avoid the in-between length that stops mid-wall or just below the sill — this tends to cut the room visually and dates the space. The only exception is a kitchen or bathroom where hygiene or steam make floor-length fabric impractical; there, sill-length panels are the better choice.
- Can I hang curtains without drilling into the wall?
- Yes. Tension rods work well for lightweight fabrics in window recesses up to about 120 cm wide. Adhesive curtain rod brackets (rated for the rod and fabric weight combined) are another option for renters or listed properties where drilling is not permitted. Both solutions suit sheer or voile panels easily, but neither is reliable for heavy blackout or thermal curtains — those need proper wall-anchored brackets.