While we may have fallen for petite café curtains that cover the lower half of a window, the same cannot be said for our main curtains. Short, skimpy drapes are being swapped for generous lengths that reach all the way to the floor, and sometimes beyond, creating a romantic puddle of fabric. Not only does this give a room a cosier feel, but the extra length draws the eye upwards, helping ceilings appear taller and the room feel more elongated.
Short curtains still have their place. A lightweight, sill-length style can look incredibly chic, but when it comes to main curtains, stopping short can leave the window looking oddly disconnected from the rest of the room. As Victoria Robinson, product manager at Hillarys, puts it, ‘curtains that stop short of the floor can create what I call “short trouser syndrome."’
So, how long should they be? Victoria recommends curtains that ‘just kiss the floor’ for a tailored, effortless finish. For something softer and more relaxed, a puddled effect can create a more luxurious feel, although she suggests being more cautious with this in a smaller room, where excess fabric can feel heavy.
And length isn't the only trick worth knowing. Mounting the pole higher than the window frame can help to exaggerate the height of the room. ‘Around 15 to 20cm higher is a good rule of thumb, if the space allows,’ says Victoria.
For a brighter room, extend the curtain pole beyond the window frame on either side. This allows the curtains to be drawn back further when open, letting more natural light flood into the room.
Layering a voile behind your main curtains is another easy way to make the most of daylight without sacrificing privacy. 'A voile curtain lets additional daylight filter into the room while still protecting your privacy, creating a lighter, more open feel,' says Chloe Dacosta, design manager at Blinds2Go.
'Additionally, choosing lighter colours for your curtains can give the room a brighter feel, making it feel more spacious.' A floor-length sheer, such as Zara Home's £39.99 style, is an easy way to tap into the look without adding visual weight to a smaller room.
When it comes to how your curtains hang, look for double pinch pleat styles with permanently sewn-in pleats for a fuller, more considered finish. 'These gathers, known as pinch pleats, allow the fabric to arrange itself neatly into soft folds, and the double fabric fullness accentuates this rippled effect,' Chloe tells us.
On their own, these adjustments may seem small, but together they can make a significant difference to the proportions, light and overall finish of a smaller room.
Full length curtains
