The 10-Minute Change That Makes Curtains Look More Expensive

Before buying new curtains, spend ten minutes changing how the ones you already own frame the window.

You can spend a surprising amount of money on curtains and still stand back from the window wondering why they do not look quite right.

The fabric is good. The colour works. They are even the correct length.

And yet something is off.

Before blaming the curtains — or opening another browser tab to look for new ones — look at the way they sit around the window.

Because very often, the difference between curtains that look ordinary and curtains that look considered has less to do with price than with proportion.

Start with the window

Look at your curtains when they are open.

How much of the glass are they covering?

If the answer is more than a little, start there.

Curtains that sit heavily over the window make the window look smaller, reduce natural light and leave the fabric looking crowded.

The fix is simple: pull each panel farther towards the outside of the window and let the curtains frame the glass instead of covering it.

Then stand back.

That may be all you needed.

Now fix the folds

This is the part almost everyone skips.

Run your hands down each curtain panel and arrange the fabric into loose, even folds from top to bottom.

You are not aiming for military precision. You just want the fabric to fall deliberately rather than bunching, twisting or spreading in every direction.

It takes a few minutes.

It can make inexpensive curtains look considerably better.

Give the fabric somewhere to go

If your curtain rod extends beyond the window frame, use that extra space.

When the curtains are open, most of the fabric should sit against the wall rather than in front of the glass.

This does three things immediately:

• lets more natural light into the room;
• makes the window appear wider;
• gives the curtains a fuller, more generous appearance.

No new fabric required.

If you have another 20 minutes

Look at the height of your curtain rod.

A rod installed directly above the window frame can make the entire arrangement feel smaller than it needs to.

Moving it higher — and, where possible, extending it farther beyond each side of the window — can make both the window and the room feel larger.

This is not technically part of our ten-minute makeover.

There may be drilling involved.

We respect the clock.

The Minute Makeover

Open the curtains fully.

Move the panels away from the glass.

Straighten the fabric.

Arrange the folds.

Use the full width of the curtain rod.

Then leave the room for a few minutes and come back.

You may discover that you never needed new curtains.

You just needed to give the ones you already own a little more room.