If you’re thinking about upgrading your interiors, investing in a chic set of ready made curtains is undoubtedly the best place to start. As well as adding decorative value – whether you opt for pastel hues or tassels – the best curtains also affect the distribution of natural light in your living space, which can play a pretty significant role in your overall well-being.
For some people, feeling the morning sunlight against your face is the perfect wake-up call, whereas, for others, getting to sleep depends on submerging the room in total darkness. And whatever your preference, there’s a set of ready made curtains for you, whether they’re completely blackout or voile.
Gone are the arduous days of putting up with crinkly, off-white curtains – there’s now an abundance of stylish ready made curtains to choose from. The best part? The process – from deciding on your curtains to actually erecting them – has never been easier. Provided you do a *tiny* bit of homework (AKA: finish reading this article), you’ll be enjoying the latest addition to your interiors in no time.
Ready to do your research? We’ve answered the most common questions about purchasing ready made curtains, as well as rounding up our pick of the most stylish options on the market.
What lengths do ready made curtains come in?
There’s currently no standard length for ready made curtains, as most retailers have their own specifications. This is where a metal measuring tape will come in handy: measure from your curtain pole to the floor to get an idea of the length you should be going for.
Of course, you’ll need to consider whether you want your curtains to reach the floor or if you’d prefer them to stop at the window sill. Decisions, decisions. If you can’t find an exact sizing match online, it’s usually better to go for the larger size – you can always have them altered if you feel they’re still too long.
Once you’ve decided on the length, or the ‘drop’, of the curtains, you’ll need to consider their width. Start by measuring the total width of your curtain pole (excluding, if you have them, the ball ends). The way you measure curtain space will depend on the type of curtains you want to purchase. For example, if you want pleated curtains, it’s often recommended to purchase curtains twice the width of your curtain pole so that the material gathers aesthetically. Most retailers will include a sizing guide (if they don’t, run), which provide crucial guidance on how to measure for the curtains that you want.
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What to consider when buying ready made curtains
1. Your curtain pole: Make sure you’ve got one! And that it’s secured above your windows in a stable position. When you’re buying ready made curtains, check how you’re going to attach them to your curtain pole before making a purchase. Depending on whether you’ve got eyelet curtains or not, you may also need to buy some hanging curtain rings – we recommend these stylish brass curtain rings, which you can buy on Amazon.
2. Quantity: Before you check out, always double-check how many ready made curtains your buying. It’s very easily done to assume that one pack will contain two curtains but, quite often, they only come as singles. Vice versa, you don’t want to end up accidentally buying four curtains if all you really need is two. Think of it as saving future you from an unnecessary trip to the Post Office.
3. Light distribution: Boho curtains may look super-dreamy, but – if you’re someone who needs a pitch-black environment to sleep in – they’re not always the answer. Be realistic about the practical requirements of your purchase, and decide on the more aesthetic elements from there.
What types of ready made curtains are there?
Here are a selection of the most common types of ready made curtains:
Pencil pleat curtains: These are made using more fabric to create folds or ‘pleats’ that literally look like a line of pencils.
Eyelet curtains: These consist of deep folds of fabric, which run in uniform lines from top to bottom of the curtain.
Voile curtains: These are made using sheer, translucent fabric, which allows natural light to flood in while maintaining your privacy.
Blackout curtains: These are often double-lined with fabric, which completely blocks out any natural or artificial light from outside.
Is it OK for curtains to touch the floor?
This totally depends on your preference. However, it’s usually more practical – and dare we say, chicer – to have your curtains fall a few inches above the floor. I mean, you don’t want to be lifting up armfuls of fabric every time you fancy a spring clean, do you?
That’s not to say that if you do prefer curtains that touch the floor, you should be dissuaded from purchasing them. After all, super-long curtains have a certain fairy-tale feel to them. And if you change your mind? You can always get them altered, easy peasy.
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How much wider than your window should your curtain be?
Once again, the width of your curtains will depend on which style you choose. For example, if you’re buying ready-made curtains from Dunelm, they recommend distinguishing between pencil pleat curtains and eyelet curtains.
In general, your curtains will tend to be wider than your window as you’ll want the fabric to gather nicely when they’re drawn. According to Terry’s Fabrics, “To calculate the size of curtain you require, the total width of the curtains should be no less than one and a half the width of your window.”
If you want a really luxurious look, go for double the width of your window.
Where is best to buy ready made curtains?
If you’re needing inspiration, Anthropologie has an enormous collection of stylish ready made curtains to choose from (or at least stick on your mood board). Their Darby Semi-Sheer Floral Curtains, in particular, are what bohemian dreams are made of. And if staying on-trend is your main priority? You need to get acquainted with tassels, AKA the interiors trend that’s blossoming over on Pinterest now. These playful Mindra Curtains (also by Anthropologie) absolutely nail the trend.
Over on Made.com, there are plenty of stylish ready made curtains that don’t compromise on practicality. Take their Julius Velvet Eyelet Lined curtains, which are available in 10 different colours and only cost £100 for a pair? I mean, you can’t get much much more reasonable than that.
You also can’t go wrong with sticking to high street staples, John Lewis and Marks & Spencers. Our favourites are these Recycled Polyester Eyelet Sheer Panel by the former, and these glorious Pure Cotton Alfristone Check Curtains by Marks and Sparks.
Best ready made curtains at a glance:
After more interiors content? Check out our pick of the best desks for small bedrooms, the best coffee tables to elevate your living room, and the best bed frames for your bedroom. Let’s not forget the kitchen; this way for cutlery sets, kettles, coffee machines, and smoothie makers. Fancy a glass of wine (non-alcoholic or otherwise)? This way for our edit of drinking glasses.
For more from Glamour UK’s Lucy Morgan, follow her on Instagram @lucyalexxandra.