Skip to content

THE CURTAINS & SHADES
BUYING GUIDE

The right curtains and shades can soften a room, create drama, and transform your space.
When choosing treatments, keep the following considerations in mind.

Fabric

Lightweight cottons are airy for a casual feel, while heavier velvets drape artfully and absorb ambient noise.

Color

Neutrals easily layer in with upholstery and furnishings. Colored and patterned curtains add character and create a mood.

Sheerness

From softly diffused light to total blackout, the sheerness of your curtains helps regulate light, privacy, and insulation.

Light Control

Sheer

Sheer fabric allows the most natural light to pass through while softly diffusing it, offering minimal privacy—perfect for bright and daytime spaces.

SHOP NOW

Light filtering

Light filtering material softens and diffuses sunlight without darkening the room, providing moderate privacy for living rooms, kitchens, or layered window treatments.

SHOP NOW

Room darkening

Room darkening shades reduce a significant amount of light (without creating full blackout) and offer strong privacy, making them ideal for bedrooms, nurseries, and TV.

SHOP NOW

Blackout

These shades block 85–95% of light while adding thermal insulation and noise reduction, making them great for energy efficiency or rooms facing direct sunlight.

SHOP NOW

Hanging styles

Rings

An elegant solution that supports heavier fabrics, rings hang below the rod, elongating curtains visually. To find the right length, measure 1" down from the top of the curtain rod. A 50” wide panel will need 9 rings, and a 100” panel will need 16.

Back Tabs

Clean and streamlined, back-tab styles hide rods from view and maximize curtain height. To find the right length,
measure from the top of the rod to the bottom of the curtain.

Rod Pocket

With no hardware required,
rod‑pocket headings conceal rods. To find the right length, measure from the top of the rod to the bottom of the curtain.

Grommets

Partially revealing the curtain rod, a grommet heading adds a modern touch. Because of the top hem, measure 1/2" above the top of the rod to the bottom hem to find the right length.

Placement options

Mount of curtain rod
brackets 6” from the side of
the window frame.
For a pop of drama, hang
1-2” from ceiling.For more classic look,
hand 6” above window.
Floor length curtains
elongate the window.
To determine how many panels you need, measure the width of the window frame or area you want to cover with drapes. Add 2”-3” to allow for folding, smooth drape. For fuller, more gathered look, double the width measurement.

How to Hang Curtains & Drapes

These four simple steps make hanging your window treatments a breeze.

STEP 1: GATHER YOUR TOOLS

Pencil
Level
Measuring tape
Stud finder
Screwdriver
Drill (optional)

STEP 2: MEASURE AND INSTALL THE BRACKETS

Measure and mount your curtain rod brackets 6" from the side of the window frame and 6" above it, for a classic, casual look.
If the spot you’ve marked to install your bracket isn’t over a wall stud, use drywall anchors for added support.
Positioning tips
To make the room feel bigger and taller, mount brackets 1"-2" from the ceiling (or 8"-12" above windows for very tall ceilings).
For shorter panels, measure from the bottom of the window sill to 6" above the frame.
Hanging a rod under a sloped ceiling? Follow the angle of the ceiling to keep things level.

STEP 3: HANG THE CURTAIN ROD

1. Measure the width of your window to determine the right length for your curtain rod, adding 6"-12" to each side.
2. If your curtains are rod pocket, back tab, or grommet top, slide them onto the rod before hanging.
3. Secure the rod by tightening the bracket screws with an Allen wrench.

STEP 4: ACCESSORIZE

Add decorative finials that match the style of your light fixtures or furnishings, or mount tiebacks along the window frame, two-thirds of the way down from the top of the curtain.

Tools needed

STEP 1: GATHER YOUR TOOLS

Pencil

Level

Measuring tape

Screwdriver

Drill (optional)

STEP 2: POSITION THE BRACKETS

For Inside Mount

1. To mark your headrail, make pencil marks inside the top left and right of the frame halfway to the back.
2. Position one C-bracket in the upper corner of the frame with the front hole aligned with your headrail pencil mark.
3. Mark both top screw holes with a pencil. Set brackets further back if your shade has a valance.

For Outside Mount

Position brackets in the upper corners
of the window frame against the trim or wall and mark screw locations with a pencil.
 

STEP 3: INSTALL THE BRACKETS

1. Drill a pilot hole through the front bracket mark about 1" deep.
2. Place the bracket over the holes, then screw one long screw into the front pilot hole. Repeat on the other side.
3. Use a level to ensure the two brackets are even.

STEP 4: INSTALL THE SHADE

1. Center the headrail between the open ends of the brackets and push it into place.
2. Use the provided short screws to mount the headrail to the brackets on both sides.
To operate the shade, pull the handle down to the length you prefer and it’ll lock into place.
To lift the shade, pull it down slightly and release; it’ll retract automatically.

Select the look

Floating

For a tailored, clean, and modern look, raise hems 1/2" above the floor.

Soft Break

For a casually chic look, leave 1"-2" of fabric touching the floor.

Pooling

For more drama, let 3"-4" of fabric pool on the floor.