Good night - help with curtain measurements for my window

[sheryl]

We have old, outdated curtains.  They were custom made for us in the early 90's but the colors and pattern are now very dated looking.  We're working on selling our home and to "stage" it I need to replace the curtains.  Cheap fix.  

The curtains now are pinch pleated on a traverse rod covering a 104" window (so, of course, that would be 2 panels with a center split).

Will be buying neutral white or ecru grommet style.  My question is -

- Looking at various products/curtains for sale the picture almost always shows 2 panels.  That's it.  I spoke with BBB yesterday and I was told most people buy several "panels" to cover the window.  I know not to buy just the 104" as that would look weird like a sheet draped on the window.  You are to 1 1/2 - 2x the width to add fullness/natural pleats.  But, I think it would look weird (no?) to have 4 panels at what, 50 w to make 200".  There would be 3 splits/openings when closed.  **I need to cover this window for us because it's facing southwest and we're in the southeast so it's an intense, hot sun.  Pushed back might not look too bad but idk!

Thoughts???

[Arcadia]

Look for patio curtains. Those are wider.

e.g. https://www.target.com/p/loha-patio-grommet-top-single-curtain-panel-exclusive-home/-/A-54261702?preselect=54245159#lnk=sametab

https://www.target.com/p/aruba-linen-blackout-curtain-panel-threshold/-/A-53038757?preselect=52985003#lnk=sametab

BBB has a 108” panel https://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/store/product/sun-zero-dermot-indoor-outdoor-uv-protectant-grommet-curtain-panel/5583123

[Janeway]

23 minutes ago, sheryl said:

 

When you titled your post "Good night"..did you mean "Good night!" as an exasperation? My grandma always says that and I love her so much and I have always wondered where it came from.

[prairiewindmomma]

If you are buying for staging, it doesn’t matter because you don’t need to close the curtains fully. Save your money.

When we bought this house, we had one set of panels at each 100”ish window. Since we need functional curtains, we just hung additional panels on those windows. It looks normal open or closed because they are flowy.

[KungFuPanda]

How does the window look with no curtain?  If it works with the style of your home, I'd just remove it.  If you need curtains, two panels are fine because they potential buyers would never see them closed.

[KungFuPanda]

2 hours ago, Janeway said:

When you titled your post "Good night"..did you mean "Good night!" as an exasperation? My grandma always says that and I love her so much and I have always wondered where it came from.

I think it's a step up from Good Grief.  That's how my family uses it.  It's one of those country sayings that didn't make it down to my children. 😃 It might be one of those things we said because nobody  was allowed to say Good God or Good Lord in a negative way.

[Storygirl]

In our family room, we have four curtain panels, two on each side of the window. They are actually not large enough to ever cover the entire window and are just for show; there are blinds on the window that we open and close as needed. You cannot see where the two panels on each side meet; it just looks like a fuller curtain than if it were one panel only. However, my panels are not sheer and are a medium color with a pattern; white curtains might show the side seams more.

I agree that to stage the home, I think you can just get curtains to frame the window and not have them long enough to pull all the way across.

Edited June 10, 2021 by Storygirl

[sheryl]

2 hours ago, prairiewindmomma said:

If you are buying for staging, it doesn’t matter because you don’t need to close the curtains fully. Save your money.

When we bought this house, we had one set of panels at each 100”ish window. Since we need functional curtains, we just hung additional panels on those windows. It looks normal open or closed because they are flowy.

Well, cheap curtains abound lol.  I do NEED to be able to close curtains fully b/c of our afternoon sun-bathed, southwestern window prone to the sun pouring in and heating up the living room.   Above - are you saying that you hung 2 panels on a window and each panel was 100 w, making for a total of 200 w?

[sheryl]

29 minutes ago, KungFuPanda said:

How does the window look with no curtain?  If it works with the style of your home, I'd just remove it.  If you need curtains, two panels are fine because they potential buyers would never see them closed.

This was added to reply above - I do NEED to be able to close curtains fully b/c of our afternoon sun-bathed, southwestern window prone to the sun pouring in and heating up the living room.   Well, yes, the buyers would not be seeing the panels closed.   Then what width would you suggest for the panel?   And, 2 panels?  Grommet style.

[sheryl]

19 minutes ago, Storygirl said:

In our family room, we have four curtain panels, two on each side of the window. They are actually not large enough to ever cover the entire window and are just for show; there are blinds on the window that we open and close as needed. You cannot see where the two panels on each side meet; it just looks like a fuller curtain than if it were one panel only. However, my panels are not sheer and are a medium color with a pattern; white curtains might show the side seams more.

I agree that to stage the home, I think you can just get curtains to frame the window and not have them long enough to pull all the way across.

See replies above.  I NEED to cover the window from the hot, summer southern sun.  Yes, I'm looking to buy neutral white or ecru.  How wide are your panels?  For what window width?

[sheryl]

See,  I'm not at all certain what WIDTH panel to buy.  And, how many.  Do I find something 55 w and buy 2?  That will barely cover window.  Or, do I buy 4 at 40 w or so to have that fuller look?  HELP!

[mmasc]

I’d do four panels. You need fullness and the 3 splits is fine. When they’re closed, they look full, and when you open them, you slide two to each side. 

[Storygirl]

9 minutes ago, sheryl said:

See replies above.  I NEED to cover the window from the hot, summer southern sun.  Yes, I'm looking to buy neutral white or ecru.  How wide are your panels?  For what window width?

Sorry, they came with the house, and I've never measured.

I think for the best look when closed, designers suggest 1.5 to 3 times the width of your windows. But unless you feel compelled to make things perfect for the next owners of your home, if you get curtains wide enough just to touch when you need to close them, I think it's sufficient for staging.

I think curtain rods look best when they are wider than the window and slightly higher than the window frame.

[sheryl]

1 hour ago, mmasc said:

I’d do four panels. You need fullness and the 3 splits is fine. When they’re closed, they look full, and when you open them, you slide two to each side. 

Thanks! I clearly have no clue how to dress a window.  🙂  I may consider this but first I will try Storygirl's idea and place 2 up.  If it's ok, then we'll stay with that.  If not, then I can easily buy 2 more matching panels.  

1 hour ago, Storygirl said:

Sorry, they came with the house, and I've never measured.

I think for the best look when closed, designers suggest 1.5 to 3 times the width of your windows. But unless you feel compelled to make things perfect for the next owners of your home, if you get curtains wide enough just to touch when you need to close them, I think it's sufficient for staging.

I think curtain rods look best when they are wider than the window and slightly higher than the window frame.

I hear what you're saying.  I may try the 2 panel idea then.  See how that looks.  Read up reply.  Thanks for your input.   The fact that they will not be closed when buyers take a look is the key here.  They will be open and pushed back for a little fullness but at night when buyers aren't here, they'll be closed and touching.   Will try that and see.  Appreciate your insight!

[Tap]

You can hang 4 panels, that is completely fine. I like 1.8 to 3x.  I have sewn thicker panels together to make them not have a gap. 

There are extra wide panels, BBB should have them.

For staging a home, I would go with which ever is cheaper. 

 

[sheryl]

23 hours ago, Arcadia said:

Look for patio curtains. Those are wider.

e.g. https://www.target.com/p/loha-patio-grommet-top-single-curtain-panel-exclusive-home/-/A-54261702?preselect=54245159#lnk=sametab

https://www.target.com/p/aruba-linen-blackout-curtain-panel-threshold/-/A-53038757?preselect=52985003#lnk=sametab

BBB has a 108” panel https://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/store/product/sun-zero-dermot-indoor-outdoor-uv-protectant-grommet-curtain-panel/5583123

Honestly, I just looked at these.  This solves the problem in every way, I think.  One panel is 100 w so 2 panels would be 200 which is 2x the width of window to create that fullness look.  I may be able to order from BBB and use my coupon.  Or, look at store to see if they sell in store. Still I should be able to cover window for around $60.  I hope these are sunblocking enough.  I had hoped to find ecru but white will work, I think.  It's either that or the linen color.  THANKS!!!