Curtain height, never in between

Curtains have a visual effect on room proportions. Well hung, they stretch the room upward and create the impression of a higher ceiling. Badly hung, they visually shorten the room and make it appear lower.

The professional rule: curtains run from floor to ceiling (or very close to ceiling, touching the floor). Not floor to one metre, not window frame to floor. Floor to ceiling.

Three measurements to respect. The rail: positioned 15-25 cm above the window frame, ideally close to ceiling (10 cm below ceiling, or directly on the ceiling with a ceiling mount). The lateral overhang: rail extends 15-30 cm beyond the window on each side. The length: curtain touches the floor (clean effect 1 cm), breaks slightly (3-5 cm, elegant), or puddles (10+ cm, opulent).

Standard ceiling height (2.40-2.60 m). Rail 15-20 cm above window frame, or ceiling-mounted. Curtains 240-260 cm finished height. High ceiling (2.80 m+): rail near ceiling, curtains 280 cm or more. Low ceiling (under 2.40 m): rail ceiling-mounted, curtains to floor. The vertical extension is crucial to compensate for the low ceiling.

Curtain width. For a beautiful fall, multiply the rail width by 1.5 to 2 (cumulative width of curtain panels). A 3 m rail requires 4.50 to 6 m of cumulative fabric.

In small interiors. Floor-to-ceiling curtains are even more important than in large rooms. They visually stretch and give the impression of height. This is the number one trick for enlarging a studio.

For kitchens and bathrooms: the rule reverses: avoid long curtains (proximity to hob or water) and prefer roller blinds or Roman blinds positioned at window level only.

Joseph Dirand works truly floor-to-ceiling curtains, sometimes running the full room height and covering the walls adjacent to the window. "Wall of fabric" architectural effect.

Pierre Yovanovitch integrates linen roller blinds in niches above windows, as complement or replacement for curtains. More contemporary, disappears when not in use.