Curtain Length: How to Choose the Right Size for Your Windows

When you think about curtain length, the vertical measurement of a curtain from the rod to its bottom edge. It's not just about covering the window—it's about how the fabric flows, how light enters, and whether your room feels finished or unfinished. Most people guess wrong. They buy curtains that end halfway down the wall or pool awkwardly on the floor. The right curtain length doesn’t just hide the window—it frames it, adds height, and even makes a small room feel bigger.

Curtain drop, the distance from the curtain rod to the floor, is the key number you need to measure. A common mistake is hanging the rod too low, right above the window frame. But placing it closer to the ceiling—within 4 to 6 inches—creates the illusion of taller ceilings. That’s why professionals always say: hang high, let it flow. Whether you want curtains that just kiss the floor, pool slightly, or hover an inch above, each style sends a different message. Pooling (1-3 inches extra) adds drama and luxury. Floating (1/2 to 1 inch above the floor) feels modern and clean. And if you’ve got radiators or baseboard heaters underneath, you’ll need to account for that too. Then there’s curtain hanging height, where you install the rod relative to the window and ceiling. If your window is small or low, hanging the rod higher can make it look bigger. If you’ve got a bay window or a sliding door, the length needs to match the scale. You don’t want curtains that look like they’re struggling to cover the space.

What you find below are real examples from real homes—how one person used floor-length curtains to hide an ugly radiator, how another picked a slightly shorter length to keep her kids from tripping, and why a $20 curtain upgrade made her living room feel like a designer space. You’ll see how curtain length ties into everything from energy savings (blocking drafts) to sleep quality (keeping light out). These aren’t theory pieces. They’re fixes people actually tried and lived with. No fluff. Just what works.