However, hanging curtains by installing a curtain rod is easier said than done. What if you measure incorrectly and wind up with curtains that don’t cover your windows? What if your rod isn’t leveled to perfection? Even worse, your curtains could spontaneously fall down at the worst possible moments. Here, we will take you step by step through the entire process of hanging curtains—and share our go-to products to ensure you’ll have beautiful, straight curtains that actually stay put. As a general rule of thumb, the ends of your curtain rod should be 3 to 6 inches outside of the frame to turn your curtains into a design moment. If you want to create the illusion of higher ceilings, you’ll also want to place the rod 4 to 6 inches above the window frame. As expected, you’ll need a tape measurer to find (and record) the dimensions. Komelon’s option is made of a sturdy, acrylic-coated steel blade tape that won’t slump mid-measure. Once you’ve found the correct measurements, mark them with a pencil (which is probably already lurking in your junk drawer). To buy: Komelon Steel Blade Tape Measure, $7; amazon.com. To buy: Qooltek Multipurpose Laser Level, $14; amazon.com. The presence of wall studs (aka the vertical frames that support your wall) will help you determine how to hang your brackets. Simply glide a stud finder—like CH Hanson’s magnetic option—along your wall and it’ll alert you when you reach a wall stud, which will be the best spot to hang your curtain rod. To buy: CH Hanson Magnetic Stud Finder, $8; amazon.com. A drywall anchor is essentially a little jacket you put over your screw to give it extra strength. TOGGLER’s anchors give screws a vibration and shock-resistant hold, so your curtains will stay put through almost anything. To buy: TOGGLER SnapSkru SP Self-Drilling Drywall Anchor with Screws, $16 for 50; amazon.com. Before adding one to your e-cart, take out that tape measure for the last time and record the distance from the edge of each bracket. To buy: Kenney Chelsea 5/8” Standard Decorative Window Curtain Rod, from $10; amazon.com. While some people use removable hooks with adhesive backs to hang curtain rods, an expandable tension rod will cut a number of steps down and press against the nook in your window frame.
