How to measure for curtains and blinds!

Ordering curtains and blinds needs precision when it comes to measuring, there is nothing worse than getting home and realising those blinds or curtains that you love (and that were on sale) are too wide or too long.

You will need

- Step ladder
- Metal measuring tape
- Pen
- Paper

When measuring for either blinds or curtains use a metal tape measure for accuracy and measure in centimetres to the nearest ½ cm. 

The golden rule when measuring for curtains and blinds is to always double check the measurements; after all it’s easy to misread a measurement by a centimetre or two and that extra centimetre can make all the different between a perfect finish and a not-so-perfect one.With curtains, two measurements must be taken – width and drop. To measure the width for a pole affix the curtain, measure in between the decorative fixtures placed at either end. Whilst for track fixtures, measure the entire length of the track. 

Before you measure the drop length of the curtain, you must first decide what finish you would like. The two standard lengths aresill and floor length. When opting for floor length curtains,measure the floor length and add an extra 1.5cm to the measurement, this will ensure a perfect finish and conceal an uneven floor. For sill length curtains, measure to the sill and either add 1.5cm to the measurement or subtract 1-2 cm, depending on which look you’d like.

 Tab top, eyelet and pleat headed curtains require different measurements. For tab top or eyelet curtains you must measure from the top of the pole to the desired length. Pleated headings require eye drop and heading height measurements... - Eye drop: this is the distance from the eye, where the hook is attached, to where the curtain finishes. - Heading height: the distance from the eye to where you want the top of the curtain to be. 

For tracks the heading height usually sits just above the track, covering the fixture; whilst for pole fitting, the heading height is 2cm above the pole. Measuring blinds is a little different. If your window has a recess, i.e. is set back from the wall, you can choose to fit the blind inside the recess for a neat finish. Measure the deepness from edge of the wall to the window in three places and take the smallest measurement. The length is measured in the same way from the top of the recess to the sill.

Top Tips :

If your window has no recess or you wish for your blind to be fitted on the outside of the recess, measure from the top of the window to where the sill sits. You can even block out daylight completely by adding 5cm onto each side.